MJ Cole

MJ Cole is a London-born producer and remixer associated with UK garage, house and 2-step, with his work also spanning electronic, club, disco, classical and classical crossover styles. He is born Matthew James Firth Coleman.

Early background

He studies classical music at LCU and the Royal College of Music, while also attending London rave nights such as Telepathy and Raindance, where he listens to hardcore and jungle.

Breakthrough and releases

He starts his own label, Prolific Recordings, and produces Sincere in 1998 using a sampler and an Amiga. One of the test pressings reaches Pete Tong, who begins playing the track on BBC Radio 1. Cole then signs to Gilles Peterson’s Talkin’ Loud label and releases the album Sincere, which is nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. The album sells over 60,000 copies in the UK and produces two Top 15 singles.

Later work and recognition

He releases a second album, Cut to the Chase, in 2003. He also receives Best Producer recognition from Muzik and MOBO magazine awards. His later collaborations and remixes include work with Jill Scott, Tom Jones and Mariah Carey.