A sales assistant and part-time DJ has landed a top award to help re-launch his music career after putting his performing on hold while he studied for a degree.<\/p>\n
David Langley, 31, who works at fashion store USC in the Quadrant Shopping Centre has just graduated with a BSc in Music Technology from Swansea Metropolitan University.<\/p>\n
David, the store\u2019s head of denim, who is now back performing as one of Swansea\u2019s most popular DJ\u2019s, has just won the Over 9 Award from a London-based digital marketing company.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThe competition was put together by a digital marketing company. I had to re-mix the work of a band I\u2019d never met.<\/p>\n
\u201cBasically producers are randomly paired with bands, in my case it was a band I\u2019d never heard of called Beautiful Sleazy. I re-mixed their song, December Girl, and sent it back and was thrilled to hear I\u2019d come out on top.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have won a music web page designed and developed by Over9 which will be brilliant as I do a quite popular music blog already and it should help get the word out that I\u2019m back.\u201d<\/p>\n
The former Swansea Metropolitan University student says his music technology degree wasn\u2019t so much about playing instruments but instead was all about the science of sound.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt\u2019s all about the science behind how sound works and how our brains interpret what you hear. The course was very science-based to be honest but really interesting.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just amazing how sound works and how we are able to hear music in different ways. It has made me think differently about my DJ work and how I approach it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cI used to play guitar and a bit of drums a few years ago but sadly I had an industrial accident when I was 19 and lost a finger. I still play a bit in private but haven\u2019t the confidence to play publicly.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I started out as a DJ. You can\u2019t just go into it without paying your dues. I began brushing up after clubs closed and helping out on the sound side of things as well as being something of a lighting jockey. I just had to grab the odd chance to perform when they came along.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen, I got my first break as a DJ at Quids Inn in Swansea, which has sadly now closed.\u00a0 After that I started to get decent gigs and performed at the best clubs on the best nights.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cHowever, when I started on my degree course I knew being a DJ would inevitably have to take a back seat so I could concentrate on my course work.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think my last gig was at Club Rouge last Boxing Night. But I\u2019m back and looking forward to playing my music at all of Swansea\u2019s best venues.<\/p>\n
But David says he has now intention of giving up his job at the Quadrant\u2019s USC store having worked in the retail sector since he was 17.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI love working there to be honest. It\u2019s always buzzing especially at weekends. The customers are great and the team I work with are just superb.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really enjoy my job and I might yet stay in retail full-time. I am looking at doing some part-time youth support work in December and we will see how that goes but I\u2019m definitely staying at USC.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ian Kirkpatrick, Manager of the Quadrant Shopping Centre, said: \u201cWe do have some remarkably talented people here at the Quadrant with abilities in all kinds of fields.<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid was in action here on the student fashion night when he played a DJ set at USC and that certainly entertained everyone and made for a great atmosphere that evening.\u201d<\/p>\n