DJ Edwin

DJ Edwin
Birth name Edwin Campbell X Morrow
Born (1968-06-29)29 June 1968
Origin Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Died 16 March 2014(2014-03-16) (aged 45)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Genres Dance
Occupation(s) DJ, remixer, songwriter, producer
Years active 1987–2014
Labels Volition, Central Station
Associated acts L'Me L'Ma, Sexing the Cherry, Eco Cops, Nu Guerilla, Mister Morrow, Eggo and Hot Pocket

Edwin Campbell X Morrow,[1][2] (29 January 1968 – 16 March 2014) known professionally as DJ Edwin, was a DJ, remixer, songwriter and producer. As a DJ he pioneered the Brisbane dance music and club scene, along with DJ Angus and DJ Kesson, in the late 1980s. In the 1990s Edwin created the Halloween and Adrenalin dance parties and the all-female DJ party, Adrenalene. He was a long-term resident DJ at The Beat and Rockafella's nightclubs in Fortitude Valley.

Edwin wrote and produced electronic dance music and hard house under a variety of names including Mister Morrow, Eggo & Hot Pocket (with DJ Jen-E aka Jenny Juckel), Eco Cops, and Nu Guerilla. By 1992 Edwin was in a band, Sexing the Cherry, their track, "Steppin' On Remix", peaked at No. 42 on the ARIA Singles Chart in May 1994.[3] Edwin also wrote and performed music to help people with disabilities. Edwin Morrow died of a heart attack on 16 March 2014 in Brisbane, aged 45.[4]

Background

In high school, Edwin was a drummer in an industrial band,[5] L'Me L'Ma, having influences from synth music bands including Queen, Duran Duran, Visage, Depeche Mode, A Flock of Seagulls, New Order, Dead or Alive, Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Nitzer Ebb. L'Me L'Ma released a track, "Killing Your Heart", which was later remixed by Betty. From the late 1980s Edwin DJ'd at Brisbane's early dance music nightclubs, including Stratus (Homestead Hotel, Zillmere) and Wall Street.[4]

Dance parties

Edwin created the Halloween Fantasy Ball parties and with Peter Tait, in 1991,[6] the Adrenalin parties with their iconic Michelin man flyers. He played at most of the early dance club parties in Brisbane.

Sexing The Cherry

By 1992 Edwin Morrow and Cherryn Lomas were in a band, Sexing the Cherry, which were signed to Volition Records / Sony Records.[7] Edwin wrote music under a various names to separate his work with different artists — Eco Cops, Nu Guerilla, Rocket Girls and Mister Morrow. Sexing the Cherry and Mister Morrow had a track included on the Volition High - A Dance compilation CD (VOLTCD88) in 1992. In May 1994 Sexing the Cherry's "Steppin' On Remix" (VOLTCD87), which was produced by Robert Racic, peaked at No. 42 on the national ARIA Singles Chart[3][8] and reached No. 33 on the NSW ARIA state singles chart.[9] The original "Steppin On" was co-written by Morrow, Lomas and Luke Paramour.[10] It was released on a CD compilation album, Hartley coeurs à vif, on East West Records, an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group.[11] The song also appeared on the TV show, Heartbreak High in its first series, episode 16 which aired on 8 June 1994.[12][13] Sexing the Cherry supported international artists including Take That — at Australia's Wonderland in Sydney, 1994[14] and M People on the Brisbane leg of their Come Again Tour, 1 April 1995.[15]

DJ residencies

Edwin was a resident DJ at The Beat Nightclub in Fortitude Valley for thirteen years, playing five nights a week on the 2-5am shift, and later was a resident DJ at Rockafella's, playing four nights a week.[16] Edwin worked at Central Station Records for many years — both in the original Fortitude Valley store and the Brisbane CBD store. He would put aside music and make suggestions for many of the regulars.[5] Edwin also DJ'd at Radical Clothing store in the city in the 1990s.

Influence on Brisbane's dance music community

Many of Brisbane's DJs and music artists credit DJ Edwin as giving them their first gigs, including DJ Zentraedi, DJ Jen-E (aka Jenny Juckel),[5] Bexta, DJ Freestyle, Neurojack and Barking Boy. He gave female DJs a chance to play at the parties he organized — an unusual occurrence in an otherwise male-dominated field. In the 1990s he organized an all-female main room line up for a gig called Adrenalene.[17] He described the gig as, "Sexy party, sexy girls! For some reason DJing had become a male dominated arena and I believe this is more to do with ignorance and not talent. At the time there were sooo many good female DJs so I thought I would showcase them and let the people decide. Chicks dance, chicks know music and chicks can mix!".[18] In 1997-'98 he created the girl group Screw and then renamed them the Rocket Girls. Edwin wrote and produced their music, and the group played at local dance parties. In 1993, Edwin also helped Harry Katsanevas compile the weekly DJ chart in Brisbane's dance music street press, Scene Magazine.[19] In 1995, Central Station Records released a CD maxi single of Edwin Morrow's song Didgeridoo.[20] Eggo & Hot Pocket's song "Cities That Are Downlaid" was written by DJ Edwin & DJ Jen-E.

