DJ Q

{{Short description|British DJ and record producer (born 1985)}} {{BLP sources|date=January 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}} {{Use British English|date=April 2014}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = DJ Q | image = DJ Q on PLAYvirtuoso.jpg | image_size = | caption = DJ Q teaches online course in 2023 | birth_name = Shollen Michael Quarshie | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|08|16|df=yes}} | birth_place = Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England | origin = | instrument = | genre = Bassline, grime | occupation = DJ, radio presenter, producer | years_active = 2001–present | label = Q Recordings, Party Like Us, Local Action, Butterz }}

'''Shollen Michael Quarshie''' (born 16 August 1985),<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.factmag.com/2013/01/07/dj-q-readies-debut-album-for-autumn-stream-new-single-trust-again-inside/|title = DJ Q READIES DEBUT ALBUM FOR AUTUMN: STREAM NEW SINGLE 'TRUST AGAIN' INSIDE|date = 7 January 2013|accessdate = 21 May 2014|website = Fact Magazine|publisher = |last = |first = |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140521032820/http://www.factmag.com/2013/01/07/dj-q-readies-debut-album-for-autumn-stream-new-single-trust-again-inside/|archive-date = 21 May 2014|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=ONSBirth84&rank=1&new=1&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=angs-d&gsfn=Shollen&gsln=Quarshie&dbOnly=_F0005648%7c_F0005648_x%2c_F000635B%7c_F000635B_x&uidh=x9d&pcat=34&fh=0&h=9798864&recoff=3+6&ml_rpos=1|title = England & Wales Birth Index, 1916-2005|date = July–September 1985|accessdate = 21 May 2014|website = Ancestry.co.uk|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> known by his stage name '''DJ Q''', is a DJ and record producer from Huddersfield, England. He forms part of the supergroup TQD alongside Flava D and Royal-T.

==Early life== DJ Q’s musical journey started from a young age at The Nook in Holmfirth, listening to music played by his parents. It was at the age of 12 when 'Q' first got involved with the UK garage scene, buying vinyl and tape packs. When his vinyl collection grew larger Q finally got a pair of record decks in his bedroom. After teaching himself to mix, Q started to get bookings at local parties at the age of 15, before learning to produce music the next year at college. <ref>{{cite web|last=DJ Q Management|first=DJ Q Management|title=Facebook Bio|url=https://www.facebook.com/djqmusic/info|work=Subject's Social site Facebook|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=21 October 2013}}</ref>

==Career== Q's break on radio came in 2004, when a friend working at BBC Radio 1Xtra informed him that the station were looking for a new DJ on the pulse of the rising bassline scene in the North of England. He submitted a mix CD, and Q eventually became the youngest DJ at 1Xtra, hosting the fortnightly ''UKG Mix Show''. <ref>{{cite web|last=Walsh|first=James|title=INTERVIEW: DJ Q|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/urban/5695-interview-dj-q|work=MTV, OFFICIAL WEBSITE|publisher=MTV|access-date=7 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710051333/http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/urban/5695-interview-dj-q|archive-date=10 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

It was around the same time Q released his first vinyl, "Love Like This (The Reasons)" which was a big hit in the bassline scene. This brought him more bookings at bassline events and as time passed, Q produced more hits such as "Tea Bag", "Dirty" and later "You Wot!", which was signed and released via Ministry of Sound. "You Wot!" made the UK top 50 upon its release in summer 2008,<ref>"[https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/You%20Wot You Wot!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311031337/http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/you%20wot/ |date=11 March 2016 }}", Chart Stats, retrieved 2012-01-08</ref> which led to remix work for the likes of Amy Winehouse, Dizzee Rascal, Keri Hilson and Katy B to name a few. <ref>{{cite web|last=DJ Q|first=YouTube|title=DJ Q - Valerie|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64TO_Ufudfs|work=YouTube|publisher=YouTube/DJ Q|accessdate=9 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301162130/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64TO_Ufudfs|archive-date=1 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|last=DJ Q|first=YouTube|title=DJ SCAIFE - March 2010 - Keri Hilson - Energy (DJ Q Remix)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pitFNmdZIq8|work=YouTube|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=4 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301161002/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pitFNmdZIq8|archive-date=1 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|last=DJ Q|first=YouTube|title=DJ Q vs Dizzee Rascal - Flex|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYrXixt3BRA|work=YouTube|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=5 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301152202/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYrXixt3BRA|archive-date=1 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|last=DJ Q|first=YouTube|title=DJ NG FEAT KATY B - TELL ME (DJ Q MIX)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxYI1-BWvk0|work=YouTube|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=16 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301161549/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxYI1-BWvk0|archive-date=1 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

