Ask the DJ: SK Shlomo – Top 10 Tracks That Changed My Life

SK Shlomo knows how it feels to be on top of the world. For a decade, the genre-defying, award-winning producer, beatboxer and live-looper has set new standards for his craft, working with Bjork, Ed Sheeran and Damon Albarn. Two years ago, he took a step back to work out what he wanted and his world seemed to crumble. Diagnosed with PTSD, he was forced to confront his past.

His forthcoming debut album, Surrender, candidly explores surviving depression – a richly-atmospheric electronic journey through life’s darkest moments to celebrating new beginnings.

“These tracks are the catalysts for me stopping making the music I thought everyone else wanted me to make,” says Shlomo, “dropping my mask and telling my real story. Hope you enjoy!”

1. Michael Jackson – ‘Smooth Criminal’

“When I was tiny I only wanted one thing: to become MJ – I was obsessed with his movie, Moonwalker, which this video features in – you can’t take your eyes off of him.”

2. The Prodigy – ‘Out Of Space’

“When I heard this song I was around nine years old and time seemed to freeze – this was like nothing I’d heard before and I knew I had found my sound.”

3. Wildchild – ‘Renegade Master (Fatboy Slim Old Skool Mix)’

“As a teen in the pub, putting this on the jukebox and my friends jumping up to dance gave me a taste of how it feels to affect other people’s emotions through music.”

4. Basement Jaxx – ‘Do Your Thing’

“”I don’t even care what the people say, I’m gonna do it my way” – memories of spontaneous limbo parties in my friend’s attic and me thinking I need to make some music of my own.”

5. Massive Attack – ‘Paradise Circus’

“Massive were always a huge influence on me, and performing before them at Brixton Academy was a dream come true.”

6. SOHN – ‘Bloodflows’

“When I heard this, the sheer emotion, tension and release in this track made me literally drop everything I was making and decide to create something raw, honest and full of huge synths.”

7. Nirvana – ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’

“This song literally changed my life – I tried to perform it at school whilst our class did an assembly about depression. It went horribly wrong and crushed my confidence in my singing voice, something I’ve only been overcoming 20 years later.”

8. Stevie Wonder – ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)’

“This is my go-to when I’m struggling with my confidence or even losing faith in music – when this goes on loud all of music’s powers are restored. Watching Stevie sing this at Glastonbury was my musical mecca.”

9. Bob Marley & The Wailers – ‘No Woman, No Cry (Live At The Lyceum, London/1975)’

“I remember listening to Legend as a child and when this song came on, I was hypnotised by the sound of the crowd losing their sh*t, such a joyous celebration.”

10. SK Shlomo – ‘Invisible’

“Invisible is the first single from my debut album, and it’s changing my life right now – the first step in this journey of releasing music with a depth and truth that I’ve never had the guts to share before.”

Catch SK Shlomo live at London’s Hospital Club on the 28th November 2018, or head over to his website to watch his monthly live stream #WeAreListening, featuring guests like Jason Mraz, Kodaline and Bill Bailey talking about mental health and creativity. SK Shlomo’s single ‘Superhuman’ is out the 23rd November 2018 and you can pre-order his debut studio album, Surrender, HERE.

You can listen to all Ask the DJ playlists on the FMS Magazine Spotify CHANNEL.

Find SK Shlomo’s playlist below and HERE.

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