Renegade Riddims: Hardisty

Will Hardisty aka Hardisty hails from Buckingham and started DJing around 5-6 years ago. He has built himself up from ground level, having experiences like no other! The beginning of his career saw Will getting on the decks at house parties.

Hardisty’s sets mostly included 140 genres, such as Bassline and Bass house, taking that same style with him into his DJ residency at a local Club/Bar at the start of 2017. He was a resident DJ at the venue for around 2 years and put on small styled event nights as well as playing every other Saturday. Sadly the venue closed abruptly in late 2018. From then to late 2019, Hardisty was still playing at private bookings at the odd event, where he gained his love for Drum & Bass, taking to simplistic rollers and melodic Liquid.

During that 12 month period, feeling a slight hole was left after his residency quickly ended, Hardisty came to the conclusion that instead of waiting for opportunities to come about, he needed to make those opportunities happen for himself.

From the few events he put on at the venue during his residency, and the events he played after it closed, Hardisty came to know many local and highly talented DJs. These DJ’s, like him, were feeling lost that there were few to no events going on in the local area for a long time. Hardisty got in contact with those DJs and along with his designer friend, they launched OTD (On The Decks) in November 2019.

Starting with 7 DJs and one designer, the event brand grew and put on their first event just before the nightmare of 2020 hit. They have since gone on to do 2 events and a number of successful livestreams and online events. They have worked alongside local brands and venues like our beloved Unit Nine, and have grown their team of resident DJs to 8, and are expanding their team to over 20 people. Consisting of crucial team leaders, and a 10+ person brand ambassador team, they have launched their own merch line, and have just completed the build of their own studio HQ in Buckingham.

Hardisty’s main focus for the last few years has been his beloved OTD brand, which without the team in it, would not be where it is today! While building his label with help from the team, Hardisty has taken a love to many sub genres, and turns his sets into “a bit of everything” whilst he takes listeners on a roller coaster ride!

Will is a DJ local to us and we’ve been following and supporting him and OTD for a year or so. When I found myself without a Renegade Riddims mix for this week, I knew exactly who to contact. I got in touch with Will and he happily stepped up to fill the void and recorded a mix for us. Ever the professional!

From new school Jump Up, Old School Jump Up, Minimal, Jungle, through to Liquid and then finishing with some high energy tracks…This mix has it all!

Check out Hardisty’s Renegade Riddims mix below. You can download it for free using the button beneath the Soundcloud player!

Tracklist:

DJ – Magenta
Shut Your Mouth – Laney
Bank – Amplify
Me & U – Cassie (Annix Bootleg)
Addiction – Roche
Pumpers – Sota
Crackpot – BlckHry
Somewhere Else – Paul T & Edward Oberon
Roughest – Amplify
One on One (Kendrick Remix) – Kendrick & Laney
Demolition Man – KY, MDMC
Everywhere we Go – Jeopardize
Bam Bam (Benny Page & Deekline Remix) – Ed Solo, Deekline
History Making (VIP) – Dominator
Touch Me – Freeze
The Spot (feat Kiz) – Pyro
Tekkers Riddim – Grima x Azza, Harry Shotta, Mr Traumatik
3 Dots – Jakes, The Sauce
Objection – Waeys
Bugatti – Banzai
Get Busy (Nu Elementz Remix) – Nu Elementz, AC13
New York – Mamoet
Cut – Oz
I’m Still in Love (Kleu Remix) – Marcia Aiken
Action – Dominator, Nu Elementz
Blackboard (Sub Killaz VIP) – Marcus Visonary
Shock Out – Sub Killaz
Buck Rogers (Bladerunner Remix) – Firefox
Cat Women – Bou
Herbsmoke – Aries
Pretty Little Thing – T>I
Dubplate Style (Bou Remix) – Cheshire Cat, Aries
90’s Dreamer – Kumo
The Ride – Serum, Bladerunner
Sprung – Gerra & Stone
Try To Understand (L-Side Remix) – Dramatic, Command Strange
Sunshine (Feat. Irene Merring) – Macca, Loz Contreras
Trouble – DJ Marky, Javeon, Pola & Bryson
Concrete – Alix Perez
Voices – Phadix, Shadre & Salvage (FOURTHCOMING)
Dreaming – Shapeless
Already Know You (feat. Shreona Knight & Curmiah Lisette) (Dogger & Mindstate Remix) – Illmatika
Collusion – Shadows
Destine – LSB
Im Burning – Ellis Dee
With Wolves Ft. Madalina – Kendot
Valid – Monty
On & On – Surreal
Let Me Go – Pyro
Pressure – Bou & Sub Killaz
Remedy – Dr Meaker
Take Me Away – Chase & Status
Sidewinder – Camo & Krooked, Mefjus
Mark Ft. Strategy – Dub Phizix, Skeptical