Darren Styles

Darren Styles

Darren Styles is the recording name of Darren Mew, a hardcore DJ, record producer and songwriter from Colchester, Essex, England. He starts DJing in underground hardcore at the age of 16 and becomes associated with the early development of the scene through his work with Paul Force, beginning in 1993. Together they build a reputation for hardcore production and writing, and are credited with supplying a mix for Pete Tong’s Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1, described as a first for hardcore DJs.

Style and releases

His work is associated with happy hardcore, UK hardcore, hardcore and trance. He releases tracks including Back to the Old School and Feeling Me, which become significant hardcore records in his catalogue. He also moves towards uplifting hard trance, releasing Black Magic, and produces remixes for labels including Honey Pot and Nukleuz Records. His best-known remix is of Silence, which is played by artists including Paul van Dyk.

Collaborations and aliases

Styles works under the alias Styles and records with a number of project names, including 4 Rising Stars, 69, A Sense Of Summer, Force & Styles, Futureworld, Infextious, Styles & Breeze, Unique and United In Dance. His partnership with Paul Force is central to his early career, and the two are known as Force & Styles.

Recognition

He receives awards for best producer, best DJ and best tracks at Hardcore Awards. His career is also shaped by an early interest in music, encouraged by his father, and by his work on keyboard and production as he develops his own style within dance music.