Ignition Technician

Hailing from Leeds in the UK, Ignition Technician aka Richard 'Wilko' Wilkinson started out as a sound engineer for the world famous Cream club, which led to him playing back to back with Paul Bleasdale in the back room of Cream. During his time there Wilko looked after artists such as Carl Cox, Dave Clarke, DJ Sasha, Underworld, Daft Punk, Bassment Jaxx and Chemical Brothers as well as been Paul Okenfold's personal soundman for a year. Wilko went on to work for other top UK club nights including Bugged Out and then The Orbit.

 

Ignition Technician's productions have been championed by the electronic underground as well as the dance music elite, it was Carl Cox who discovered Ignition technician in 1999 - he was the first DJ to play these early productions from dub plates. Soon other DJ's including Dave Clarke, Laurent Garnier, Joey Beltram, Billy Nasty as well as more surprising fans including Pete Tong, Judge Jules, Jon Peel and Colin Murry where soon spinning Ignition productions week in week out, this led to Wilko appearing as a guest on MTV's Dance Floor Chart as well as regular visits to BBC Radio One for live and DJ performances. Wilko started his Ignition Technician project in 1999 with best mate and production partner Pete Simpson, though the two often work on separate projects they remain mutual confidonts on all things musical. Wilko fly's the Ignition Technician flag on the club circuit with his DJ skills and solo live sets. Ignition Technician's productions have a techno-based sound that looks to any source of inspiration and is open to all influences of music.

Never afraid of boundary's and other peoples opinions of what techno should sound like, Wilko puts together DJ tools for his own use, holding firm to the old cliché "I make music that I like, if other people like it then that's a bonus". Wilko is owner and producer of his own labels Pirate Audio, Notorious North and Dj Special Needs. Wilko also co-owns the Orbit clubs highly respected label Player with Red Seal Records boss Jon Nuccle and Eastern Bloc records manager Mark Turner. Wilko also owns Ignition records with best friend Pete Simpson.

Producing as Wilko, Player and ignition technician has built up a massive fan base world wide, and led to releases for high profile labels such as Primate, Tortured, Tronic, Potential, Audio, Planet Rhythm and Wedafuqawi to name a few. Ignition Technician has worked with producers including the Advent, Space DJ's, Angel Alanis, Glenn Wilson, Cave, Marko Nastic, Jel Ford, DJ Bam Bam, DJ Urban, Rino Cerrone, Mark Antonio, Mike Humphries, Trevor Rockcliffe,DJ Preach and DJ Misjah. Ignition Technician is currently working with Therimin management(UK) which became Archetype in 2004 and DJ Misjah's agency Rerun bookings(Belgium) Ignition Technician has showcased his original style around the world djing on every continent with the exception of Antarctica, this success had made Ignition Technician one of the most sort after DJ's in the sub continent, Asia, Europe and South America. Whether he is dropping Techno, Booty, playing live or spinning vinyl, Wilko loves been out on the road testing new productions and deck skills. Over the years Ignition Technician has worked for many labels having more than 150 releases under his belt. Wilko's personal high lights are releases for Christian Smith's Tronic label, releases on Mistress Barbara's Iturnem label and Glenn Wilson on his Punish imprint as well as the bigger releases on Primate Recordings and Billy Nasty's Tortured records. A major turning point came in 2004 with the release of Ignition Technicians highly acclaimed album "Social Services" on long standing techno label WEDAFUQAWI.

When Wilko is not touring the globe he lives in the studio and is constantly honing his skills as a musician. His tracks always seem to have the right amount of groove and are predominately influenced by Old School sounds, whether it be HipHop, Booty or Rave. Sampling all kinds of material and reworking them in an extra phat and funky way.

Get ready to shake your booty (big time) on the 17th!!!