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Ramsey & Fenn

Whilst their studio efforts have resulted in some treasured scene classics that helped shape the garage sound that we hear today.

East London-born Ramsey, (his DJing moniker derived from his Turkish Cypriot surname Remzi) grew up on a musical diet of soul and rare groove. He first took to the turntables fourteen years ago, although back in the 80’s he was also to be found throwing some moves as a studio dancer on Jonathan Ross’s Channel 4 music show ‘Soul Train’. Ramsey’s DJing started off as a dole cheque-fed hobby, but stepped up a gear when pirate stations launched in his local area. Ramsey began spinning on Defection, and then Rush FM, where he was amongst the likes of Mixmaster Max, Kemistry & Storm and Goldie, who would come and MC for him during his sets.

North Londoner Fen- also of Turkish Cypriot origin - (Fen’ is Turkish for scientist’) used to sneak into his older brother’s bedroom as a 13year old and mess about on his decks, but didn’t take music seriously until the late 80’s when the rave culture exploded. Instead of following the hardcore route in the early 90’s, Fen preferred US garage and began playing out at parties and clubs including Mr.C’s legendary ‘Release’ nights where Fen would spin Dubby American tracks from labels like nervous and Strictly Rhythm.

Likewise, Ramsey returned to his soulful roots and began to spin US garage, having decided that the increasingly tight-knit jungle scene was hard to break into. He started a Saturday morning garage show on Rush FM, testing our early scene-shaping tracks from the like of Nightcrawlers and Robin S. The show got plenty of response and Ramsey started getting bookings to play garage in the back rooms at nights like ‘Roast’ (along side Norris ‘Da Boss’ Windross, ‘Thunder & Joy’ and early underground garage haunts such as east London’s ‘Dungeons’.

Ramsey & Fen also began playing out together at the station’s own night ‘Freek in the Manor’, as well as the majority of the UK garage scene s founding clubs like ‘La Cosa Nostra’, Zoo’s ‘Lord of the Underground’, Rhythm Promotions’, ‘The Breakfast Club’, ‘Sun City’, ‘Numb Nums’ (as residents) and ‘Twice As Nice’ forerunner, The Arches.

It was through London Underground that Ramsey & Fen got their first remix work, when the Trinity/SOUR studio and label (friends of the station’s backers) asked Ramsey & Fen to provide garage mixes of Kim Mazelle’s ‘Big Baby’ and ‘Quality’ which became underground anthems.

As club DJs, Ramsey & Fen have played across the globe, reaching Japan, Switzerland, Amsterdam (playing at the massive Dance Valley Festival Tenerife, Turkey and of course Ayia Napa. Ramsey & Fen have always retained their love of radio, and in the late 90’s the pair guested on legal stations and have delved into music TV having filmed an appearance on a Wise Buddha pilot production.

Now the home of Ramsey & Fen is to be found on London’s Choice 107.1 FM every Thursday 9-1 2pm where you find the guys breaking new garage music and inspiring the UK garage scene.

Now the home of Ramsey & Fen is to be found on London’s Choice 107.1 FM every Thursday 9-1 2pm where you find the guys breaking new garage music and inspiring the UK garage scene.

Last year, Ramsey & Fen stepped up the studio work once more, kicking off with the excellent single ‘Favorite Part Of Me’ (featuring Pay As You Go’s Maxwell D) and have been concentrating on signing new talent and developing artists for Bug records, they have already linked up with the hotly tipped Young Offendaz, and veteran MC CKP for the forthcoming single ‘Prevention’ on BUG Records.

This year sees loads of production work flying out with tracks such as “You Know” featuring Kr@zie, “Delicious” Featuring Noel McKoy, “Style Remixes” feat. lsquo;Richie’ and “Whats Going On” Featuring Kr@zie once again. Ramsey & Fen are currently working on many more exciting projects that are due to hit the streets soon.

A new generation of UK garage player may have entered the frame, but Ramsey & Fen have never stopped championing the scene they helped create, and their love for the music has endured through many musical twist and turns that UK garage has taken. “Giving everyone a boost, helping them to get where they are and seeing how everyone’s progressed has been a buzz” maintains Ramsey, whilst Fen adds “We’ve always said we just wanted to take UK garage and get it out there for others to hear it, and that’s still what we’re about.” The time feels right for a Ramsey & Fen renaissance, as they remind us that originality, energy and dedication to the music never goes out of style.