Q continued to host his BBC 1Xtra show – by now a weekly broadcast - throughout his mainstream success, and frequently appeared on sister station BBC Radio 1 for guest mixes, before his departure in 2012 after 8 years at the station. He soon began a new monthly show on Ministry of Sound Radio, presenting the ''Essential Garage'' show.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ministry of sound radio|first=Ministry of sound radio|title=Radio/DJ Q|url=http://www.ministryofsound.com/radio/radio-djs/370/dj-q/|work=Ministry Of Sound|publisher=Ministry Of Sound|accessdate= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019040915/http://www.ministryofsound.com/radio/radio-djs/370/dj-q/|archive-date=19 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Recent years have seen an increase in new productions from Q, with over 10 digital single and EP releases since 2012 that cross a broad spectrum of dance music. These include "Say to You" (released under the alias Classified),<ref>{{cite news|last=Mag|first=Fact|title=DJ Q UNLEASHES NEW ALIAS ON UNKNOWN TO THE UNKNOWN EP: WATCH THE RIDICULOUS VIDEO INSIDE|url=http://www.factmag.com/2013/02/22/dj-q-unleashes-new-alias-on-unknown-to-the-unknown-ep-watch-the-ridiculous-video-inside/|accessdate=22 February 2013|newspaper=Fact Mag|date=24 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225015826/http://www.factmag.com/2013/02/22/dj-q-unleashes-new-alias-on-unknown-to-the-unknown-ep-watch-the-ridiculous-video-inside/|archive-date=25 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> the ''Sound Boy Connection'' EP via US label Party Like Us,<ref>{{cite web |last=PR |first=Plexi |title=DJ Q's 'Sound Boy Connection' EP Premieres on SPIN, Fact Mag, XLR8R; Out Now on Party Like Us Records |url=http://www.plexipr.com/2013/10/15/dj-qs-sound-boy-connection-ep-premieres-on-spin-fact-mag-xlr8r-out-now-on-party-like-us-records/ |work=Web Magazine |publisher=Plexi PR |accessdate=15 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021141925/http://www.plexipr.com/2013/10/15/dj-qs-sound-boy-connection-ep-premieres-on-spin-fact-mag-xlr8r-out-now-on-party-like-us-records/ |archivedate=21 October 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref> and three singles from his debut album via Local Action Records.<ref>{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Joe|title=DJ Q announces October Tour ahead of Debut Album|url=http://thehubentertainment.com/?p=2268|accessdate=27 September 2013|newspaper=The Hub Entertainment|date=24 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195928/http://thehubentertainment.com/?p=2268|archive-date=29 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

During his years in the music industry, Q has also played music in countries across the globe and Europe particularly, with sets in places such as Ibiza, Amsterdam, Italy, Russia, Australia and the United States.

==Work with TQD== '''TQD''' (often stylised as '''t q d''' or '''tqd''') is a collaborative act that was formed in 2015, comprising Royal-T, DJ Q and Flava D, with the name TQD being an amalgamation of the last letter of each of their names. All three artists were already signed to the Butterz record label and thus all TQD releases have also been released on Butterz.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://earth-agency.com/artists/tqd/ | title=TQD | access-date=3 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606184038/https://earth-agency.com/artists/tqd/ | archive-date=6 June 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> The act play and produce the genres of music that the individuals do (such as UK garage, bassline and grime), however they have released experimental tracks that cross into many other genres.

