DJ Marky at the 6th Anniversary of Steppin’Session

Marco Antonio Silva, better known by the simple pseudonym DJ Marky, began playing drum and bass music in his native Brazil in 1992. At that time, he was still a blank slate for the global music industry and scene, and the number of attendees at his jungle parties was so insignificant that he seriously considered an early retirement from his career. Well, at least a change of music genre. But over time, the situation changed radically. A significant event that influenced the direction of his creative path as a DJ and musician was his acquaintance with such notorious and influential people as DJ Hype, Goldie, and the head of V Recordings, Bryan Gee. The latter was so impressed by the Brazilian’s technique of playing and scratching during a set in 1998 in São Paulo that he immediately invited him to perform in London at his monthly cult parties Movement at Bar Rumba. This was actually the beginning of Marky's popularity and his 'Brazilian' drum and bass worldwide.
In 1999, Marky released his first mix album 'Workin’ The Mix', and just a year after his first appearance at a London party, British music critics awarded him the title 'Best New DJ' - such recognition in 'Foggy Albion' had never been achieved by any DJ from the most football-crazy country in the world before. After that followed tours across England, Europe, and Canada. And in May 1999, he played at the 'Close Up Planet Festival' before a crowd of 20,000, warming up the audience before The Prodigy’s performance.
By early 2000, he released his mix Audio Architecture Vol.1, which sold over 30,000 copies just in Europe, and successfully continued with its second part in 2003. Meanwhile, another of the most popular mixes in the history of drum and bass music, Movement presents Brazilian Job Mixed by DJ Marky, was released in 2001, solidifying the DJ's and musician's status as a cult figure. In the subsequent time, Marky managed to work with many various musicians and artists, including such names as Everything But The Girl, Roy Ayers, Laurent Garnier, Fatboy Slim, Ive Mendez, Bibel Gilberto, US3, Fernando Porto, Viktor Duplaix, and this is just part of the names that cannot be linked to the world of drum and bass music.
Overall, he has more than 16 awards, from Best Breakthrough Producer to Icon and Outstanding Contribution to Drum & Bass. This is not surprising, as no one except Marky has managed to discreetly and naturally combine the color of national Brazilian music folklore with the contemporary technologies that fill drum and bass.
Success allowed Marky, together with his friend and ally XRS, to launch his own label Innerground Records in 2003. It started with the hit release DJ Marky & XRS 'Rotation/Rudebwoy', and today counts 20 records, including works from both the Brazilians and musicians such as Calibre, Logistics, Digital, Total Science, Redeyes... No less interesting producers will also be featured on the 12-inch records from Innerground Records this year – Alix Perez, Seba & Krazy, Bcee & Lomax, Utah Jazz & Soulmatic, etc.
Recognition of DJ Marky's genius in the field of drum and bass has also been reflected in the results of the recent award ceremony BBC-1Xtra - XtraBass Awards 2007, where he received first place in the 'Best International Artist/DJ' category.

DJ Marky will perform at the Steppin’Session Birthday on May 26, Saturday at the Ikra club.