Manchester duo Solardo, aka Mark Richards and James Eliot, were catapulted into the dance mainstream a decade ago with their breakthrough record on Hot Creations, Tribesmen. Since then, the pair have released on labels such as Toolroom Records, Repopulate Mars, Relief Records, Ultra Records, and their own Sola imprint, as well as performing at festivals and events around the world.
Now, ten years on from its original release, Solardo have returned to Hot Creations with a new version of Tribesmen – the 10 Years On remix updates the production with heavier drums, refined grooves and new synth elements, while retaining the original vocal refrain. Check it out here.
As the duo put it, Tribesmen “opened the door for us to tour the world and build the incredible career we’ve had ever since. Ten years later, it felt only right to return to the label and remix the track that helped shape our journey and genuinely changed our lives. […] Coming back to the label is more than an honour, it feels like coming home.”
For the latest #MyRecordBag, Solardo’s Mark Richards reveals his ten most influential tracks.
The Prodigy – No Good (Start The Dance)
“A timeless record that still sounds brand new today and set a new benchmark in dance music.”
The Prodigy – Voodoo People
“Another timeless record that again set the benchmark for dance music, which sounded – and, in my opinion, still sounds – ahead of its time.”
Alex Reece – Pulp Fiction
“This was one of the first drum and bass records that got me into the sound and was one of the first records I ever bought.”
Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
“This track contains so many emotions and is an all-time anthem that any DJ could play in any genre of music.”
Ian Brown – F.E.A.R
“I remember hearing this for the first time and becoming an instant fan of Ian Brown. What made it so good was the fact that I wasn’t into this genre of music at all, so when a track from a genre you’re not into turns your head and makes you think, ‘that’s a tune’, you’ve got to respect it.”
Azari & III – Hungry for the Power (Jamie Jones Remix)
“One of the best house records ever! A track that really got me into house music and one we still play regularly today.”
Gravediggaz – Diary of a Madman
“After I first got into Wu-Tang, I became obsessed with raw-sounding hip-hop, and this was the first genre that made me want to delve deeper into finding new music that not many other people knew about. This was one of the first tracks I found after discovering the cassette single in the HMV discount bucket. I then went on to buy all their albums and became a massive fan.”
808 State – Pacific State
“I first heard the drum and bass remix of this when I was at school, and it intrigued me to find the original, which blew me away. Finding out they were also from Manchester made it that little bit more special. No one else at school knew about the track, so I went around showing everyone, thinking I was some sort of music guru.”
The Beatles – A Day In The Life
“When I studied music at secondary school, this was the tune we were made to study and learn in class. The track has so many elements, twists and turns that I had never heard before in any other track. The track itself was released long before my time, but it gave me a real appreciation for those who revolutionised music for us all.”
Oasis – D’You Know What I Mean?
“The video to this track is what really grabbed my attention at first. It was one of the most expensive videos ever made at the time and was a benchmark moment for Oasis, where they basically said, ‘Look at us, we are the boys!’ The track itself had a very powerful and anthem-like tone which just gives me chills every time I listen to it.”
Solardo – Tribesmen (10 Years On Remix) is out now on Hot Creations. Check it out here.