Icons: Slipmatt Reflects on Rave History, SL2 and the Moments That Shaped His Unmatched Legacy
- Undrtone Blog
- 27 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Slipmatt opens our Icons series with a mix and conversation that track the evolution of a life spent at the heart of rave culture. His story is well known, but hearing him revisit the early spark that set everything in motion gives the whole journey a new sense of clarity. He remembers exactly how it began. “I remember taking my dad’s record player into school when I was 10 for the school Xmas party with a box of records and playing to my class. I’d always take over any kind of hi-fi at any possible opportunity, even as a child.” That confidence came naturally, long before he had any idea where it would lead.
The Icons mix taps into the wider arc of that history. Slipmatt describes it as “a window into my favourite style of House Music right now,” blending new records with the DNA he’s carried since the rave explosion. “I love playing new music, of course, but I always seem to include lots of Old Skool Rave and Club Classic influence. It’s in my blood, and I don’t think that will ever change.” Listening to it, you can hear exactly what he means. The selection moves with the instinct of someone who lived through every shift in the culture and still treats each set like a chance to show what first made him fall in love with the craft.
SL2 naturally came up in conversation, because no discussion of his legacy can ignore the impact of On A Ragga Tip. He laughs at how unlikely it felt at the time. “The fact that it blew up sooo big that we got invited onto mainstream TV and national radio was the unbelievable bit. In our heads, we were just a couple of Essex lads on an Atari and a sampler. There was definitely a bit of right place at the right time involved. However, the tune really has stood the test of time.” That mix of modesty and self-awareness captures the era perfectly. Nobody expected the track to become a generational anthem, but it did, and it pulled him into a different chapter of his life almost overnight.
Raindance played an equally defining role. It wasn’t just another booking. It was family. “Raindance was my brother’s creation back in 1989, so naturally I became the resident DJ. Even though I was DJing way before that, I always think of the first Raindance as my first official rave event. It was a huge part of what got me started and known around the UK.” From there, Fantazia, Kiss FM and a long list of landmark sets pushed him across the country and onto bigger stages, but that first moment still anchors how he sees the whole timeline.
His ability to adapt has kept him relevant through multiple eras. He sees evolution as non-negotiable. “I do understand that things change and new music is 100 percent essential. Nothing ever stays the same, so I’m always looking out for the next big sound to put my stamp on.” But nostalgia isn’t something he runs from. “Old Skool will be with my generation for as long as we’re alive, but even so, I always strive to find new ways to deliver, remix and find that extra bit of magic.”
The Godfather of Rave label has followed him for decades, and he accepts it with the perspective of someone who has lived through every version of the scene. “I take it as a massive compliment. Whatever genre I’m playing, the Rave is always tucked in there somehow.”
There’s a calmness when he talks about pressure, despite the workload he has carried since the late eighties. “There hasn’t really been a quiet period for me in the past 36 years. Even in 2020 and 2021, I managed to keep very busy in the studio and DJing online. The thing with me is I really push myself nonstop, so I can never really complain. And I do love the action.” The same attitude appears when he reflects on standout memories. One moment remains vivid. “The one that sticks out the most is playing a packed O2 Arena in London with The Prodigy in 2013. It was amazing to come on literally about 1 minute after they finished and close the show with MC Jay J. A dream come true.”
His love for house music is as strong as ever, and he’s energised by what’s happening around him. He sees a healthy future driven by both experienced ravers and new producers pushing the rave edge of tech house. “The mature raver scene is thriving at the moment, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. The new music is great, it’s relentless, and it’s great to see so many new producers getting involved with the Ravey side of Tech House.”
Slipmatt’s history speaks loudly, but the way he tells it shows something deeper. Icons is about honouring artists who shaped the culture. He continues to shape it every time he steps behind the decks.
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