Short Cuts: 48 Sonic

48 Sonic, aka Jonathan Stowers, is not simply New Zealand's don of drum 'n bass.

His DJing started nearly 20 years ago, playing early rave music at seminal Auckland clubs like Alfies and The Staircase, aka DTMs and The Kase. He was also a stalwart of Grant 'Sample Gee' Kearney and Sam Hill's classic, early '90s Brain parties before discovering jungle and drum 'n bass in the mid '90s. Along with DJs Presha, Aaron and Riddle, he then became one of the residents at Auckland's first weekly d'n'b night The Breaks.

Stowers is living proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks. In addition to his regular d'n'b sets, he has recently branched out into playing house for the first time while simultaneously dipping back into the past by unashamedly spinning classic dance tunes at old school nights like Soul Train.

What does your mother call you? Jonathan / Boofhead.

Why did you chose your DJ name? It was chosen for me in the mid '90s when I worked as a cycle courier. It was my number and call sign on the road.

Age: Old enough to be a dad, twice!

Home city: Auckland... Blues territory!

How long have you been playing? About 18 years now, give or take a few months.

Gear: 2 x 1200s, a CDJ 1000 or two and a mixer with groovy effects.

Production credits: None as yet... but watch this space.

Describe your style: On the drum 'n bass tip, full spectrum. Love it all really! And I've moved into doing house gigs as well, which are definitely more on the tech tip from me. I also play Soul Trains at Fu, which have been great fun as I've been tearing back into my '70s-'80s funk, soul and swing etc.

First time you played: Well I really did my training at Alfies back in the day. This would have to be round '85 but my first proper gigs were at Sex at Berlin around '86-'87.

Best gig you've played: There are just too many to have one that stands out. Perhaps the first Grooverider show in New Zealand. All the Brains were off the hook plus playing alongside Kevin Saunderson and Alex Patterson on the 'Wired' series. And the drum'n'basswise gigs at Bob's were dope as well.

Where can the peeps catch you regularly? Subtronix events and internationals, Glide at Fu, Special Times at Wyndham Bowling Club,Love Funk events, Soul Train and Frequency at Fu and others to be confirmed. Plus The Rinse Cycle on bFM Wednesday 11pm-1am.

Ambitions: To continue with my DJing because I still get a real kick out of it! And I would love to make some tunes in the near future as well.

All time Top 5: Well I could go on and on here so I'll take one from each phase of my DJing years, although that ain't the half of it!

Sex Machine - James Brown

Nomad - I Want To Give You Devotion

Energy Flash - Joey Beltram

We are the Hardcore - House Crew

Jah the Seventh Sign - Goldie

Current favourites: All the Concord Dawn bits I got at the moment, Ed Rush & Sonic - Kinetic, my swag of A-Sides tunes (too many to name), my house tunes and basically all the tunes in my bag at any given gig are my favs!