My last post as owner of Defected & Glitterbox.   It’s been a wild but rewarding journey……an incredible ride.   23 years of iconic memories. Way more highs than lows…   Few get the privilege of working on incredible music, with inspirational artists and dedicated staff…there are far too many to mention but I thank each and every one of them.   My intuition has guided me well and I have decided that for the company to continue it’s progressive journey that it needs a new approach, fresh energy.   There is a well known mantra at Apple which I regularly quote; “I’d rather be a Pirate than in the Navy”.   I’d like to believe Defected are House music pirates. We first set sail on January 1st 1999.   Waving the flag for the culture we love, we marauded our way through the music industry.   Our mission was simple.   Build a global reputation & a catalogue that someday might be considered alongside the great labels that always inspired me…..Strictly Rhythm, Philadelphia International, Salsoul, Prelude….   650 releases, silver, gold & platinum discs, multiple labels, festivals in London, Croatia, residencies in Ibiza, and the world over have helped amass an impressive and engaged online community…..   We may just have got close to those early ambitions…   All captains need a first mate to steady the ship and lead the crew. Wez Saunders has been my right hand man for 8 years. Together we navigated Defected into prolific times, built an incredible team and a treasure chest of masters and publishing catalogue’s.   So I am proud to be handing over the business to in such vibrant times and to announce that Wez Saunders is now co-owner and CEO of Optimum Defected Holdings Ltd.   I am not abandoning ship and I’ll continue to be part of the Defected’s campaigns as consultant to the a&r team.   It is important to me that that there is a continuum. A continuation keeping the company structure, maintaining Defected’s approach to quality music and events.   To continue to deliver our promises and obligations to our community, our artists, staff and all those that have helped us get here……   Collectively we will discover new treasures.   House Music All Life Long!

Chilling In The Dam 🙏 Just being nosy whilst randomly bumping into some old friends 😉.

This weekend we celebrated Aclima Webb’s 90th Birthday. She came to the UK in the 1950’s to train as a nurse and worked at St Peters Hospital until her early 70’s. She married John Webb and raised her family in the UK. At 90 she still knows how to party and her love of life is evident for all to see. She is proud Trinidadian, never forgetting her roots, so we created our own mini Carnival with a steel band, Caribbean food and rum cocktails….it was an incredibly joyous occasion, full of smiles and love enjoyed by family and close friends. It’s rare for a man to say this but my mother in law is an incredible woman. She an integral part to team Dunmore. She is loving Grandmother to my children and when I was travelling extensively over the last 30 years she was always there to help my wife Yasmin when needed. I have so much love for her that I even came out of DJ retirement….I loved my mobile disco comeback gig 🙌🙌🙌🙌 📸 @gavinmillsphotography

Flying home with incredibly mixed emotions from Morocco. I considered long about not posting pictures that reflected the wonderful time we had up until the earthquake last night, that decimated much of the country, particularly the towns in the mountain regions. However, tourism is so important to the economy that I feel compelled to shout as loud as I possibly can about how gloriously vibrant Marrakesh is….a place full of wonderful, helpful souls that make you feel most welcome….sure they have their hustle but it comes with a charm & cheeky smile that is so disarming that you don’t actually mind if you eventually overpay for whatever it may be haggling over. There is also the chaos. The energy. The colour. The call to prayer. The souks. The Medina. The shopping. The multitude of rooftop restaurants….the ones that you have seen on so many films where James Bond relentlessly pursues the supervillain…who usually escapes into the above said chaos. We resided @elfennmarrakech… a riad that deserves its tip topping reputation at the peak of Trip Advisors recommended stays. Our room was minimal (no tv to distract you) and overlooked the pool, the rooftop bar and restaurant were excellent….as is the boutique…which is full of memorabilia screaming holiday momentos! We’re shipping back a rug (I say rug but it is gargantuan)…which will fit so snug on our living room floor. We chose one from @studiolidmarrakech (my bartering was pretty feeble according to Mrs D) but I’m happy with the rug and what we paid for it….a fair deal! @cuttin_headz soufiane.zarib had a fine selection of equally desirable multi coloured shag pile rugs 😉….we ended up buying a fabulous lamp. All this is secondary to the 6.7 magnitude earthquake that hit the region on Friday evening. I’ve covered this in my stories & I thank all those that enquired as to our safety So the reason for the post…please help Morocco get back on its feet. Donate. Give blood. Send your unwanted clothes as the winters are pretty damn cold…but more than all this do yourself a favour & get to North Africa. you won’t regret it. Sending everyone that looked after us @elfennmarrakech a massive hug. Inshallah 🙏❤️

