Vicious attack Victim Turns the Tables on the Hand He Was Dealt
Taking the Manchester music scene by storm, DJ and Entrepreneur, Callan Kinsella aka DJCK has set
his sights on the rest of the UK and Europe. However, his story could have resulted in a very different
ending after a vicious stabbing attack left him paralysed by fear.
Callan, from the leafy, salubrious Cheshire town of Wilmslow, was the victim of a most heinous
vicious attack over a misunderstanding involving a flirtation with a local girl. It was 2017 and whilst
studying for his A-Levels, in his last year at Wilmslow High, Kinsella was set upon in the school car
park by three attackers. An innocent kiss with a girl who was supposedly single turned into a horrific
scene that could have ended in the loss of Callan’s life.
Following the attack, scared and frightened, Callan withdrew; he locked himself away, fearful of
further repercussions, terrified by shock and filled with anxiety. He missed a full year of school and
found himself unable to trust and began losing friends. Opinions of doubters and naysayers,
assuming he brought the attack on himself as “it doesn’t happen round here unless you deserve it”
began to affect his mental health.
Callan tried to attend University, but fear and anxiety followed him, unable to feel safe in crowds of
people, he retreated home, back to the arms of his family and the solace of his own bedroom. It was
here he felt safe, immersed in music where no one could hurt him, and he could escape from the
mental shackles and torment of the last twelve months. Callan soon realised he had a talent for
music. Using the time to expand his skills slowly he began to find confidence, enabling him to
perform as a DJ publicly, even to those who had abandoned him in his darkest days, but there was
no anger or bitterness, just joy from the excitement and reaction of the crowd. “What can you do,
lock yourself away and hide or do you rise from the ashes like a phoenix and build a career for
yourself and prove the doubters wrong?”
Once Callan started to choose life and could see a future, he soon developed aspirations beyond the
DJ deck. As well as expanding his own profile he began YNOT Events, an events company that would
not only see DJCK headlining but also give valuable experience to new young up-and-coming DJs
who needed a break and hadn’t been able to book a gig for themselves. Every month Wilmslow was
a draw for crowds, not just for the locals, but further afield, with people from Manchester and
surrounding areas flocking to the sold-out monthly event, ready to be wowed by the music but also
the extravagant performance of dancers, fire eaters and even life-sized teddy bears! It became a
night that everyone wanted to experience.
From there it was only a matter of time before DJCK and YNOT Events became well-known and soon
other doors began to open. A residency in Revolution Wilmslow, Symposium Wilmslow (owned by
Hollyoaks star Ashley Taylor Dawson) and Parea, Alderley Edge (owned by England and Liverpool star
football striker Emile Heskey’s wife, Chantelle) were soon to be weekly packed-out events with
people wanting to be where DJCK was playing. Guest spots were offered, sending Kinsella to London
to DJ for Polo G one of America’s biggest stars and a performance with Rozalla, and Urban Cookie
Collective to name a few.
Just as DJCK was about to explode further on the music scene COVID hit and everything ground to a
halt, but this didn’t hamper his spirits, it gave him time to evaluate, create goals and plan for the
future once the world opened up again. His next goal was to take on Manchester City Centre,
experimenting with his true love of DJ’ing, he formed “Truth” and “Shameless” at BLVD MCR (which
forms part of Tokyo Industries - one of the largest hospitality chains in the country). He also created
La Freak which features every Friday at Cirque, in the heart of Manchester city centre (powered by
world-famous Cirque Le Soir, based in Mayfair, London). DJCK is also the resident DJ there every
Saturday night. La Freak is a weird and wonderful experience for every clubber, whilst Truth is a full
night of American music and Shameless, a special brunch with 5-star food, top DJs, dancers, and
percussionists playing to the hottest House and Ibiza classics.
Callan, DJCK, is now 23 and just short of six years since the attack, is shining as one of the most
sought-after open format DJs with a firm love of American Hip-hop, R&B, Afrobeats and Old School.
From the moment the first track drops, DJCK fills the room with energy and euphoria.
With the past firmly behind him and success following him to Manchester, Callan is about to launch
new events to fit under his Umbrella company YNOT Events in the city as well as his next project,
InSync Creatives, inspired by a recent collaboration with Gin and Juice Festival, for which he was
asked to bring a team of DJs, videographers, and more. This gave him the idea for an agency-style
business sourcing and providing the industry with DJs, musicians, dancers, photographers,
videographers, and more, all under one roof for any event.
At just 23 years old, Callan is consistently evolving and bringing innovative ideas forward within the
club and hospitality scene; this really is the beginning of something special and proof that through
adversity, you can choose to succeed.
If you want to see DJCK live, he has a residency every Saturday night at Cirque Manchester, BLVD
every Thursday night and Saturday brunch day as well as his own events: Manchester every
Thursday and Friday as well DJ’ing in either Liverpool, London, or Marbella.
For more information, interviews, television appearances, or gigs, please contact:
InSync Creatives: enquiries@insynccreatives.com
www.insynccreatives.com
Follow DJCK:
Instagram @callankinsella
Twitter @callankinsella1
Mixcloud djckofficial