In 2015, Royal-T and DJ Q were collaborating on their first project together and they asked Flava D if she wanted to join in on the project too. This would then go on to be their debut single "Day and Night", released on Butterz on the 18 April 2015, both digitally and as a limited 500 copy vinyl pressing.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mixmag.net/feature/flava-d-gold/7 | title=Low-end inspiration: Flava D is at the forefront of bass music | access-date=3 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104010342/https://mixmag.net/feature/flava-d-gold/7 | archive-date=4 November 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> This track was released as "Day and Night (Day Mix)", however an alternate mix of the single was also released on the B-side as "Day and Night (Night Mix)". Due to their solo efforts and differences in location however, TQD releases were sparse with their second track titled "Ghosts" being previewed digitally over a year later in 2016 and then being released on their second vinyl release ''Only One/Ghosts''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mixmag.net/read/tqd-reveal-new-track-ghosts-news | title=TQD reveal new track 'Ghosts' | access-date=3 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104010205/https://mixmag.net/read/tqd-reveal-new-track-ghosts-news | archive-date=4 November 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The trio gained ample attention due to their releases and increasingly popular live sets and thus began working on an album together. This was formally announced at the beginning of 2017 to be the debut album, ''ukg'' and would be released on March 17, 2017.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.factmag.com/2017/02/07/t-q-d-butterz-debut-album-ukg/| title=T q d announce debut album for Butterz, UKG| date=2017-02-07| access-date=3 November 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104010327/http://www.factmag.com/2017/02/07/t-q-d-butterz-debut-album-ukg/| archive-date=4 November 2018| url-status=live}}</ref> The album contains features from P Money, Swindle and Skilliam and was met with generally positive reviews. ''Pitchfork'' called the track "Vibsing Ting" "strange and outstanding"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/18754-t-q-d-vibsing-ting/ | title=Listen to "Vibsing Ting" by TQD | website=Pitchfork | access-date=3 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104050055/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/18754-t-q-d-vibsing-ting/ | archive-date=4 November 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> and ''Mixmag'' said it consisted of "10 hard-hitting face melters."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mixmag.net/read/tqd-show-us-authentic-ukg-with-debut-album-news |title=TQD show us authentic 'UKG' with debut album |access-date=3 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104010406/https://mixmag.net/read/tqd-show-us-authentic-ukg-with-debut-album-news |archive-date=4 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, ''Clash'' magazine wrote that the album was "disappointingly short" and that "there’s a feeling that t q d aren’t really a case for three heads being better than one."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/t-q-d-ukg | title=T q d - ukg | date=3 April 2017 | access-date=3 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104053032/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/t-q-d-ukg | archive-date=4 November 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> The Bandcamp release of ''ukg'' contained three extra tracks that were not present on the vinyl or physical CD releases.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/T-Q-D-ukg/release/11317842 | title=T Q D - ukg | website=Discogs | access-date=3 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104010436/https://www.discogs.com/T-Q-D-ukg/release/11317842 | archive-date=4 November 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Though they have not made any official releases since their debut album as a trio, each member continues to produce and release music individually and the act still performs shows in many countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, Spain and Japan.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/tqd-uk/dates?yr=2018 | title=RA: TQD tour dates for 2018 | access-date=3 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104011822/https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/tqd-uk/dates?yr=2018 | archive-date=4 November 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Discography== ===Albums=== *''The Archive'' (2012) *''Ineffable'' (2014)<ref>{{cite web|last=.com|first=Discogs|title=DJ Q|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/DJ+Q+(3)|work=Web discography|publisher=Discogs.com|accessdate=2005-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424010304/http://www.discogs.com/artist/DJ+Q+(3)|archive-date=24 April 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Singles===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan=2 style="width:19em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan=2| Year ! scope="col" colspan=1| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan=2| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:85%;"| UK |- ! scope="row"| "You Wot"<br /> | 2008 | 50 | rowspan=5|Non-album singles |- ! scope="row"| "Over Me"<br />(feat. Louise Williams) | 2011 | — |- ! scope="row"| "Dibby Dibby Sound / Swing"<br /> | rowspan=2| 2012 | — |- ! scope="row"| "All Junglist"<br /> | — |- ! scope="row"| "Party Time"<br /> | rowspan=5| 2013 | — |- ! scope="row"| "Say to You"<br />{{small|(as Classified)}} | — | ''—'' |- ! scope="row"| "Trust Again"<br />{{small|(feat. Louise Williams)}} | — | ''Ineffable'' |- ! scope="row"| "Through the Night"<br />{{small|(feat. Louise Williams)}} | — | ''Ineffable'' |- ! scope="row"| "Let the Music Play"<br />{{small|(feat. Louise Williams)}} | — | ''Ineffable'' |- ! scope="row"| "Oh My God"<br />{{small|(DJ Q vs. Natalie Duncan)}} | 2015 | ''—'' | Non-album single |- |}

===EPs=== * ''Q Bass Trax 1'' (2013) * ''Sound Boy Connection EP'' (2013) * ''Love Keeps Changing'' (2013) - [Trumpet & Badman, with DJ Haus] * ''A440'' (2023) (Collaboration with Tofubeats)

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.djqmusic.com/ DJ Q's official Tumblr blog] * [http://thehubentertainment.com/?thehub_management=dj-q The Hub Entertainment - Management] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029224808/http://thehubentertainment.com/?thehub_management=dj-q |date=29 October 2013 }} * [https://twitter.com/djqmusic DJ Q's official Twitter] * [http://www.facebook.com/djqmusic?fref=ts DJ Q's official Facebook Page]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Q, Dj}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Black British DJs Category:Black British radio presenters Category:English record producers Category:Bassline musicians Category:UK garage musicians Category:British remixers Category:BBC Radio 1Xtra presenters Category:Musicians from Huddersfield Category:English electronic dance music DJs Category:21st-century English male musicians