Pure Science

Born November 29th 1972 Edmonton, North London. Son of a toolmaker (precision metals) / inventor / pilot and stepfather was a Greek singer in London, Greece and Cyprus and both were a lover of chess. Phivo's father worked for Matchbox (Toy Cars) and Dagenham Fords motor plant in the 70's as a chief engineer, and later set up his own engineering firm in Edmonton, North London, and they lived in Aveley, Essex for Phivo's early years. Phivo's mother worked for various corporate companies such as British American Tobacco, Nestle, and was a freelance journalist for the London Greek newspaper https://www.parikiaki.com/ as she knew a quite a few of the old school Greek singers from Greece and Cyprus and she was also an interpreter for the Metropolitan Police during the late 70's. Phivos's parents split when he was just 18 months old, and he grew up with his Grandparents and various aunties until he was aged 5 at which point he lived again with his mother and later Greek stepfather who ran dress factories in London, UK and was a serious gambler. They moved to Cyprus when Phivos was 8 and he returned to the UK aged 11 to live with his grandmother and step grandfather after troubles with his then stepfather after being bullied and suffering a double hernia. His mother remarried a Greek Cypriot singer and also moved back to the UK until 1990 when they moved to Athens Greece for 2-years. A frequenter of some the early Acid House parties in and around London during late 1988 such as the Dungeons (Lea Bridge Rd), Crowland Rd Nut House (Spyros Night Spot), Land Of Oz (Heaven), Busby's (Special Branch), Method Air (Arches In Vauxhall) and also some of the more well known bigger M25 and Warehouse events such as Energy, Biology and World Dance etc. His first musical influences probably came from when he first listened to the original "Doctor Who" Theme music made by Delia Derbyshire 60's/70's version and the works of John Baker of the original BBC Radiophonic Workshop line up. Phivos fell in love with the early synthesizer works of bands and producers that pioneered the instrument from the 70's / 80's.1982 at age nine, he bought his first records. In 1984, at eleven, he got his first synthesizer. A Yamaha CS01 MKII, a basic one oscillator monophonic analogue synth. He also took six months of organ lessons for the theory basics but got bored with the usual repetitive basic Do Re Me etc. Phivos has worked professionally in the dance music industry since 1990 and his roles range from producer, sound engineer to performer / artist. His first close contact with the realm of electronic music happened when he listened to the Synth Pop classics and the works of Jean Michel Jarre, Vangelis, Kraftwerk, The Human League, and, of course, Depeche Mode. At twelve, his older sister Nina, knew the stage manager of the legendary venue The Hammersmith Odeon where bands like The Human League, Tears For Fears and even DM on their early tours. This gave him an insight to the running of shows and was a definite inspiration in the set-up and performance of live bands etc. Phivos loved all the quality synthesizer music at that time, across the board, from ambient to Detroit techno. He got involved with the then pirate radio station "Lightning FM" whose members were Jumping Jack Frost and Brian Gee. "The Passion Records Crew" named him The Scientist. The guys at the studio used to call Phill 'Q' (from James Bond) because of his intellectual, focus skills and geeky love of the Synthesizer. Then for a party at the Fridge in Brixton, they decided to write "The Scientist" on the flyers without even Phivos knowing. An artistic name that definitely stuck. One night at the Fridge, he found himself suddenly sharing a dressing room with The Shut Up & Dance crew, who were doing a live set there alongside Phill that night. He was introduced to DJ Hype who was Shut Up and Dance's live DJ with whom they created "The Exorcist" which was Kevin (Hype's) demo that Phill added the bass lines, synths, melodies and co-arranged. "The Bee" was Phill's demo that Hype supplied the breaks and vocal samples and co-arranged. Both tracks hit No.1 on the independent and dance charts in the UK selling more than 35,000 records each. The Exorcist was named track of the year in 1990 by Kiss FM listeners on the first year they became legal. After a split between house and hardcore and a year without releasing anything (due to contractual disagreements and payments). Phivos left Kickin Records and started to produced under the name Audio illusion and then Pure Science, which was a natural progression in search of the real, true spirited vibe of acid house, early industrial techno and 70's / 80's synth New Wave and EBM influences. During the 90's Phvos acquired a reputation in and around the London Underground party scene for being able to turn up without a sound check and delivering a seamless mixed groove of tribal, techno, acid, house music with a chunky deep cutting edge feel. Phivos during the 90's era was working for promoters such as the Free Party Network warehouse parties and Chiba City Sounds, Bosh (Coventry), Whoop Whoop, Wiggle, Kerfuffle, The End and held an 8-year residency from the opening night at Fabric as well as various mini festivals. The story continues. ;-) <3 x