Presenter profile | Rare Groove Radio

Kaf Tan

I was born in Wallasey, Mersyside. My earliest memories of music been played was stacking 45's on my nan's vintage record player which was a cabinet. She loved the Platters. We also had a record player at home and mum had her own collection of Motown, Disco and reggae on vinyl That was the beginning of my soul music journey. Once I started my first saturday job I started to buy records and one of the first tracks I bought was Chic's - Good Times when it was released and Rose Royce. I got into scooters and had my first lambretta aged 16 and then got involved with the Northern Soul scene ,travelling to Soul events in Peterborough, Leicester, Watford and the 100 club in London . I was attending scooter rallies all across the UK. Most rallies at that time had great Soul events which I loved. I had friends who were djs and I started to collect the deeper side of Soul, Motown, Funk and Disco from there. Eventually I moved to the Isle of Wight around 1986/87 and got involved with the local Soul scene . At the same time house music and dance was beginning to emerge and I developed a love of Soulful Funky House which I played at outdoor raves and events ,even supporting Mark Archer from Altern 8 at one point. I still had my love of the Soul scene at the same time. I had my own decks and would travel around. Being a guest dj at various events soon morphed into hosting my own events at local pubs and clubs and also helping out with a pirate radio dance station, Dex FM, which was great fun to do. I have done some great gigs and playing in the Bollywood Tent at Bestival was special but one of my favourite gigs was at the Boneyard at Bestival at 2am in the morning playing a Funky breaks vinyl set which went off. I was amazed anyone had the energy at that time of the morning but they did haha. I was support Dj when Rob da Bank first came to the Isle of Wight pre Bestival and we played at Trinity Theatre in Cowes and also helped out at Rob da Bank's music club for the teens hosting dj workshops. I have supported the band The Bees and dj'd at their after party and most recently played with Aaron Fletcher from The Bees at the Ventnor Fringe Festival which was great fun. Been dipping in and out of radio for the last 15 years, something I never thought I would do but came to love! The dj part of my life has always been for fun, I have always worked full time for local government departments, British Aerospace, as well as being a trained holistic therapist for 11 years. I have also been an outreach worker and am now currently working in employment law as a Legal Assistant whilst also training as a Paralegal .Outside of music and work I love early morning walks and sunrises and sunsets and living by the coast I do not have far to go to capture the colourful skies!

Favourite male artist - Marvin Gaye Favourite Favourite female - Glady's Knight Favourite band Durand Jones and the Indications ( currently ) or the O'Jays

Kaf has chosen 2 tracks for this weeks presenters selections for our YouTube channel.