Giles Smith

Giles Smith

Giles Smith is a UK keyboardist and writer from Colchester, born in 1962. He is associated with Cleaners From Venus, and also works in house and techno as a DJ, promoter and producer.

DJ and club work

Smith develops an interest in house and techno at the start of the 1990s after hearing the music on the radio. He has already been collecting records since he is 15, but he does not begin DJing until he moves to London in 2000 after completing his degree. He soon earns a residency at the Junior Boys Own-affiliated Faith parties, where he plays alongside UK names such as X-Press 2 and Terry Farley, as well as international DJs including Doc Martin, Kerri Chandler and Dubtribe.

Secretsundaze

In 2001, Smith and a group of friends launch Secretsundaze. The party series quickly becomes a regular destination for guest DJs and clubgoers, hosting artists including Ricardo Villalobos, Carl Craig, Steve Bug, Mike Shannon, Luciano, Ame, Losoul, Ivan Smagghe and Jay Haze. Smith also plays at clubs and venues in Berlin, Frankfurt, Geneva, Amsterdam, Paris and Ibiza, including Panorama Bar, Weekend, Watergate, Robert Johnson, Monza, Weetamix, Club 11, The Rex, Space and The Underground.

Production and releases

Smith’s first production work is with Dan Berkson, when they remix a track for the Spanish label Logical Noise in 2006. He later starts the project Two Armadillos with Martin Dawson, also known as King Roc. The pair release Tunnel Of Light on Steve Bug’s Dessous label, and also prepare Butterfly Bee for Four:Twenty Records, with a remix by Andomat 3000 and Jan. Smith later mixes and compiles the first secretsundaze compilation with James Priestley, recorded live in his bedroom rather than through an Ableton-based approach.

Further projects

Smith continues to line up releases on Dessous, Four:Twenty and Buzzin Fly, and prepares remixes for Kiki, Dan Berkson and James What. He remains active in the secretsundaze project alongside James Priestley.