DJ and producer of Ninja Tune’s Solid Steel Radio Show
@DK_SolidSteel  @solidsteelradio
.facebook.com/solidsteelradio

DJ, music maker, radio producer and presenter, Darren Knott (alias DK) is a key component and one of the driving forces behind the legendary 'Solid Steel' radio show. 

In 2001 he released the 'Solid Steel presents' Mix CD on Ninja Tune alongside DJ Food, and toured on 4 decks with Strictly Kev (DJ Food) throughout the UK and the world. The Solid Steel mix CD was critically acclaimed achieving compilation of the year in Q, DJ Magazine, Time Out and Seven, plus compilation of the month in Jockey Slut and Dazed & Confused. 

Regular presenter and producer on Coldcut's infamous Solid Steel Show, formerly on Kiss FM, BBC London and Strongroom Alive in London. He has also been instrumental in syndicating the show to over 30 radio stations worldwide, broadcasting possibly the best mix show on the airwaves. 

Studio work has included the track 'Arcane' by Arc on the Xen Cuts compilation and remixing 'Timber' for Coldcut and a remix for The Cinematic Orchestra. 

In 2007, alongside DJ Food again, he followed up their Solid Steel debut with the sequel - 'Now, Listen Again' and the pair spent much of 2008 transferring their mix into a 4 deck audio visual live show. They used Serato's video plug-in, enabling video to be mixed live via turntables.

In 2009 DJ Food & DK created their Video mix “Now, Look & Listen”. With the DVD they showcase the Audio Visual set they have been performing on 4 turntables and 3 mixers in clubs all around the world.  Months were spent making videos for each piece of music, either using the original source material or, in most cases, sampling footage to create a new video entirely. It has become a way for DJ Food & DK to visualize their already legendary DJ sets. As usual, it's the diverse mix of music that they love and are known for, that takes in current club floor fillers, but also makes room for classic tracks. 

2010 was dominated by the Ninja Tune XX 20th Anniversary celebrations in which DK, alongside DJ Food put together a bespoke AV set of Ninja Tune and Big Dada only releases. They toured this set throughout Europe, America and Japan with a full roster of label mates including Coldcut, Roots Manuva, Toddla T, Kid Koala and DJ Kentaro.

At the start of 2011, DK presented his solo AV mix ‘Cymatic Frequencies’, a visual mixtape featuring the best musical offerings from that year and it has received over 50,000 hits on the Solid Steel Vimeo page.
‘Cymatic Frequencies II’, followed at the end of 2011 (a 2 ½ hour Video Mixtape in two parts), adding visuals to his favourite mixes of the year. Both parts have featured in the top 3 of the iTunes Music Video podcast chart, including the No.1 spot.

2013 was a busy year as Solid Steel celebrated 25 years of broadcasting, playing at various parties around the world, including Bristol alongside DJ Shadow and London with Four Tet, Actress, Illum Sphere, Mr Scruff, The Orb and the whole Solid Steel roster.

In 2015 DK did a Radio 1 Essential Mix alongside Coldcut as part of the celebrations for the Ninja Tune 25th Anniversary and in 2016 Solid Steel is even stronger.