DJ Gilla is the founder / A&R for First Word Records, home to Tall Black Guy, Souleance, Kaidi Tatham, Yosi Horikawa, Eric Lau, Profusion and many more. Originally starting out in club promotion he ran seminal clubnights Funky Mule and New Bohemia in his adopted city of Leeds for several years, running shows for a host of acts including Bonobo, Nightmares On Wax, 4Hero, Gilles Peterson and Flying Lotus. As a DJ he has built a reputation for his eclectic and floor-filling sets, holding down a residency at famed Leeds venue The Hifi Club for 5 years. Now a resident DJ at London’s Bussey Building, Croatia’s Soundwave Festival and his own Excursions event, Gilla’s DJ sets take in soul, beats, hip hop, jazz and beyond.