(Paul Carroll AKA Digital Filth)

Paul Carroll, DJ and Music Producer, lives up to his alias Digital Filth; creating dark, techy electronic tunes made for getting down to in a dirty underground club. Filth’s alter-ego, Di-Fi, has earned a separate title under which Paul produces minimal funky techno and electro, whose first release will be on Immigrant Records. Digital Filth realized his passion for music aged just 13, when skating introduced him to the hip-hop scene, and he became immediately obsessed with scratching and the skills of turntablism exhibited in 90’s Hip-Hop. At 16 he was introduced to dance music at Stoke local club night ‘Golden’.  The intense electric atmosphere of the dance night excited Paul, and as he buzzed off the energy pounding through the clubbers - he knew this was something he had to be a part of. Paul began to DJ aged 16, and it became the weekend ritual for him and his friends to scout out somewhere to set up his decks and have a party. Paul was addicted to his Technics – when he wasn’t exhibiting his new skills at parties he was busy experimenting and sharpening techniques at home. Heavily influenced by the Hip-Hop turntablism and loving the energy of house and techno, Paul fused the two genres to create a funky up-beat sound with the tricks and agility of scratching and beat juggling.

After 2 years of prepping and anticipation, Paul landed his first DJ gig at local University; Keele. His house and trance set went down a storm and he became a monthly fixture. He was ecstatic - the musical career he had been craving for years was beginning and his determination was stronger than ever, so, when he found out about a DJ competition open exclusively to students he wasn’t going to let a technicality like a student card hold him back.  He blagged his way into the contest posing as a college student and, he not only won the local heats, he was crowned the National Champion. Keele University, impressed by his new title, offered Paul a weekly DJ slot, and local bar, Limes, signed him up for a further 2 weekly appearances.

However, Paul was still not satisfied. Although his passion for DJing was amplified with his increasing success, he wanted his talents within music to develop and he knew the way forwards was to start producing.  Saving every last penny, he bought a computer and music production program Propellerhead’s Reason and began experimenting. He quickly became addicted to forming beat loops, creating curious, off-beat noises, which he merged into tunes. All his spare time was spent in front of his computer developing his production skills; learning new techniques and software programs, such as Cubase SX and Reaktor. He just couldn’t get enough of producing new sounds and beats, and as his confidence in his own music grew he began to slip his tunes into his sets at his residencies.  To see a crowd of people loving his music, buzzing to his tracks, was truly a dream come true for Paul - he knew this was his calling and only the beginning, but he also recognised that true success would take hard work and dedication. 

Paul committed himself to producing, choosing to be skint and artistic rather than responsible and miserable, and it has begun to pay off.  2006 has been a good year for Filth. In January, unsigned track ‘Simply Complicated’ received an exceptional, and Paul’s first, review in Computer Music Magazine. Later in the same month, Rob Da Bank’s show on radio one selected the same track to be one of the two unsigned tracks to feature on the show. Filth was finally getting his tunes out there!

Currently Paul is diligently concocting new tracks at the home studio, and has a hectic schedule of gigs in London, Leeds and Liverpool, to name a few, booked for the upcoming months.