Edwin also spent years writing, recording and performing music to help patients at Cascade Place — a day care centre for people with disabilities. In February 2007, Edwin mentioned in an interview on inthemix, ". . . recently I've been producing for Canadian label Ruff Cutz and doing some remixing for the Jelly Babes. And to add to that, I have been writing for the supremely talented and gorgeous Chelsea Knights. I've also been DJing four nights a week at Rockafella's in the Valley and I'm a couple of navs away from gaining my P.P.L (private pilot's license)".[18]

Edwin Morrow died on Sunday 16 March 2014 from heart failure due to liver-related illness.[4] An RIP DJ EDWIN memorial Facebook group was created following his death.[21] The Beat Nightclub held a memorial night on 28 March 2014 to celebrate his life.

Edwin and his music is featured in "BNE - The Definitive Archive: Brisbane Independent Electronic Music Production 1979-2014", which is a hardcover book and USB music archive published by Trans:Com in September 2014.[22][23]

Discography

Mister Morrow

Nu Guerilla

Sexing The Cherry

Edwin Morrow

References

  1. ↑ "'BB Boys and BB Girls' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014. Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g BB Boys and BB Girls; or at 'Performer:' Sexing the Cherry
  2. ↑ "MORROW, Edwin Campbell". Tributes. The Courier Mail. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  3. 1 2 Hung, Steffen. "Discography Sexing the Cherry". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Swales, Kris (21 March 2014). "Brisbane club scene mourns the loss of DJ Edwin". News. In The Mix Sound Alliance. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Duggan, Howard (19 March 2014). "Vale DJ Edwin Morrow: Sexing The Valley". scenstr. Eyeball Media. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  6. ↑ Linthorne, Troy; Maltman, Peter; Watt, Michael; Grice, Tori (1 August 1997). "Features - Spotlight on Brisbane: Everyone Knows These Guys". Substance Magazine. Archived from the original on 28 January 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  7. ↑ "Sexing the Cherry". Artist. MusicBrainz. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  8. ↑ Richards, Neil. "NEIL RICHARDS (BNE 1994-1997 & MEL 2003-2004)". The Editors - 1,000 Issues of Scene Magazine. Scene Magazine. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "NSW". The ARIA Chart. 1994-05-15. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  10. ↑ "'Steppin On' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014. Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g Steppin On; or at 'Performer:' Sexing the Cherry
  11. 1 2 "Hartley coeurs à vif". Releases. MusicBrainz. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  12. ↑ "Series One". Heartbreak High: music credits. Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  13. ↑ "Heartbreak High - Series 1 - Episode 16". Shows. TV.com. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  14. ↑ Young, Peter (2014-02-04). "Wonderland was the ride of my life". Opinion Blogs. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  15. ↑ "Cherryn Lomas: Vocalist". Bios. Swing Force Big Band. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  16. ↑ Staff Writer (20 March 2014). "Pioneering Brisbane DJ Edwin Has Passed Away". News. The Music (Street Press Australia). Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  17. ↑ "Adrenalene 1996". Dance parties, clubs and venues. Brisbane Dance Parties Archive. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  18. 1 2 Wright, Nicole (2007-02-15). "Edwin: Brisbane's back beat". Features. In The Mix. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  19. ↑ O'Donnell, Kath (2014-03-22). "DJ Edwin". Dance Party People. Brisbane Dance Parties Archive. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  20. 1 2 "Edwin Morrow – Didgeridoo". Discogs. Discogs. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  21. ↑ "RIP DJ Edwin". Groups. Facebook. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  22. ↑ Remmer, Dennis (2014). BNE - The Definitive Archive: Brisbane Independent Electronic Music Production 1979-2014. Transmission Communications. p. 49. ISBN 9780646921501.
  23. ↑ Project BNE: Brisbane Independent Electronic Music Production 1979-2014
  24. ↑ "High: A Dance Compilation". Release - Group. MusicBrainz. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  25. ↑ "Various – High - A Dance Compilation". Discogs. Discogs. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  26. ↑ "Sexing The Cherry – Steppin' On Remix". Discogs. Discogs. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  27. ↑ "Sexing The Cherry – Glamorous". Discogs. Discogs. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  28. ↑ "Boiling Point". Releases. MusicBrainz. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  29. ↑ "RaveBase Phase 5". Releases. MusicBrainz. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
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