Spesh BIO

DJ Spesh (née Stephen Kay) has three claims to fame. ONE, he is half of the world renowned production team Jondi & Spesh. TWO, he created the progressive music scene in San Francisco. And THREE, he maintains a large fan base of insanely dedicated clubbers who connect with his less obvious yet totally enthralling style of DJing.

Outside of San Francisco Spesh is best known in the dance music scene as a producer. He is half of Jondi & Spesh, the duo mixmag called the “dons of progressive house.” Their discography stretches over 50 releases and a dozen labels. Together they run Loöq Records, the most innovative progressive and breaks label in the United States. Their records are supported by the best and choosiest DJ’s in the world (Sasha, Digweed, Burridge, Howells, Tenaglia, Oakenfold, etc.). Muzik magazine rated their artist album “We Are Connected” as one of the top 40 albums of 2000 (ahead of Madonna that year). The next Jondi & Spesh artist album has been signed to Spundae Recordings for release in 2004. Spesh is also part of JSJ, with high profile releases on Renaissance including “Deep Love 9” and “Ghost of You.”

Spesh has been the artistic leader of San Francisco’s dance music scene since the early nineties. With musical influences including Punk, Ska, New Wave and Funk, Spesh quickly rose in the local scene with a high profile residency at Release. Next on the list was Qoöl, a weekly party Spesh started at an art gallery to have 100% artistic control of his music. Ten thousand people agreed and the world’s original underground pan-techno happy hour soon had lines wrapping around the block. Jonathan Lisle visited and compared Qoöl to the Hacienda in Manchester. Unlike many DJ’s Spesh is in high demand in his hometown … he is not only the leader of the progressive scene but can always be counted on to bring something new and unexpected to every gig. Spundae founder Guiv Naomi says Spesh is “one of the best progressive DJ's from SF and one of the coolest promoters around.”

Spesh’s refusal to take the obvious route make his fans more passionate than usual. To them hearing a Spesh set is more than entertainment, it’s an addictive drug that takes them to a higher plane. While this might sound hyperbolic, Spesh fans constantly describe his sets as “inspirational” and “mind-blowing.” Ben Westhoff from San Francisco Magazine visited Qoöl and summed it up well; “I can still see Spesh searching for the perfect LP — that obscure house recording from England or Finland or Australia that is exactly what the party needs to go from happy hour to ecstatic hour. Suddenly he drops a cut so fabulous that we simply lose ourselves, ‘peaking’ on the most frantic, layered, and inspirational music of his set. An entire dance floor erupts into bliss, arms in the air and hips shaking to the quick, hard beats.”

It’s not just the clubbers who love Spesh, his fans include the press as well world’s top DJ’s. “I wish I could have spotted the records he was playing, because he was playing some blinders,” says Expander NL after seeing Spesh at a gig in Amsterdam. “It was funky, it was electro, it was breaks, it was pure progressive!” John Digweed simply says (on his KISS FM show featuring a Spesh mix) that Spesh is “An excellent DJ” … high praise indeed if you consider where that’s coming from. Over fifteen years of spinning records has given Spesh time to develop his talents to a nearly unconscious level. As Spesh himself says, "I’m doing my job when everybody in the room, including myself, has completely lost track of time.”

A complete press kit, discography and photos can be found in the “photos/press” section on this site.

Quotes from Spesh’s mailbag:

“I recently came across a set that you did for John Digweed's kiss 100 in May of 2002 and I was absolutely blown away. I've heard so many sets from other DJs but the your choice of music and the way you mix everything together is definitely the best I've ever heard. Please let me know how I can get more of your sets because one is not enough. Thanks and keep on rockin!!”
-Mark H. (Sacramento, USA)

“I just wanted to send a personal thank you for taking me (and
everyone else who was there) on an amazing journey.”
-Jae (San Francisco, USA)

“Your stuff is well worth the hour drive from the south bay and the hour
wait outside - but maybe you could help cut down one hour by hooking us up
with some Qool cards!”
-Moon (San Francisco, USA)

“I’m a VERY big fan of you, unfortunately I live in Germany so I cant enjoy
the parties in San Francisco… “
-Taylan (Germany).

“Just a little belated email telling you that you've won yourself a new fan…”
-Kelly (San Francisco).

“Just wanted to shoot you a quick note and thank ya again for the
Featured Artist mix. Everyone really loved it ... and ... (drum roll)
you're mix broke a new listener record for Proton!”
-Nick (Proton Radio, USA)