"A world of delicioulsy different House and Garage"

Tokyoblu Biography

Having “firmly established themselves as one of the freshest and most in demand acts on the Scottish club scene” (The List), Edinburgh based DJ duo Tokyoblu (John Hutchison and Iain Gibson) can currently boast some of the best regarded and attended residencies in Scotland.

It all started out at their monthly club ‘Tokyoblu’ in Edinburgh’s Club Ego’s Cocteau Lounge which became a major underground sensation, continually packing them in right from day one back in August 2002. Tokyoblu is hailed by many as Edinburgh’s hottest underground party with a friendly, mixed, vibrant and very up-for-it crowd.

Due to the overwhelming popularity of the club and to accommodate their blossoming live element, Tokyoblu re-launched in late 2004 across two floors of The Venue where it has continued to build month on month now regularly filling the 550 capacity club. Indeed since its re-launch Tokyoblu has gone on to become one of the busiest independent club nights in Scotland, all the more impressive when you consider that it’s a resident’s night only. On the strength of the clubs reputation Tokyoblu has recently had hugely successful pilot nights across the UK with new monthly nights established for 2006 in Aberdeen, Glasgow and London.

Other associated club ventures include their hugely successful Mocha Rocka! club night at Berlin in Edinburgh which fuses the finest in original Salsoul / Paradise Garage era disco with the finest in classic and upfront disco, Latin, African and funky house. John is also resident at weekly club Sophistifunk @ City, the busiest Saturday night club in Edinburgh which attracts 1300+ every week. Tokyoblu are also much in demand as guests and have had a series of excellent support spots with DJ’s as diverse as the likes of Roger Sanchez, Josh Wink, Jazzy Jeff and Hed Kandi.

Along with ace producer Nigel Ross, John & Iain are currently working on a full Tokyoblu album with an aim to release their first single in early 2006. They have also assembled a fantastic band in order to play the tracks live and have already had a series of very successful capacity live gigs in Edinburgh. Featuring ace Spanish percussionist Pepe Santamaria, an integral part of the Tokyoblu set-up, and a host hugely accomplished players and coolest vocalists the band has gained its own cult following. Following in the footsteps of the likes of Basement Jaxx, Groove Armada and the Greenskeepers, all of whom they have been compared to in the national press, Tokyoblu have added a whole new dimension to their music by making it as live as possible in order to reach as wide an audience as possible. One of their tracks, Beautiful Infatuation, was also recently included on an M8 cover-mount CD with a circulation of 40,000+ alongside the likes of The Brand New Heavies, Seamus Haji, Tim Deluxe & Grant Nelson.

With many years of DJing experience between them covering everything from house parties, radio, style-bars, clubs, festivals and band tours Tokyoblu have brought a diversity of music to both their club nights and their own productions which is as entertaining as it is unusual. Indeed the Tokyoblu style is difficult to define but encompasses everything from Salsoul / paradise garage era disco, US vocal garage through disco, funky gospel and Latin house, jackin’ Chicago house, and big room electro, an eclectic blend basically made up of anything that feels right and is likely to move the floor.

Recent press quotes about the duo have included: “Edinburgh’s hottest up and coming DJ duo”, “a cross between Larry Levan, Derrick Carter and Cassius” and “the DJ’s most likely to start a party anywhere at any time”.