Masterfully talented DJ/ Producer,
Jon Dasilva was at the epi-centre of the early days of UK dance music and defined the music policy of The Haçienda during the explosion of acid house. He quickly became regarded as an innovative, adventurous, and pioneering DJ. One of the original pioneers of the acid house scene - featuring on our Originators T-shirts , Sweatshirts & prints
Taking his cues from the legends that inspired him, Larry Levan, Francois Kevorkian and Ron Hardy, Jon embodies the spirit and ideals of Acid House, his eclectic taste and technical ability mark him out as specialist from the old-school.
Jon developed a long standing relationship with The Haçienda and Factory. He toured the US with New Order and was part of The Haçienda’s 1990 American Tour, “The United States Of Hacienda”. It was his residency at legendary acid house night, “Hot” that cemented his reputation. The biggest night at The Haçienda during The Second Summer Of Love. Dasilva’s grasp of the Chicago house scene, coupled with his extensive record collection made “Hot” a national event for the early acid house scene and the style press. Hot attendees and alumni include Sasha, Slam, James Barton, James Baillie and Massive Attack, with Sasha remarking that Jon's style at Hot influenced him more than any other DJ.
Here's his answers to our Ask the DJ acid house questions...
1. What was your first acid house moment?
I guess hearing Slam by Phuture in Spin Inn Record Shop in Manchester …It’s sounded so utterly dark and strange! So unbeknownst to me a New Black Musical Language was being born…Acid House... The moment that really sank in was the Hacienda in July 88….dropping that monster of a tune, a record so brimming with unrestrained energy (on crap Trax vinyl) it was like mixing in the End of the World!
2. Favourite club/night ever?
HOT Hacienda Manchester 1988 Say no more. Some amazing clubs since then over the last 26 years…but that first moment of DJ Culture hitting the UK like nothing before was incredible (apologies to Northern Soul)!!!
3. Best acid house debacherous moment?
yeah right…as if I’d tell you...
4. Guilty pleasure always in your box?
A range of sound effects from all over…I have a lot of audio books chopped up and effected and various other oddities along with all the BBC sound FX shizzle
5. Guilty pleasure not in the box!?
Secrets Of The Beehive - David Sylvian
6. Give us one of your favourite and hard to find records in your collection?
jesus…hardest question of the lot…I’ve no idea that a lot of what I have is hard to find…was told recently that Pako Italian House 12” is worth 100 quid…insane…
I’ll pass on this question…too many it seems
7. Favourite acid track?
Slam by Phuture
8. Favourite labels?
Kindisch / Life and Death / Inner Visions / Soma / Audiomatique / Modern Love / Ellum / Get Physical / Rush Hour/ Running Back / Factory/ Clone / Trax
9. Favourite producer / producers?
Martin Hannett
Lee Scratch Perry
Carl Craig
Toni Visconti
DJ Pierre
10. Who to watch from the new school?
Hallo Halo
11. Current favourite track?
Mongolito - Djedjotronic
12. Can u dance?
God…yes but rarely….in good company and when not working AT ALL…yes…well, I think so...
Jon is playing at the Hummingbird Come Together night on 27th December.
Also at the Boxing day Hacienda event at The Warehouse Project alongside David Morales, Graeme Park, Mike Pickering, Marshall Jefferson to name a few.
