Philip Taggart

DJ / Record Label Owner — Omagh

01Profile

A Philip Taggart Photo

03Interview

Describe your style in three words?
Decade of Aggression

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
For sheer timing, going to see Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2003 being probably way too young to be at the gig was incredible. I thought I was gonna get crushed into bits during the QOTSA pit. It was both one of the most thrilling and frightening experiences in my life up until that point. No matter how hard you try or lie to yourself you will never experience music live the same way as you do when you’re a wide-eyed teenager. You can come close, but it will never beat it and nor would I want it too.

If you put on a gig with any three bands in history?
Kendrick Lamar, The Clash and my old band - Colenso Parade.
I mean if you are booking a show you are gonna put your own band on as support. Nobody else would want to see it but hey, I’m booking the show, so on we go.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
There’s an old saying that in regards to punk that ‘New York had the haircuts, London had the trousers and Northern Ireland had the reason.’ You understand that coming from NI because punk rock was such an important musical reference point growing. In most small towns you’d be derided as a 15-year-old running about in full punk garb but in my town, it was pretty well accepted. How the hell were we meant to rebel? Moving to London and getting stuck into Grime in a big way in 2013 was a real switch for me. Getting in early days and doing my best to support a lot of these artists doing their SIY thing has always been a privilege.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Shane MacGowan. I got taken to the hospital for a few days when I was 15 to correct a broken knuckle cause I got real bad-tempered and punched my wardrobe. My mum thought she’d try and scare me straight by buying me the Shane MacGowan autobiography. It went the other way and my teenage brain just got lost in the romanticism of skid row London and Irish Culture smashed together. I’m sure meeting him now would not be the same but even just to spend some time in his company would be a real privilege. I stole a bottle of wine from him at a gig when I was 18 years old so I’m certain he would instantly give me a black eye when he sees me. It would be worth it.

Of all the venues you’ve DJ'd, which is your favourite?
I’ve played some cool festivals such as Glastonbury, Bestival, Boardmasters and a load of others over the years and some big tents and they are always so much fun. This year my Slacker night will have a stage at Bestival, so you gotta come say hello if you are down.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
The Lost Brothers. Those cosmic cretins have forged a pathway untrodden. Their music is gilded Michelin star cosmic folk. I’ll always have a space in my brain for a Lost Brothers tune. They have a new record out on January 26th and are going on tour in the UK in Jan/Feb. You won’t see a better folk act in their prime in 2018.


Philip Taggart began his musical career playing the band Colenso Parade. At 16 years old he began to organise gigs in his hometown of Omagh, before becoming involved in community radio. In 2011 he became the Northern Ireland host of BBC Introducing and by 2013 was also appearing on Radio 1. Philip currently hosts the Sunday 10 pm - 1 am slot focussing on new music. He also owns his own record label, Hometown Records, which has released records by artists such as Rat Boy, Touts, Yonaka and Wildes.

 

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
The Prodigy - 'Firestarter'

A song that defines the teenage you?
The Undertones - 'Teenage Kicks'
Every band in my hometown covered this in our sets. It was a rite of passage.

One record you would keep forever?
Majical Cloudz - 'Downtown'
It just gets me incredibly emotional every time I hear it. It’s just so raw, simple and pure. There’s rarely a love song written as good.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
Not so much as inspiration but my favourite opening of any hip-hop tune. 'Nobody kicks it like Phife Dawg'.

"Yo, microphone check one two what is this
The five-foot assassin with the ruffneck business
I float like gravity, never had a cavity
Got more rhymes than the Winans got family
No need to sweat Arsenio to gain some type of fame
No shame in my game cause I'll always be the same
Styles upon styles upon styles is what I have
You wanna diss the Phifer but you still don't know the
half"
A Tribe Called Quest - 'Buggin' Out'

A song you wished you had written?
Adam Green - 'Friends of Mine'
I love his madcap eccentric croon. I spent a few months a while back thinking hey, I can do this. It turns out I can’t.

Best song to turn up loud?
Metallica - 'Master of Puppets'
It’s illegal in most US States to listen to this under 100Db.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Johnny Cash - 'I’ve Been Everywhere'
I think from my radio shows, anyone who has listened will probably know that I’ll play a little bit of everything from Grime to Ambient and Punk to Post Malone. I suppose people don’t associate me with Country Music so it would have to be Johnny Cash.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
Keith Mansfield - 'Grandstand Theme Tune'
The old Grandstand theme has been played at the end of a lot of my sets. I learnt early on from the amount of fights that used to happen at the club I used to play at. It’s best to send the crowd out singing or confused. Anything as far away from aggression that you can think of.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?

TOUTS - 'Bombscare'
The Derry lads are on my label and are the best punk band in the UK, simple.

Lucia - 'Melted Ice Cream'
This is the best garage pop song I’ve heard in a long time. I’m really excited by them!

