One of the unsung heroes of the UK house music scene, James Talk has gone from a fledgling producer and DJ championed by Pete Tong to a global star, gracing the world’s most respected labels and clubs on a regular basis.

The 27-year-old Southampton talent has been DJing half his life, and over the last 7 years has carved a name for himself in the production world as one the most talented groove-makers around. Whether it’s the straight-up, chunky acid and tech house sound that he’s best known for, or the flashes of anthemic genius in his tracks with Ridney (Sunshyne and their Pet Shop Boys-approved rework of West End Girls both chosen as Tong’s Essential New Tunes), his productions are always filled with colour, character, and funk.

Having graced world-leading labels like Get Physical, CR2, Bedrock, Noir, Saved and fabric in recent years, he’s kicked off the new decade in sterling form with his stomping, peak-time remix of M.A.N.D.Y. vs Booka Shade’s Donut – with the latter loving his version so much that they’ve asked him to remix their stone-cold classic Manderine Girl. In addition, he’s got releases coming up throughout 2010 on acclaimed labels like Blu-Fin, Great Stuff Recordings and Global Underground.

After playing many of the world’s most revered clubs over the last two years – including Tokyo’s Womb, Chicago’s Spy Bar, London’s Ministry Of Sound, Manchester’s Sankeys and Toronto’s Footwork – he’ll be continuing to tour the globe extensively throughout 2010, with many more exciting plans afoot for the year. His successful Radio 1 Essential Mix from September 2009 will be followed on by a third guest mix for John Digweed’s Transitions show.

In an age when the continental European sound dominates the house and techno scene, James Talk remains one of the UK’s brightest talents, reminding the world where tech house came from in the first place. A breath of fresh air from the droves of posturing scenesters and minimal chinstrokers, his is a sound which goes back to the visceral essentials.