Simon Sheldon

Simon Sheldon has been writing, producing, releasing, and performing under many pseudonyms for 30 years plus. He bought his first synth at the age of 10 and began working in ‘The Pink Museum’, OMD’s recording studio in Liverpool from the age of 16.

After spending a number of years in Liverpool, playing small gigs in pubs and clubs in the evening and working with the likes of Echo and the Bunnymen and The Real People and with influential producers like Michael Hass (808 State & Primal Scream) during the day in ‘The Pink Museum’, OMD’s recording studio. Simon left his home town to study fine art. This was where he met like-minded musicians and music lovers. Late night jamming with psychedelic spacers EGG and listening to anything and everything, alongside working in the now legendary house club ‘Buzz’ with resident ‘DJ Welly’ set the foundation for a passion for creating electronic based music.

On arriving to Belfast in 1995, Simon started writing, performing, and releasing as Solaris before forming drum’n’bass outfit Spree. Spree went on to release many tracks on labels such as Aspect Records, Basic, Formation Records and NIR and later a full length LP on Anamorphic Records which received support from DJs and radio and got track of the week on BBC1 Xtra. Spree soon gained a well-deserved reputation for a being a powerful live act and in 2004, they found themselves up against London Elektricity and I Kamachi in the last three of the Best Live category in Knowledge magazine awards. Spree live headlined events across Europe, Asia and the U S A, as well as playing the highly regarded Jazz World Stage at Glastonbury 2004 and supported the likes of Roni Size, Kosheen, Giles Peterson, Jazzanova, Asian Dub Foundation, Richard Fearless ( Death in Vegas ), James Lavelle and many more.

Fast forward to 2022 and Spree are performing festivals and releasing music with a 4 track EP on DJ SS’s NIR records.

As a side project, Simon joined forces with Paul Brown (Bedlam) and Robin (Touched and Crazy) to produce dub reggae and also performed a live set supporting the Legendary Lee “Scratch ” Simon also played keys on the highly acclaimed ‘Suzume Park LP by a the Irish nu-jazz maestro’s Bellcrash.

In 2012 Simon started writing and DJing with Quentin Kane and instantly found a connection through house, funk, jazz and all things soulful.  A string of releases and remixes followed on Unquantize, Blacksoul, Audiobite, Yoversion, Double Cheese and De-funkt which received plays and praise from house dons such as DJ Spen, Dave Clarke, Studio 54 resident Kenny Carpenter and Detroit legend James Pennington and Kaidi B on BBC Radio 1.

In 2017 Simon and Quentin got invited by DJ Spen to produce a full length mix LP in the  ‘Unquantize Your Mind series’ on Unquantize Records.  A debut 20 track LP titled ‘Exodus’ followed in 2019 on Unquantize. Exodus is a golden ticket back to the authentic 90’s house vibe, where echoes of nostalgia meet contemporary dance sensibilities.  The duo weave a creative musical tapestry transcending all house genres, where hedonistic feel-good piano hooks of yesteryear meet stunning soulful vocals along with impeccable brass performances and some hefty key slaying. Guest appearances include artists such as Dana Weaver, TK Blue, Glen Molly and Linley Hamilton.

Xyenx (Exodus LP) – top 200 soulful tracks @ traxsource 2019

During lockdown Simon produced a solo studio LP in 2020, The Four of Swords which tells a story. There is a quiet stillness that is present in the Four of Swords, a sense of calm peace that moves and builds from the sitar driven opening track Sitarter Sauce to a 303 conclusion in Nirvanabanana.

Such an incredible album, a must on any playlist. Decoder Magazine

Love this! perfect for those “Dream Sequence” moments, fantastic piece of work. Blackwax

2021 saw the 2^nd full length LP from Quentin and Simon releasing under the Naked Bongo Band pseudonym which saw a moving away from the house sound they are renowned for and marked a dive into the wonderful world of Funk, Nu-jazz and Breakbeat. Loaded with funky jazzy vibes throughout, you’ll find energetic, funk fuelled instrumentals seemingly plucked from a 70’s cop show car chase, to elegant downtempo grooves, perfectly crafted for those sunset o’clock moments. Closing out the album with some sublime beat action, Kaidi Tatham (Bugz in The Attic) lends his signature Bruk vibes, offering a sensational remix of ‘The Bust Up’ which received support from Giles Peterson on BBC Radio 6 and Francois K on his World of Echoes show.The album is the best I heard in … years ! The sound, the arrangements, the ideas ! DJ Meme

My gosh this is a brilliant album Funk Face is a proper bomb & Tarantula rocks too…. BUT I have to say the whole thing is so different and total class. Richard Roberts  (The Dance Factory / BBC )

Simon is also behind prolific record label The Freebooter Lounge and also the long running freebooter radio show which guested on Café Mambo radio during lockdown 2020.

