D-Funk

Forward-thinking, funk focused music. Studio wizard, DJ & Producer. Co-owner of Grits N Gravy label.

Sydney-based, British born DJ, D-Funk has amassed a fair few achievements in his 25-years on the decks. Making his club debut at The Depot in Bristol in 1995 (I was so nervous I thought I’d never do it again!” he remembers), he’s gone on to DJ all over the world, playing notable sets at Space Ibiza and Ministry Of Sound and released on labels including Sunday Best and Bombstrikes. Getting his firs

t set of decks at 14, Doug initially fell for the sounds of jungle and techno before a night dancing to house icon Tony De Vit in 1997 turned him towards the slinkier sounds of house music.

“The energy in the crowd that night was like nothing I’d been part of before,” he remembers fondly. “Every beat, every clap, every build up was just so inspiring and euphoric. I’d always been fascinated by the art of mixing but suddenly it just all made sense.”

His DJ career began to take off during his time at university in Wolverhampton where he started to pick up gigs at the Canal Club and Mezzanine, playing alongside DJs including Joey Negro, Mr Fingers, Scott Bond and Lisa Lashes, before a move to the South-Coast town of Bournemouth led him to eventually start his own night ‘Break Da House’ in 2004. “I was playing mainly house nights at the time,” he explains. “But started to get bored as I wanted to play a mixture of house and breaks as well as the funk, soul, disco and hip-hop stuff I was really into too.”

The night took off, attracting big names including The Stanton Warriors and Plump DJs and eventually led to D-Funk’s first release, the ‘Electrotek’ EP after Dub Pistols headlined one night and Barry Ashworth from the band decided to release Doug’s music on his Westway label. The track found its way onto a TV ad in Portugal, as well as becoming a mainstay on Kiss FM’s breakbeat chart and gave Doug the confidence to pursue a career as a producer as well as a DJ, eventually leading to releases on Adapted Records and Ghetto Funk among countless other labels over the next 15 years. Moving to Sydney Australia in 2009, Doug started his label Upstart Music, releasing his own productions alongside tracks from the likes of Crackerz & Jam, Niko & Lyall and Rogue Robot and later started the funk label Grits N Gravy alongside friend and funk producer Philly Blunt, with the label winning the ‘Best Label’ award at Perth Dance Music Awards in 2010. Since living in Sydney, Doug has held down residencies at The World Bar and The Standard for the best part of a decade, as well as regular slots at Sash, Ivy and Hugos. But there was still demand for him back on the side of the world and he regularly returned to Europe to play at Space Ibiza (including a set at the penultimate night of Carl Cox’s Revolution party) as well as touring in the UK, Europe and Canada.

“The music scene here in Australia is very different to U.K and has definitely influenced what I make and play,” he tells us. “It’s generally more hip hop based and that cut and paste ethic has really suited me and fed into the early funky breaks stuff I did a lot.”

Now 25 years into his career, Doug is about to mark the 10th anniversary of his label Grits ‘N’ Gravy, with a compilation due this year mixed by himself and Philly Blunt, and has been busy producing house, hip hop and nu-disco with his current production partner Mr Doris with the pairs projects being picked up by legendary UK label Jalapeño Records!

16/12/2024

Mr Doris & my new 45 is now available in Australia via Dr Diggins!

Last 4 now in stock FF45-031 : Mr. Doris & D-Funk - Heat / Rain Label : Fridays Funky 45s : FF45-031 Format: 7" Blk - 45rpm Country: UK Released: DEC 24 Genre: Hip Hop / Edits Get ready to step up your music game with D-Funk Heat, a release that perfectly blends retro vibes with a modern groove....

13/12/2024

NEW MIX! I finally did it. I made My Rave Tape. A retrospective look into my UK rave culture roots.

I just wish I could put it on an actual cassette… 📼 (yes I know that’s a video but closest I could get)

👇🏼 Find a link to the mix in the comments section 👇🏼

11/12/2024

Pretty happy to see that Mr Doris & my lasted 45 vinyl which is out now is sitting at #2 on the Juno Records Hip Hop/R&B chart!

It's now available from Juno Records (and other stores) & the link to it is in the comments below.

Dinked

09/12/2024

I'm going to drop another mix later this week!

06/12/2024

7 hours on the disco switches tonight at The Vicar
(4-11pm)

03/12/2024

Which is your fave?!?! Mr Doris & my new 45 out now on Friday’s Funky 45 & is currently available from the Dinked website (link in comments) & across other stores soon!

02/12/2024

VINYL!!!! Available now exclusively from the Dinked website. Out across other sites/stores very soon...

Dinked Records - your one stop shop for the little records all new 45s hip hop soul funk latin jazz edits remixes best prices

29/11/2024

I’ve just launched my brand new website!

D-Funk is a Sydney based vinyl & digital DJ & producer. Find his music, mixes & free downloads that span the music genres funk, soul, hip hop, disco, house, break beat & reggae. Book D-Funk for a gig. Book a vinyl DJ in Sydney for a gig.

