Beginnings
Introduced to the world of vinyl in the 80s by his Uncle Tim, Peacey was immediately mesmerised. Little did Uncle Tim know of the butterfly effect he’d trigger, as this introduction laid the foundations for a far-reaching, impactful and lifelong journey through music.
Peacey’s evolution took in plenty of clubbing, assimilating the art of DJing, and eventually, production, which brings us to his current destination: Peacey’s debut album, ‘Play It By Ear’. It’s an eclectic sonic journal, cataloguing Peacey’s interactions with, and influences from, some of dance music’s notable players. However, how did we get to this point and what else shaped the Peacey we know today?
Growing up in a Christian musical family, as an acclaimed organist, Peacey’s grandad would leave an indelible mark. Peacey would often find himself absorbed in programming the organ’s albeit primitive electronic drums, together with programming its peculiar, entrancing arpeggiator sounds. These moments would serve as foundations of his enduring connection to instruments and music from this very young age.
The DJ Journey
By the 1990s, Peacey’s musical trajectory took another turn as he became heavily influenced by Jungle and Hip Hop. This shift was bolstered by a visit to his friend Tiz, whose elder brother introduced him to Technics turntables. Peacey rapidly honed his skills, making mixtapes and even adding emceeing to his repertoire. The ascent of UK and Speed Garage sounds prompted Peacey to delve deeper, even building a custom antenna to discover pirate radio stations. It was on Nottingham’s Groove City FM that he stumbled upon DJ Chris Lockdown. Impressed with Peacey’s talent, Chris offered him his debut warm-up slot at Derby’s renowned Loft. From there onwards, Peacey’s ascent throughout the DJ world continued, with memorable radio appearances, DJ residencies and an unforgettable gig at the Ministry Of Sound.
Production and Collaborations
Peacey’s tech-savvines, his musical abilities, and not to mention almost two decades of mentorship from lifelong friend, Martin Iveson, all ensured a fruitful progression into music production. Peacey’s proficiency with analogue synths and platforms like Cubase resulted in him producing exciting and distinctive sounds. Collaborative efforts bore their fruit too, with significant work alongside Craig Smith on the ‘Unknown Formula EP’. His debut album, ‘Play It By Ear’, is a testament to this musical journey. The album features collaborations with Clyde and Atjazz and reflects upon a journey of poignant moments and personal experiences.
Legacy
Peacey would consistently draw inspiration from a broad circle of talented individuals. Apart from family influences like Uncle Tim and his grandad, local talents like Scott Thompson, Scott Lorimer, Lee Whitehead and Marcus Shukla, Clyde and Martin Atjazz Iveson, to name but a few, all played pivotal roles in Peacey’s development.
To encapsulate what brought him to the point of releasing his debut album, Peacey humorously referenced his notorious attention to detail: ‘Don’t let the ADHD get in the way of a good album’, he quipped. After all, ‘Play It By Ear’ is a meticulously written and recorded catalogue of music. It’s an album that will attract discerning ears and diverse audiences, thanks to it spanning a multitude of genres including Hip Hop, R&B, House, Garage and Fusion.
