Soundtrack of My Life - by Matthew Dance-Shuker

Everyone’s life has a playlist, songs that resonate with them individually. Songs that are etched on the brain and provide a powerful connection to precious memories that can be awaken even upon hearing just a few bars. As music lovers ourselves we love nothing more than hearing the ‘why’ – why a song means so much to someone and how it’s shaped their life. This week, a Melos Audio customer and friend of the brand, Matthew "Maverick" Dance-Shuker, shared with us 5 songs that have done exactly that for him. 
Read below to find how each song has influenced his life.

Paradise City - Guns N' Roses

My first experience of hearing Axl Rose screeching lyrics was on holiday in France (weirdly), I was 9 years old and was on a Eurocamp camping holiday in Brittany. I'd made friends with a couple of English boys whose parents were on the same holiday. We divided our time between playing arcade games, swimming and listening to Appetite For Destruction. Not a care in the world, my mum thought GnR were the worst so when I arrived back home, I bought the tape from Our Price and consequently pestered mum and dad to play on the after-market car stereo in the 320 beemer. Awesome.

Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson

Probably controversial but back in the early 1990's MJ was a legend and the Bad album was full of absolute belters, my favourite album by Jacko. It was a regular feature on long car journeys to badminton tournaments at the weekend with my mum, Scholsy and his mum. I was 13 at the time and this tune helped my appreciation of other genres outside rock music.

Faithless - Insomnia

Picture the scene, it's 1am, I'm 16 years old and underage in Utopia Night Club, Reading. I'm with Dave Ray, Toby Slater, Tom Bennet and Chris Devis. I'm dressed terribly, dancing like a fish having a fit and then this tune is dropped. Trance was a new genre and this was my first taste of it, I was hooked. From there, my love of trance blossomed and this track was the fire that lit my trance flame. It's a class tune and I've been lucky enough to hear it @ V Festival and more recently Tin Licker dropped it in a set @ Audio in San Francisco. The place went mental. Good memories.

Tears of Hope (Aly & Fila Remix) - Deems

This uplifting trance track has been a stalwart of my running / cycling playlists for nearly 20 years so deserves to be in my top 5 as probably my favourite trance tune. Unfortunately, I've never heard it live so continue to enjoy it almost live through youtube whilst on the spin bike. My ambition in life is to hear it dropped it in a club or festival. My journey in music will not be complete without it.

Jetlag - DJ Kim

Another classic trance tune that featured on MixMag Presents Eddie Halliwell - Bosh! It represents my life clubbing with Muzzy, Dan, James, Nick, Daz and Scoss from 2005 - 2010 when every couple of months we would head to an all nighter at Ministry of Sound, Gods Kitchen, The Cross, Sankeys, The Warehouse Project, Cream as well as Creamfields, Global Gathering and a few trips to Ibiza. Very fun times.

Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol

I need to have 1 more track and can't miss this one out, this was my beautiful wife Becky and my choice for our first dance when we married NYE 2009 and therefore has a special place in my heart for that reason.

Thank you Matthew "Maverick" Dance-Shuker for your Soundtrack of My Life choices and sharing your memories of these musical milestones in your life so far.
It's clear why they call you Maverick, as you managed to slip an extra track in there without anyone noticing it! 
Naughty, naughty. Very naughty!