Marc Smith is a Scottish DJ and producer based in the United Kingdom, working in hardcore, freeform, bouncy techno and happy hardcore. He is active from the mid-1980s and is associated with the UK rave scene and hardcore techno.

Career

Smith starts mixing hip-hop in his bedroom in 1985, working with local rappers, beatboxers and breakdancers. In 1987 he gets his first major residency at The Warehouse in Glasgow, an early acid house venue. He later takes residencies at The Club Hacienda and Euphoria @ Heaven, where he plays tracks including “Voodoo Ray” and Joey Beltram’s “Energy Flash”. His fast mixing and turntable work make him a recognised figure in Scottish club culture.

By the early 1990s, Smith is at the forefront of the growing rave scene. He is voted Scotland’s No. 1 DJ by Clubscene magazine for six consecutive years, and he also wins Best Scottish DJ at the Irish Dance Music Awards and on Tom Wilson’s “Stepping Out” show on Forth FM.

Rave and hardcore work

Smith’s sets feature at events including Holocaust, Technodrome, Amnesia, World Party, Awesome 101 and Earthquaker. From 1993 to 1995 he holds a residency at Rezerection, which becomes a key part of his place in Scottish rave history. In the late 1990s he continues to perform at major UK events such as Hardcore Heaven and Vibealite.

He keeps a high-energy, party-focused style in hardcore, with sets noted for speed, varied track selection and strong stage presence. His performances also mix uplifting synths, vocal anthems and drum and bass influences.

Record labels and collaborations

During the late 1990s Smith works closely with Scott Brown, with whom he co-founds Federation Records and records remixes for Brown’s Evolution label. He also collaborates with Ultra-Sonic, TTF, Chemical Mass, El Bruto and Ultimate Buzz. In the early 2000s he relaunches his label, Notorious Vinyl.

Later performances

Smith maintains a busy live schedule at events such as HTID, Uproar, Slammin Vinyl and the Tidy Weekenders. He also performs internationally in Australia, Austria, Holland, Canada and New York.