The Worxlab

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The Worxlab

Changing the DJ world, one fine art print at a time.

14/02/2026

While I am a hopeless romantic soppy nonsense, I do not hold with Valentine’s Day. I don’t need a single day every year to tell my better half how much I love her. I told her once and if anything had changed, I’d let her know. 🤣

But I did make this for her. It was a very lucky accident while chopping up some 3x2 to build a wall in the continuing building site that is our cottage. It just caught my eye and was put to one side. Having put a picture shelf up and having some space for ornaments at the side, I figured the offcut needed a stand and remember an ancient door handle that has been moved from house to house for 305+ years.

I could have stained it darker but then it would lose the contract between the wood and the knot. So a coat of clear wax all over sealed the deal, just like she did for my heart 37 years ago.

For the record, this type of thing is where I am creatively. Real things. Things that can be felt. Things that can gather dust.

05/02/2026

I have often kicked around the subject of identity. I came to realise that DJing was something I did rather than who I was. But if I were to die on a hill of DJ identify, I’d be juggling these. These say so much about where I’ve been and what is my happy place. The other is Heehaw Breaks and a fresh aaah sample, especially when I wanted to stress bust.

But what about you? What’s your DJ happy place? What’s on each turntable?

04/02/2026

This is it. After 50 years of vinyl buying, this is all I’m carrying forward into my into whatever my future will be. Just one box from roughly 2000.

It’s a diverse selection that I feel represents me and my assorted stops in music as well as life. “Three Feet High and Rising” for example is not just a fantastic album, but is also the soundtrack of the start of my life with my better half. It was all I listened to in 1989 as I shuttled between our homes at stupid AM to grab a few hours sleep before work.

The only thing missing is Punk. I gave it all away as I moved into the 80s. But as you might expect, Punk spoke to me. Well grabbed me by the throat and told me I was home. Perhaps I’ll pick up some Crass or Discharge to fill some gaps.

But as I have no plans to have a turntable, these are more about the memories. I think in part it’s so my daughter has a full picture of my musical upbringing. I’m not sure what she’d make of “F**k a Mod” by the Exploited though.

02/02/2026

The vinyl cataloguing continues. Box 1 — thanks Discogs app. Box 2 —bollocks, no barcode. Box 3 —. Oooh that’s too valuable to put in the job lot.

30/01/2026

Twenty years ago I somehow connected the BBC with Run DMC. I had no connections to either. And I did it in an hour.

I wrote a post about it at my new place. Check it out at marksettle.co.uk or as ever, link in bio.

29/01/2026

At the top of the — my original and completely battered Streetsounds Electro 5. Underneath it — one of the infamous bootlegs. No idea how it ended up in my collection, but I’m happy to have one. Completely illegal of course to the point where Discogs won’t give prices, but still a talking point in the UK. IYKYK.

21/01/2026

Two years ago, I sold two-thirds of my vinyl collection. At the time I predicted that I would not miss it, and equally that the one third that I kept would be moved to the new studio and simply gather dust.

I was right on both counts.

So now, as I close this studio down, it’s time for the final clearcut.

Three piles — yes, no and maybe. The criteria is that I won’t have a turntable, making this an entire sentimental decision, which will reduce the ones I keep down to pure memories that will transport me back to a time and a place without hearing the music.

I suspect I’ll probably be buried with my battered doubles of Good Times.

15/01/2026

Just stumbled across this again.

I had an insane idea, one that aimed so high it had little chance of happening. But I went for it anyway. The basic idea was to celebrate 15 years of skratchworx and DJWORX by getting the big four (Serato, Traktor, Rekordbox, and VirtualDJ) to help me make the ultimate DVS box set. So I created this concept where all four ended up in one very lush hand made box.

I fired off this idea and I kid you not, within 48 hours three of the four said sure send an invoice whatever it takes. Ultimately it was killed by one of them saying they were too busy. I even simplified (or compromised depending on your perspective) the idea to help get it over the line. But alas it was not to be.

It’s fair to say that I was devastated at the rejection, especially as there was so little to do at their end. But I was equally so happy that the other three were in without reservation. It would have been a landmark edition.

But that’s my old life. AndI’ll be keeping this to remind me to keep aiming high.

31/12/2025

Going through the plan chest, and right at the bottom I found some early pre-Worxlab (Nextlevelness was the first name) prototypes of an idea to package 7” and 12” prints in actual sleeves.

I loved the idea of them being collectibles like Serato pressings, and had planned to put some out as ultra limited editions. But when it became clear nobody wanted anything less than full size, I canned the whole thing.

29/12/2025

The one of a kind Technics SL-1210 mk2 tone arm print is sold and on the way to its new home. The 1200 version is waiting to adorn the wall of a savvy art buyer and Technics fan. Just £195 with free shipping. UK only. Even I won’t have these prints. Mail me at [email protected].

27/12/2025

It’s my birthday. I’m 60 today. I made it. Still seven years to a free bus pass though.

It’s very early and the house is quiet. But I’ve got pastries, focaccia, and salmon on the go in the kitchen. People are coming.

But I figured I’d start as I mean to go on — my Worx life is done, and now it’s all about me, in my name and on my terms.

My new website isn’t really for you — it’s my sketchpad where I’ll unload whatever whimsey or serious business I want. I may talk about the complexities of the DJ world, or equally urge you to get outside and enjoy the world away from your screen. Expect culinary adventures too.

Any online presence is for me. Not for algorithms, clicks, or sales. You may hate it. But I will love it. Mark Settle is back in the building, doing and being whatever makes me happy rather than being confined to what is expected of me. I’m more than that.

I had considered music for this post:

New Life — Depeche Mode
It’s Just Begun — Jimmy Castor Bunch

Both mean a great deal to me. But as a quiet launch, no music feels right, especially at this time of the morning.

Anyway, the rest of my life starts today. And the kitchen is calling.
Damn that focaccia smells oily good.

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Suite S4, Spring Mill
Wilsden
BD150DX

Website

https://worxlab.com/

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