Leopold is a collector, DJ and radio host from North London, with a true passion for music of all shapes and forms. Having been exposed to a lot of soul and jazz at a young age, this influence has been ever-present since he first put a needle to a record in 2012.
Developing a love for the underground side of House, Disco and Funk during his university years in Leeds, it spurred the start of a vinyl obsession. Heavily influenced by the Detroit sound and aesthetic, Leopold fused this with his funk sensibilities and began honing a unique style on the decks, full of energy, emotion and groove.
A short stint working at east London’s now renowned @nts_radio led him to later host his own show, ‘The Natural Element’, now a monthly session on @sohoradio which regularly welcomes an array of prestigious guests from the underground. The show is a feel good journey into his expansive taste, blurring genre boundaries and merging the old with the new.
Since 2019 his held down a residency at London’s @spiritland whilst being an integral part of cosmic collective @discofunk.world. He also co-runs runs his own event series @constellationsldn, which has invited down the likes of @kay_suzuki_music , @willlister and @aldobsonjr over the past couple of years.
https://www.instagram.com/leopoldsgroove/
https://www.facebook.com/leopolddj
https://www.instagram.com/constellationsldn/
Each week we will be taking a dip into the crates and minds of some of the digging scenes most prolific collectors.
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DIGGR: Name one institution that changed your life musically.
LEOPOLD: “Plastic People, London. I used to frequent it around 2011-2013, around the time I first started DJing and collecting records, catching Theo Parrish for his residency whenever I could and occasionally Floating Points and Marcellus Pittman. The way Theo played there definitely changed my musical DNA and there were occasions where I even went down on my own to experience it, queuing for over an hour to get in. It was all very fresh and new for me, like nothing I’d seen/heard before – and I was hooked. The unrivalled sound obviously played a massive role but it was the whole experience that made it special… the simplicity of everything, the low ceiling and near pitch black dancefloor. I’m still gutted about it’s closure 6 years on.”
D: Favourite record labels of all time?
L: “Sound Signature, 2000Black, Eglo Records, Wild Oats, Saft/Pulp, Strictly Jaz Unit Muzic, Prescription, Apron Records, Neroli”
D: First record purchase and where you bought it?
L: “LTJ Bukem – Journey Inwards. At a tiny market/stall in Nantes, France.”
D: One record that sums up your happiest memories and where does it take you back to?
L: “Jamiroquai – Travelling Without Moving. I remember listening to it in the passenger seat of my dad’s car on full volume with the top down, cruising around town. I must’ve been about 7.
D: Name one friend that is the ultimate fiend for the wax.
L: “Miche aka Michael Davies.”
