Phil K

Australian DJ (1969–2020)

Phillip Krokidis (6 May 1969 – 1 November 2020), known professionally as Phil K, was an Australian electronic music DJ and record producer from Melbourne. He was a member of the "Aussie breaks" music scene which also includes other Melbourne DJs such as Nubreed and Andy Page. In addition to DJing, Phil K also produced alongside Habersham and Dave Preston in The Operators and was also a member of Hi Fi Bugs and Lostep. He was known primarily for his DJing of breakbeat music, but often weaved in other genres such as ambient, deep house, and techno and did not pigeonhole himself with a particular genre.

Phil K started DJing in 1985, performing at his school's disco. In 1996, Phil K released his first record, "Summer Breeze", as the Free Radicals with Andy Page and Ivan Gough. He co founded a new label, Zero Tolerance Records, in 1998 with Page to release material by their duo, Hi Fi Bugs. In 2000, Phil K created his first commercial mix album for Global Recordings. The album won him the "Best Dance Compilation" award at the Dance Music Awards in 2001. His Kiss 100 "Friday Tapes" garnered him the award for "Best Radio Show". Phil K started working with fellow Australian Luke Chable and the two released "The Roots" on Boxed in 2002. After sending Sasha a demo of their next track, "Burma", he included it on the album Involver and the track was subsequently also released by GU Music. and won Phil K the 2003 DMA award for "Best Mix CD". In 2006, Phil K and Chable as Lostep released Because We Can. The album combines emotive breakbeats and dirty electro rhythms with strange synths and samples. On 1 November 2020, Phil K died of prostate cancer, aged 51.

With Pioneer, Phil K developed a prototype for the DVJ X1, the first visual and audio live mixer. Unlike some other DJs, Phil K did not hold vinyl "sacred" and enjoyed using newer digital technologies due to their flexibility.