Biography by Angela Rainey – North East Press

Tees Valley (UK) Based DJ/Producer Rayees Rashid known as DJ Rice has been involved with music since his school years. His musical tastes span all genres and his influences cover the full spectrum of music.

He initially received his first breakthrough in a DJ competition and went on to secure several residencies and guest spots at local bars and clubs, promoting his unique style in (UK) cities such as London, Newcastle, Leeds, Leicester and Edinburgh. At various times lining up alongside Roger Sanchez, Norman Jay, Judge Jules, and DJ Disciple. Highlights include the world-renowned ‘Ministry of Sound’ & the prolific ‘Turnmills’ both in London (UK) and ‘Orange Corner’ & ‘Itaca’ both in Ibiza (Spain).

His talent and reputation was confirmed when International Magazine ‘Muzik’ awarded him the highly acclaimed ‘Bedroom Bedlam’ award. Also awarded to fellow DJ’s Yousef, James Zabiela, Deepgroove, Paulo Mojo to name a few. He was again featured in ‘Muzik’ (August 2002) as one of the top 50 up and coming DJ’s in the UK in association with Cream, MTV, Sony & Galaxy Radio.

His passion and enthusiasm for sound allowed him to complete a successful sound engineering course. His efforts did not go unnoticed and was commissioned by the BBC, no less, to produce the soundtrack for the film ‘The Chimera Project’. This was complemented in 2004 when International DJ magazine (IDJ) announced DJ Rice as the winner of ‘Raw Talent’. They reviewed him again months later with the release of ‘Rising EP’, a solid house production and his leftfield/eclectic production ‘Time Out EP’ which compared his work with legendary producer ‘RZA’ from global Hip Hop crew ‘Wu Tang Clan’

Throughout his DJing career DJ Rice has sought to bring cultural awareness, appease social affliction and disharmony by setting up DJing workshops where primarily he teaches the art of mixing music to under–privileged children.