Writing about gigs or music isn’t really my raison d’etre for Bitch Buzz but seeing as this night was so good and for such a worthy cause it would be cruel not to.
Monday night, -1ºc in London Town, 23 top DJs and five up & coming and underground bands got together at Cargo in London’s Shoreditch. It was a very tough night to be leaving your toasty house. Getting wrapped up again after battling the Artic weather getting home.
Eddy Temple-Morris, Host of XFM’s premier Friday night show, The Remix and co-member of underground rock/electro band The Losers hosted a night in support of the British Tinnitus Association to celebrate Tinnitus week. Over 400 foam earplugs were given away at the event, and for the more serious ear lovers, Musician Hearing Services provided on-the spot bespoke moulded earplugs. At only £175 for discreet made-to-measure earplugs, it’s a small price to pay to protect your hearing.
The night was a mixture of some of the UK finest DJs and live bands playing one tune each to a mighty fine crowd who in true London style, once warmed up, you couldn’t move for the dance-offs. I arrived as Burn the Negative played their final song, the lead singer sporting a Shoreditch handlebar mustache, which would do Jimi proud. They had done a 640 mile, 14 hour round trip, for free, to come to the gig.
It was a night of exclusives and mash-ups as each DJ vied to make their tune the one that got the biggest cheer from the crowd. We heard new music from Adam F and MC Chickaboo who who kicked off the proceedings with a track especially written about her hearing loss. Kasier Saucy from The Loose Cannons stormed the stage with his dancing to his mash-up of Rosie Gaines’ ‘Closer than ‘Close’. To say I danced my socks off was an understatement.
So why Tinnitus? Tinnitus is a condition that affects many musicians, producers and DJs. DJ Eddy Temple-Morris, wanted to increase awareness after suffering for ten years knowing that if he’d known how to protect himself his symptoms would be less severe. DrumnBass producer Adam F, had a lucky escape, education early on allowed him to prevent it from getting worse. Its calling card is noises in the ears described as ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming.
They can be low, medium or high pitched and may be a single noise or two or more components. The noises may be continuous or may come and go. Luckily I escaped developing this even though I spent many years working in the Music Industry, and had a youth of falling in and out of clubs. It affects up to 10% of population and is not discriminatory of age, however up to 1% of adults have their quality of life affected. It is not a disease per se but a symptom generated within a person’s own auditory pathways.
There is no known cure however research that suggests that certain foods may help to relieve the noises. It has been linked to deficiencies in B12, magnesium plus essential fats and B vitamins. Unfortunately there is no definitive answer as everyone’s symptoms are different, however the question that forms in my mind is, could there be a relationship between nutrient deficiencies, lack of absorption and lifestyle?
DJs & musicians have a notoriously poor lifestyles, up all hours, many dabble in narcotics and smoke like chimneys. A life on the road goes hand in hand with poor dietary habits, eating at random places at ridiculous hours where the easiest thing to grab is oh-so nutritious fast food. Water? What’s that?
The life of a musician is not for the faint hearted. Most are striking out when their in their late teens/early twenties, well before the idea of eating well features on their radar (if it ever does). Often the freshest food they will see is through the window of their tour bus or on the plate of another diner.
Bigger plans are afoot, after such a successful night. Eddy Temple-Morris and Adam F are already plotting the next event. The supporting cast will be back with more musical heavyweights who had unavoidable schedule clashes, so watch this space.
Look after your ears, and check out the mix which will be broadcast on The Remix on XFM or downloadable from the British Tinnitus Association. Even if you don’t suffer from tinnitus I bet you know someone who does so do and it can catch you at anytime. So if you go to gigs, festivals, clubs then you could be at risk. Do what you can to protect yourself.