Rob Playford is the driving force behind the Moving Shadow and Audio Couture labels. His vision and hard work have seen the company grow from a one man operation in 1990 to a major force in the independent label sector in 1999, with offices in the heart of London's thriving Soho and six permanent staff.
Rob's musical career began in 1985 as a DJ, spinning soul and hiphop vinyl around the local venues in Hertfordshire. Early influences included the Human League, Heaven 17 and Depeche Mode but by the time Run DMC & the Beastie Boys hit the music scene, Rob's interest was fixed firmly on dance music. His entrepreneurial flair soon became evident as he began organising dance events in local pubs and clubs and from there embarked upon a career that has taken him around the world DJing, seen him achieve huge critical and financial success through Moving Shadow Records, and produced one of dance music's finest classic albums, 'Timeless' with Goldie.
A software engineer by training, Rob spent four years DJing on the burgeoning dance scene, absorbing the house, techno and acid influences that were changing the face of the British dance music scene, before being inspired to put out his own track 'Orbital Madness', in 1990. Drawn by the cult status this record achieved, other would-be artists came to him for advice, and the Moving Shadow label was born. Although totally self-taught in the principles of running a company and assisted by a 'How To's' manual recommended on Radio 1, Rob quickly progressed from selling records out of his car-boot on Saturdays, to securing a distribution deal with top independent Southern Records Distribution and A&Ring artists like Omni Trio, Dead Dred, Hyper-On-Experience and Flytronix.
This early success was compounded when 'Dred Bass' entered the UK Dance Charts at No.1, 'Bombscare' went in at No 23 in the U.S. Billboard 'Bubbling Under Hot 100', and both Omni Trio albums going straight in at No.1 in the Dance Album Charts.
In addition to running the Moving Shadow & Audio Couture labels Rob is highly sought after for his widely acclaimed production and remixing skills. Perhaps best known for his work with long-time studio partner Goldie, Rob produced the world-wide classic album 'Timeless', and various tracks for this year's follow-up,
'Saturnz Return'.
His remixing credits include The Fugees, Garbage, Audioweb & Bush and he is currently producing for Corduroy, (V2 Records), Lisa Hall (Warner Records), Tin Star (V2 Records), and Monday Michiru (Polydor Rcds).
On top of all this Rob has also managed to keep up a packed DJ schedule, recently completing a tour in South Africa alongside Sash, Judge Jules, Sonique and many others. He also plays regularly in the United States, Australia and Russia and more dates are for the highly successful Moving Shadow 'All Points Tour' which started in October 1998 and is continuing throughout 1999.