Tekniq

Tekniq is an ambient electro and drum and bass act associated with Mike Savelli. The project records in the UK and works across drum and bass, jungle, hardcore techno and ambient styles.

Background and formation

The act begins with two DJs, JT and DJ Hostyle, also known as John Williams and Jonathan Wright, who meet at school and start making music in 1989 using a Casio sampling keyboard and an Amiga computer. Both are DJs from 1991, when they form Tekniq. Before that, DJ Hostyle gets DJ work at illegal raves and local club events around Norfolk. John later builds a home studio, which becomes the main place where Tekniq tracks are produced.

Tekniq also holds several residencies, including Intense and Camouflage in Norwich. The act plays local events such as Rumble, Richard’s Parties, Dance Paradise and the Bee’s Knees illegal raves, and hosts a weekly show on the local radio station Coastal.

Recordings and labels

Tekniq’s first release is Technophone in 1991 on Ozone Records. This is followed by Belief, which enters the Mixmag charts and becomes a hit in Japan’s dance scene. The pair then meets DJ SS and joins the Formation Records roster. They contribute tracks for F-Project and work with DJ SS and EQ on the Formation EPs Rhythm for Reasons and Power Play. They also issue white-label 12-inch singles under the name The Eastcoasters.

More 12-inch releases follow on Formation Records. Voyager is championed by LTJ Bukem and DJ Peshey before its release in 1995. The Riot, released in 1996, receives heavy play from Grooverider, Randall, Bryan Gee, DJ Rap and DJ SS. One Style, released in 1999, reaches number 1 on the Radio One Drum and Bass Chart.

Other projects and later work

Tekniq also appears on a number of Moving Shadow Records LP projects, including Storm from the East and Drumfunk Hooligans. In 2002 the act releases a 12-inch with Twisted Individual on Grid Recordings. After a break from production, Tekniq returns to the studio and continues to work on new material.