A Darlington teenager with ambitions to become a full-time DJ is set to have his exclusive mix played on a North East radio station.
Joe Richings, who DJs under the name Joe Rich, is presently studying English language, sport and leisure, and business at Queen Elizabeth (QE) Sixth Form College in Darlington - but his passion is for DJing.
The 17-year-old, born and bred in Darlington, played at a freshers' event in the town in the summer.
He was invited to produce an exclusive mix for Method Radio, the only dedicated underground dance and hip-hop station in the North East, which will be broadcast on Saturday afternoon (September 28).
Joe said the roots of his passion were formed at last year's Leeds Festival.
He said: "I realised playing in front of that many people with the crowd singing the songs back at you is what I would love to do to make a living.
"After Leeds I got my first decks at Christmas where I got more into minimal, deep, tech house."
He played out his first set in January at a friend's house party, followed by another house party later that month.
"I soon realised DJing isn’t just about clicking a few buttons on the board but reading the crowd and the right song selection," said Joe.
"In March I played my first event in front of people I didn’t know, for a fundraiser for a girl in my year at QE, alongside my two mates."
In May, Joe travelled down to Leeds to the Pirate Studios with two friends to play on club standard decks for the first time.
The following month, he went to the Parklife Festival in Manchester, where he got to see his favourite DJ, Josh Baker, who he said has "heavily influenced me ever since".
"After that festival I played at a local club for college leavers, which was heaving," he said.
"I’ve now bought myself a Macbook so I can find my own sound and be distinct from other DJs.
"I was asked by The Forum to play at the freshers' event in the Market Square which I really loved playing at.
"Next month, I’m playing for my mate's new record label which he’s trying to kickstart over in Manchester."
Joe's next Darlington gig is at the Ignite club on Saturday, November 2.
He said it was a real pleasure to create a new exclusive mix for Method Radio and he "can’t wait to hear it being played out on the airwaves".
Joe added: "I would love to make DJing my full time career."
Sandy Duff, station manager at Method Radio, said: "We are always keen to support the next generation of DJs for a variety of reasons.
"Firstly, we know the struggle.
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"Opportunities are hard to come by and scenes can often feel cliquey so it’s important for our platform to have an open door policy and give local talent a leg up.
"Secondly, the next generation are the future of the scene and it’s important to not only support them but educate them so they know the history of the scenes they represent, and to share our experiences and warn of potential pitfalls."
Hear Joe's exclusive mix on Method Radio from 2pm on Saturday.
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