From DJ's Podcast

Sets from Gareth Coupe and Stel Alexander.  After focusing on building his plumbing and heating company the former IDJ Magazine competition winner, the former resident at the 2nd best club night in Wales Mixmag 2006 Dance Music Awards, FREAK. And former resident at arguably one of the biggest club nights in the UK, Yousef's very own award winning CIRCUS in Liverpool…. Stel Alexander is back behind the decks. Stel Alexander bought his 1st set of turntables at the age of 17 and his 1st gig came just under 2 yrs later for a new club night in Carlisle called Lucid, where he returned on a number of occasions to play for Lucid and the promoters new club night called UBER. Stel started his own small club night in his home town of Chester shortly after. It was at his night where he met Mark Barnes who he later teamed with and helped Mark Barnes with his club night Freak. Mark and Stel took Freak from a small venue in a basement in Chester to Central Station in Wrexham where they hosted a number of world renowned artists. During this time Stel entered himself into the IDJ Magazine competition where he won and caught the attention of Yousef, who he had since met during nights out at CIRCUS. Stel was asked to help out with the CIRCUS events and later became resident for CIRCUS. From there Stel played up and down the country and in a couple of other countries including the party island where he played for Ministry of Sound pool parties.  Alongside Stel Alexander’s DJing courier Stel did have a day job which was also taking off and was earning him more money. Stel Alexander knew his love for music would never leave him, so decided to focus on his plumbing and heating business and having a family. With the help of his good friend Gareth Coupe and Stel’s wife, Stel has found music again. About Gareth Coupe Born in the 70’s and growing up in the 80’s it gave me a great musical foundation.  Having an older than most Dad, slightly younger Mum and an older sister the eclectic choice was perfect.  Hearing Mario Lanza one minute then moving on to Motown, Neil Diamond and of course my sisters varied 80s pop, punk, Bowie, Duran Duran, Style Council and many more was a foundation I can’t complain about. I remember one day when my Mum did her annual spring clean and she popped on a Motown album.  This is when I found my rhythm and more importantly, a beat! This was my hook in to music and would be the corner stone to me moving on to my love of House music. Jumping on a few years I remember having the fascination with playing records and it wasn’t long before I had my own player.  This replaced the old reel to reel I used to record my own home radio shows on.  My sister still holds this evidence to this day!!! So here in the DJ was at an embryonic stage. Now, what I failed to mention at the start was my home town, Darwen, right next to Blackburn. The town of the illegal Rave scene!! Once I left school and started college the ante was upped, I found clubbing!!! It wasn’t long before I fell in with a few like minded friends and we ended up going to many many nights across the north west and LOVED IT!!!!!! Not long after, by chance, an opening came up at a venue by the college.  Salvador Dali’s brought in a wide range of patrons and this just pushed me on further and was the start of my first residency. I moved through the 90’s playing several long gone venues and countless house and after parties. The 90’s truly was an unbelievable decade and what I can still remember, will never be forgotten! Jumping into the 00’s and music was changing and so was the kit being used.  I moved to London and whilst DJs were 10 a penny, I still managed some parties here and there. A move to South Africa slowed music right down but not my love of it.   Once back in the UK and having found my feet again the decks came out of storage along with my wax.  I started again, building learning and following a trip back to Blackburn I got a gig in one of the coolest venues, North Bar. A few gigs here and I was growing more and more. I was learning from my gigs and watching the crowd like a hawk.  Going back in and watching other DJs fine tune their craft all made for greater understanding and knowledge.  I found a great and dear friend in North,  John Bennett and we worked together many times forming White Noise. We even managed to snag John Carter to play our 1st Anniversary party.  We worked together again at Sunbird records again on a night called Sessions.  These nights were legendary, a few select local DJs working in a neotribalist way supporting our home town of Darwen. Having moved to the Chester area I found Stel, or did he find me? Stel ran his fortnightly My House Your House radio show from my lounge.  I played a pre-show warm up for Stel and started to get used to CDJs. I have to say he is the most skilled loopist and mixologist I have seen to date! We formed a great friendship and in 2019 From was founded.  From was a chance for us both to DJ together finding music, sharing it and celebrating it.  We started up our YouTube channel, recycled an iTunes Podcast channel and not looked back.  Even through recent times we’ve always shared our music and thoughts to really cement what we want as DJs.  The various testing genres and their appeal have led to us now, we love to play music but it is even better when we craft a crowd and share our passion.