Andy C

Andrew Michael Clarke grew up in Hornchurch, Essex, and started sneaking into raves held in barns at 13, drawn in after watching a DJ work the crowd at a party called Imagination in Bishopsgate, London. He bought a cheap pair of decks soon after, and in 1992, at just 16, founded RAM Records with childhood friend Ant Miles.

The label's third release, "Valley of the Shadows," made under the duo's Origin Unknown alias in 1993, became known as a prototype of the darkcore sound and won Best Hardcore Tune at that year's Hardcore Dance Awards. Clarke and Miles released two more Origin Unknown albums before teaming with another Essex friend, Shimon, to form Ram Trilogy, releasing the album Molten Beats in 1999.

Recording and DJing as Andy C, he's remixed Busta Rhymes' "Woo Hah!," Adam F's "Circles," and Jay-Z's "Can't Knock the Hustle," hosted a longtime Wednesday show on Kiss FM, and won Drum & Bass Arena's Best DJ award every year from 2009 to 2018. RAM Records, still based in Hornchurch and now co-run with Scott Bourne, remains one of the most influential labels in drum and bass.