Beccles student releases drum and bass tribute in memory of talented DJ
Maizie Walsh has released a drum and bass version of a song she wrote for her uncle Neil Aldred, DJ Dominator, who died last year after a short battle with cancer. Picture: Sonya Duncan. - Credit: Sonya Duncan
A song written to help a talented Beccles DJ through his cancer battle has been released in his memory and played out to the world on Radio 1.
Maizie Walsh with her uncle Neil Aldred, known as DJ Dominator. Picture: Maizie Walsh. - Credit: Archant
Maizie Walsh, 19, wrote ‘Resurrected’ for her uncle Neil Aldred, known as DJ Dominator, following his diagnosis, with Neil planning to release the track once he had beaten the disease.
He passed away aged 33 in June last year, just a few weeks after being diagnosed, and now Maizie is following in his drum and bass footsteps in his honour.
The Beccles student, who is currently studying music performance at Confetti at Nottingham Trent University, performed the same song on a piano at Neil’s funeral, but has now teamed up with a producer to turn it into a drum and bass track.
Maizie Walsh performing at tribute event for Neil Aldred at Electric Brixton. Picture: Biological Beats. - Credit: Archant
She said: “When I first sent it to Neil he said it was a bit depressing and he wanted to release it as a summer track, but in his last days he said it was perfect.
“Neil had been sending me drum and bass tracks for years but I never really thought it was my thing.
“Loads of people from the industry came to Neil’s funeral and I had five or six producers asking to produce the song.”
Maizie Walsh has released Resurrected in Neil's memory with Flat T. Picture: Biological Beats. - Credit: Archant
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Maizie decided to work with Flat T, a producer who had worked with Neil before, along with Fatman D from Biological Beats.
She said: “We spent two hours in Neil’s studio, we had to do it in there for sentimental value. I played the piano and recorded my vocals and then they added the drums before mixing and mastering.
“I hadn’t done drum and bass before but I wanted to do it for Neil. I felt really empowered and now I can’t help but run with it.”
Maizie Walsh performing at tribute event for Neil Aldred at Electric Brixton. Picture: Biological Beats. - Credit: Archant
The song was played on local radio stations, before being played by René LaVice on BBC Radio 1’s drum and bass show.
“I still don’t know how it got on there,” said Maizie. “They played the Traumatize remix which is a jumped up version.
“It’s so surreal. It feels like someone is telling me this is what you are meant to be doing now.”
Neil travelled all over the world with his music and also ran his own D-Stortion Records label.
Maizie will be giving all proceeds from the song to Neil’s son Archie, aged three. The song is available to download on iTunes or Beatport for Android users, as well as Spotify.