Whenyoung - 'Pretty Pure'
There’s a lot of talent coming out of Ireland right now. These guys are really exciting

03Interview

Describe your style in three words?
Decade of Aggression

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
For sheer timing, going to see Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2003 being probably way too young to be at the gig was incredible. I thought I was gonna get crushed into bits during the QOTSA pit. It was both one of the most thrilling and frightening experiences in my life up until that point. No matter how hard you try or lie to yourself you will never experience music live the same way as you do when you’re a wide-eyed teenager. You can come close, but it will never beat it and nor would I want it too.

If you put on a gig with any three bands in history?
Kendrick Lamar, The Clash and my old band - Colenso Parade.
I mean if you are booking a show you are gonna put your own band on as support. Nobody else would want to see it but hey, I’m booking the show, so on we go.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
There’s an old saying that in regards to punk that ‘New York had the haircuts, London had the trousers and Northern Ireland had the reason.’ You understand that coming from NI because punk rock was such an important musical reference point growing. In most small towns you’d be derided as a 15-year-old running about in full punk garb but in my town, it was pretty well accepted. How the hell were we meant to rebel? Moving to London and getting stuck into Grime in a big way in 2013 was a real switch for me. Getting in early days and doing my best to support a lot of these artists doing their SIY thing has always been a privilege.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Shane MacGowan. I got taken to the hospital for a few days when I was 15 to correct a broken knuckle cause I got real bad-tempered and punched my wardrobe. My mum thought she’d try and scare me straight by buying me the Shane MacGowan autobiography. It went the other way and my teenage brain just got lost in the romanticism of skid row London and Irish Culture smashed together. I’m sure meeting him now would not be the same but even just to spend some time in his company would be a real privilege. I stole a bottle of wine from him at a gig when I was 18 years old so I’m certain he would instantly give me a black eye when he sees me. It would be worth it.

Of all the venues you’ve DJ'd, which is your favourite?
I’ve played some cool festivals such as Glastonbury, Bestival, Boardmasters and a load of others over the years and some big tents and they are always so much fun. This year my Slacker night will have a stage at Bestival, so you gotta come say hello if you are down.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
The Lost Brothers. Those cosmic cretins have forged a pathway untrodden. Their music is gilded Michelin star cosmic folk. I’ll always have a space in my brain for a Lost Brothers tune. They have a new record out on January 26th and are going on tour in the UK in Jan/Feb. You won’t see a better folk act in their prime in 2018.


Philip Taggart began his musical career playing the band Colenso Parade. At 16 years old he began to organise gigs in his hometown of Omagh, before becoming involved in community radio. In 2011 he became the Northern Ireland host of BBC Introducing and by 2013 was also appearing on Radio 1. Philip currently hosts the Sunday 10 pm - 1 am slot focussing on new music. He also owns his own record label, Hometown Records, which has released records by artists such as Rat Boy, Touts, Yonaka and Wildes.

 

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
The Prodigy - 'Firestarter'

A song that defines the teenage you?
The Undertones - 'Teenage Kicks'
Every band in my hometown covered this in our sets. It was a rite of passage.

One record you would keep forever?
Majical Cloudz - 'Downtown'
It just gets me incredibly emotional every time I hear it. It’s just so raw, simple and pure. There’s rarely a love song written as good.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
Not so much as inspiration but my favourite opening of any hip-hop tune. 'Nobody kicks it like Phife Dawg'.

"Yo, microphone check one two what is this
The five-foot assassin with the ruffneck business
I float like gravity, never had a cavity
Got more rhymes than the Winans got family
No need to sweat Arsenio to gain some type of fame
No shame in my game cause I'll always be the same
Styles upon styles upon styles is what I have
You wanna diss the Phifer but you still don't know the
half"
A Tribe Called Quest - 'Buggin' Out'

A song you wished you had written?
Adam Green - 'Friends of Mine'
I love his madcap eccentric croon. I spent a few months a while back thinking hey, I can do this. It turns out I can’t.

Best song to turn up loud?
Metallica - 'Master of Puppets'
It’s illegal in most US States to listen to this under 100Db.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Johnny Cash - 'I’ve Been Everywhere'
I think from my radio shows, anyone who has listened will probably know that I’ll play a little bit of everything from Grime to Ambient and Punk to Post Malone. I suppose people don’t associate me with Country Music so it would have to be Johnny Cash.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
Keith Mansfield - 'Grandstand Theme Tune'
The old Grandstand theme has been played at the end of a lot of my sets. I learnt early on from the amount of fights that used to happen at the club I used to play at. It’s best to send the crowd out singing or confused. Anything as far away from aggression that you can think of.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?

TOUTS - 'Bombscare'
The Derry lads are on my label and are the best punk band in the UK, simple.

Lucia - 'Melted Ice Cream'
This is the best garage pop song I’ve heard in a long time. I’m really excited by them!

Whenyoung - 'Pretty Pure'
There’s a lot of talent coming out of Ireland right now. These guys are really exciting

 

05Videos

Phil Taggart on Soundcloud