Shift K3y is the stage name of Lewis Shay Jankel, a British DJ and producer from London. Born in 1993, he works in electronic music with a focus on house, EDM and UK garage.

Early releases

Jankel first releases music under the name Shift Key, before changing the spelling to Shift K3Y in 2013. His debut EP, Step in the City, appears on Marco Del Horno’s Bullet Train label in 2011. Its track “Manage Ya” receives support from BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra DJs including MistaJam and Toddla T. In 2012 he releases Left and Right on the same label, followed by a run of remixes, bootlegs and further EPs.

Buygore period

By late 2012, Borgore’s Buygore label takes notice of his work. “Wiggle With It” appears exclusively on the label’s Buygore Allstars Vol. 1 compilation, and he then releases the EP Let You Down through Buygore. The track “Geeky Playtime” gains exposure after being uploaded to UKF. In March 2013, he releases the EP Frozen on the same label.

Remixes and singles

During 2013, Shift K3Y also releases three free singles: “Keep Ya Mouth Shut (Things People Say)”, featuring Griminal; “Make It Good”; and “Laughing At You”, which features vocals from Ruby Francis, his girlfriend. He remixes Tinie Tempah’s “Trampoline”, premiered by SB.TV as the first of its SB.TV Beats features and topping the Beatport hip hop chart. He also remixes AlunaGeorge’s “Attracting Flies”, a version that receives substantial support from 1Xtra.

Breakthrough

His breakthrough single “Touch” is released in 2014 and becomes his best-known track. It reaches number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, making it his first UK top-five single.