2022 brought a ‘Beatport’ number 1 for collaboration with LOEW and DJ T which also became the 8th top selling Electronica track at Beatport for 2022 and the 19th most popular streamed track of 2022.

Main man Sasha put ‘Blaze’ on his hugely respected ‘LUZoSCURA’ collection and it entered back into the Beatport charts 7 months after its first release.  Thanks to Cowbell Radio for putting ‘Blaze’ at number 4 in listener’s favourite tracks of the year.

QK&SS received plays on Radio 1 with side project ‘The Naked Bongo Band’ and by Gilles Peterson on Radio 6 and also received support from the likes of Francois K, DJ Meme, Hippie Torrales and Chad Jackson.

Simon’s d’n’b alias Spree released a 4 track EP on the huge Formation Records off shoot NIR which received support from dons like Andy C & Ray Keith and his Freebooter Lounge label released over 100 tracks by the close of 2022 and keeps on gathering support, artists and momentum.

Recently receiving plays on Radio 6 by Gilles Peterson, Don Letts  and Huey Morgan and also had a track featured on Radio 1’s wind down presents Café Del Mar with S/A/M.

Great dj support and a very busy forthcoming dj/live schedule highlights of last summer was a set at ‘poolside’ at the legendary Pikes in Ibiza and the legendary Golden Lion in Todmorden and more recently Spiritland, London.

More recently Simon, Muzka and dan Dub lounge have been working on Visions Of Light and signed an 2 LP’s to NuNorthern Soul and featured a track on a recent Cafe del Mar mix series, received support on Radio six from Don Letts and played gigs in Ibiza and have more planned for later in the year.

Visions Of Light

Don Letts has chosen Displacement by Simon Feat Dan Dub Lounge in his favorite tracks of 2025 on Radio 6.

Simon continues to build The Freebooter Lounge label which has a large focus on releasing and launching new local artists with the long-term aim of promoting on a global stage. The Freebooter Lounge is a no genre bias label which releases whatever floats its boat, from chill out to techno and everything in between. The Freebooter Lounge alongside Belfast event management / collective Plan B have organized many ‘Freebooter take-over’ events home and abroad with a showcase of 16 artists traveling to Ibiza later in the year playing over a 3 day, 2 club event.

Since inception in 2020 The Freebooter Lounge has enjoyed and hugely appreciated the ongoing support from DJs we love and respect, Francoise K, Giles Peterson, Trevor Fung, Richard Sen, Ken Fan, Sean Johnson, Huey Morgan, Don Letts and many, many more.

Released on

Get Physical, BBE, UnQuantize, Quantize, Formation (NIR),  NuNorthern Soul, Tici Taci, DSPPR, De-funkt, Shades Of Sounds Recordings, Rhythm Vibe Records, Kotangens Records, Through Gods Own Eyes, Double Cheese Records, Audiobite Records, Blacksoul Records, Yoversion Records, Aspect Records, Basic Records, Direct recordings, Touchin Down promotions, New Identity, Anamorphic Records and The Freebooter Lounge + many more

Supported live:

Roni Size, Kosheen, Giles Peterson, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, London Elektricity, Paradox, L Double, Jazzanova, Asian Dub Foundation, Richard Fearless ( Death in Vegas ), Daara J, Jon Carter, James Lavelle, Rennie Pilgrim, Psyconaughts, Kieth Tenniswood, Dirty Beatniks, Mark Rae plus many many more.

Remixed

• Nick Warren, Robert Clarke, Bold Parade, Cowboy Flying Saucer, Dan Dub Lounge, Deep Division, Jay Kay, Kevin Haren, Klark Bent, Manuel Costela, Omar V, Robert Cecil, Soul Central, Warriors of the Dystotheque and many more

DJ support.

• Graeme Park, Sasha, DJ Spen, Ken Fan, François K, Gilles Peterson, Don Letts, Trevor Fung, Richard Sen, Sean Johnston, Vladimir Ivković, Chris Coco, Andy Wilson, Pete Gooding, Phil Cooper, Dom Servini, Colleen “Cosmo” Murphy, Huey Morgan, DJ Gripper, Radio Guesthouse, S/A/M, Mark Broadbent, Dave Clarke, Kenny Carpenter, James Pennington, KETTAMA, Volcov. + many more