Perfect week in Ibiza….well almost perfect. Biblical storm aside the weather was glorious! Dipped into a few clubs. Bumped into some old friends…. @louievega @terryfarley @nicfanciulli @petegooding @jasonbyedj @hilitkolet. Saw my lads rock @unitedants @ushuaiaibiza and the Wild Corner @hiibizaofficial (more on that later). Great food….restaurants and BBQ’s. Definitely recommend @sacarboneriaibiza @passioncafe @sancarlosbarrestaurante @kathmandusantaeulalia @hambreibiza @seventeen.restaurant.ibiza …. also check out the Chiringuito SoulGood on Nui Blau beach, Santa Eulalia for some amazing cocktails. Managed to get in a little quality reading time…. @faithfanzine @discopogo.co @daftpunk - We Are Robots & @mrchuckd_pe - Fight The Power…..all recommended. Flying back home tonight with a happy heart and fully rested 🙏

12 months since I relinquished control @defectedrecords and 6 months since I retired fully. I’m constantly asked if I miss the being involved (absolutely I do), what my plans are, what do I do with my time? People I respect told me it would be a roller coaster of emotions for at least 12 months….and as predicted by those much wiser than I, it took exactly that and I certainly have itchy feet. I have been kicking around a few ideas and plans are in motion. 👀 this space. I have a whole new rhythm….I love having me time, playing golf, eating more healthily, collecting art (this @davidshrigley piece sums up perfectly how I feel), keeping normal hours, traveling with Mrs D and repaying my time debt to my kids. Thanks for the continued love and messages. Hope to bump into you sometime soon ❤️🙏

Road trip to Manchester. We dropped into the @yayoikusama_ exhibition. Caught up with @samzholt at the @untilthedawn.management offices and checked out the impressive toys at the @mastersounds HQ….oh and I bought more than a few books from the incredible @unitomstore 🙏

Finally getting round to kitting out my record room. Having got the green light from Mrs D, I indulged myself. As you can see I’m absolutely smitten with my Clarity A @mastersounds speakers and Four Valve MK2 mixer. Time to rediscover some hidden gems in my racks and annoy the neighbours 😉

Abba- Dancing Queen & Bucks Fizz on a Saturday night in Surrey…who would have thought it. Great time’s with friends and family celebrating Stuart Gulliver’s 60th. Shout out to Kate for organising a legendary gathering and @theofficialglobegirls who were “everything”!

I am not in any way religious but @__gabriels__ & @iamjacoblusk took me to church again last night. Lusk is much needed in these times and is so much more than a front man. He is soul. He is Gospel. He is Jazz. He is the Blues….radiating all the traditions of great Black music from the moment they take the stage. I hope that the @__gabriels__ get the love and light at Glastonbury that proves to be their pay off.

Love finally having the time she deserves ❤️

Everyone has a musical journey that tells their life story. I was honoured when @mark_vessey approached me and enabled me to tell mine in the coolest way possible. Mark documents popular culture through photography. Through considered collections, in my case a selection of 88 tracks that helped shape my musical DNA. Music I have danced to, played as a DJ, collected, bought with my hard earned and that I have been directly involved with. It was almost an impossible task and I could have selected 100’s more…. This Thursday, 25th May, we have a launch @enter_gallery Brighton. If you are in the area it’s absolutely free, you just need to sign up. Link is in my bio..