26/11/2024

Check out ‘Heat’ from Mr Doris & my latest 45 that’s just dropped on Friday Funky 45 & is available from the Dinked website (link in comments) #45

23/11/2024

I love the smell of new vinyl in the morning! Although on this occasion it’s our new 45 turning up with Mr Doris in London. Fear not though it’s available now from the Dinked website! 🍩🍩

20/11/2024

Quite crazy when you think about it really. No wonder some of my tunes have only got about 30 plays 😂

A new MusicRadar report gives context to just how much music production and publishing have changed in 35 years 💿

Full story ▶️ https://djmag.com/news/more-music-released-day-2024-entire-1989-calendar-year-report-finds

19/11/2024

Pretty happy to announce we’ve got another 45 vinyl coming out this week!

More details very soon
🍩

16/11/2024

Buddy’s Bar Newtown tonight with the legend Aldo Vanucci (from UK)

15/11/2024

I’m back at Buddy’s Bar Newtown the official House Of Party on Sat & this time I’ll be joined by non other than Mr Aldo Vanucci!

Fresh off the boat from UK, Aldo is famous for being Plymouth’s 14th best DJ. Don’t let that fool you though, I’ve seen him in action once or twice & I reckon he’s prob at least 11st best 😉

Together we’ll be bringing our funnest party vibes to one of Sydneys best party bars.

12/11/2024

NEW FREE DOWNLOAD! ‘The Way It Is’ (D-Funk’s Nu Disco Version) *link to DL in comments*

As promised here’s the new freebie that features on my recent ‘Free Downloads Mix’.

07/11/2024

I don’t normally do this but show of hands 🙋🏽 who’s ready for my next freebie?

It’s 1 off my recent Free Downloads mix.

06/11/2024

I’m rather happy to be spinning an all vinyl set at Field and Fin in Marrickville on Friday!

It’s a great new venue down near Sydneham station on Gerald St. Handy as I can walk to this one from my house (even with a big box of records)

This Friday!! D-Funk is at Field and Fin spinning vinyl. The Sydney based DJ & producer that has released music on labels such as Jalapeno Records, BombStrikes, Centrl Music, That’s Not An Edit, Sunday Best & more. He has played at Ministry Of Sound (London), Space & Hi (Ibiza) as well as residencies at The World Bar, Goros, The Foxtrot, The Standard & Middle Bar, The Clock Hotel and for Universal Music, SXSW, AmEx, Sydney Cricket Ground & Ted X. He runs the independent funk label Grits N Gravy & has remixes artists such as The Dub Pistols & The Baker Brothers. Come on down for some Friday cocktails and some tasty yums. You know you want to!!!

02/11/2024

Playing some tunes on the old wireless tonight with my Grits N Gravy label co boss Philly Blunt!

RTRFM 92.1 FM Perth 9-11pm
https://rtrfm.com.au

Address

Sydney, NSW
2204

Website

http://www.dfunk.co.uk/

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Videos

Check ‘Heat’ from Mr Doris & my latest vinyl release on Friday Funky 45s! It’s available now from the Dinked Records website (link in comments) #45 #vinyl #records #dj #vinyldj

Mr Doris & D-Funk - Heat

Check out ‘Heat’ from Mr Doris & my latest 45 that’s just dropped on Friday Funky 45 & is available from the Dinked website (link in comments) #45 #vinyl #records

The Way It Is (D-Funk’s Nu Disco Version) Free Download

NEW FREE DOWNLOAD! ‘The Way It Is’ (D-Funk’s Nu Disco Version) *link to DL in comments* As promised here’s the new freebie that features on my recent ‘Free Downloads Mix’.

I first met @phillyblunt back in ‘09 when I played at his Force Majeure night at Ambar in Perth. Pretty soon after that he did a release on my first label Upstart Music. We started @gritsngravyrecords together in ‘10 with, made a bunch of music together, played some DJs shows together & drank a bunch of beers 🍻 This Sat 9-11pm I’ll be joining him on the @trainwreck_rtrfm radio show on @rtrfm (Perth/WA) 92.1Fm or online rtrfm.com.au for a chat & to play some tunes. Tune it, it will be fun… #dj #gigs #radio #faceforradio #rtr #rtrfm #perth #wa #sat #satnight

My Nikes Free Download

New free download! Grimy bassline funk 🔊 My Nikes is a free download from my Soundcloud & Bandcamp (link to both in comments) #freedownload #bass #music

Very much looking forward to playing music at the beautiful Tanjong Beach Club on Sentosa Island in Singapore on Sunday 18th Aug! 🌞🍹🇸🇬

Touch Me

Here’s ‘Touch Me’ my personal favourite from my new ‘The Album That Never Was EP’ which is out now on Grits N Gravy

Definition Bass Funk

Here’s ’Definition Bass Funk’ from my new ‘The Album That Never Was EP’ on Grits N Gravy

Rough Sax

Here’s some new music from my ‘The Album That Never Was EP’ which is out now on Grits N Gravy

Escape preview

NEW MUSIC! Mr Doris & I have got a new remix coming out of 8 Bit Society's 'Escape'. It's our 1st 'official' release of '24! It's out on Soul Central's label Centrl Music to DL from Friday 15th March & for streaming & all platforms on 29th March. We'd love it if you'd pre-save the release (link in comments section) so you get access to it the day it drops. It *REALLY* helps us if you do (so thanks in advance)

Everyone loves a bit of a teaser right?!? Well check out the organs on this bad boy. It’s the latest creation from myself & Mr Doris when we got our hands on 8 Bit Society latest. It’s out soon with more info to follow very shortly! #housemusic #organ #teaser