DJ spins North into Number One slot

A Heckmondwike Techno DJ has topped a national competition to find the best underground DJs in the country.

Mark Shingleton, a former participant on the New Deal for Musicians programme, beat eight other DJ's from around the country to win a place on the books of a leading agency. Mark, who specialises in underground trance, techno and hardcore, found himself in the competition finals at the North Club in Stoke-on-Trent after his Music Industry Consultant advised him to mail out CD copies of his work to venues and promoters.

Since winning the competition in front of over two thousand people, Mark has been offered DJ work by the agency at a number of clubs in Manchester, Bradford, Leicester and at The Cornmill in Brighouse. Now completing an access course at the Huddersfield Technical College before embarking on a two-year music technology course, Mark hopes to combine both production and performance in his career.

"Working with my Music Industry Consultant really made me pull my finger out," said Mark. "He helped in ensuring I sent off CD's to all the clubs and the result was a place in the finals at the North Club."