In the world of music, where technology and creativity converge, having the right environment is paramount. Enter Kev Cannon and Crescent Fifty One, a British woodworker who has carved a niche for himself by creating bespoke, handmade furniture tailored specifically for DJs and vinyl enthusiasts.
With a clientele that includes Ministry of Sound and acclaimed artists like Shapeshifters, Crescent Fifty One’s offerings are more than just furniture; they are custom-designed pieces which cater to the unique needs of DJs.
Their flagship custom DJ booths are carefully crafted to fit each customer’s space and equipment, no matter which brand they use for CDJs, turntables, or mixers. Each piece is designed with the user in mind, ensuring that the furniture not only complements the aesthetic of the space but also enhances workflow and creativity.
Customers can choose from a variety of wood finishes to match their personal preference or the decor of their space, and additional features such as extra shelves, speaker stands, castor wheels for mobility, upstand shelves, doors, and even headphone hooks are available – making each piece not only unique but highly functional.
What was the first bit of DJ gear you put together?
The first bits of gear we put together would have been around 25 years ago, it was a booth build in my bedroom using MDF from B&Q and it even had an angled slot for the mixer which was a Gemini PS 626 with the orange 626 printed across the front, I loved this mixer, it was paired with a set of MK2 1210’s which I still have.
And when did you notice there is a market for high end custom pieces?
I had always made bits and bobs for DJs but never really thought anything of it as I made all kinds of furniture and that was just an addition to our normal range. We done a bit of a collaboration with a high end furniture company a few years ago as The Chemical Brothers had commissioned a cabinet with them, I had done work previous with the guys and they knew I was a DJ so it kind of grew from that really. I guess it was more recently when Moodena hit me up about making a booth for Dave Lee maybe three years ago, when I realised there was a market for the booths. I can’t really finish this question without shouting out the OG that is Moodena, he’s been the best marketing tool we have and he’s alright at making tunes haha.
Which projects have you been most proud of up to now?
I guess it’s got to be the Dave Lee booth as this is really the benchmark for the booth beginnings, it’s fairly simply but at the same time I feel it’s perfect and all the other booths have grown from this one. This is actually a question that does pop up a lot and it’s like asking which is your favourite kid!
What’s something that makes a Crescent Fifty One piece different to say, a regular old Ikea unit etc.?
So the pax system has been the go to stand for DJs for years and it definitely fits its purpose, for years my records where housed in a pax system. You spend all the money on DJ equipment so you wanna show it off right? Everything we do is bespoke to the individuals requirements and specification, I am literally obsessed and in the zone when I’m making a booth, it will never leave the workshop unless it’s absolutely bang on, I like to use traditional carpentry methods and joints with modern methods like a CNC cutter where I can make parts with laser accuracy.
What records or mixes are you listening to most often when you’re working on a piece?
Music absolutely keeps us going in the workshop, currently I’m listening to the Jackie’s music podcasts, there’s a great range of DJs that play and the energy is high! We need high energy and caffeine. I do also like to let the SoundCloud algorithm do its thing and just see what pops up.
Do you find any particular unit being more popular than others?
There isn’t really a popular unit as such as everyone’s requirements are different, we have noticed recently that there is more booths required with a controller in rather than mixer and separate decks, I guess that just as controllers get more popular and advanced.
What’s the strangest request you’ve had from someone who’s asked you to build them furniture?
So this is a great question as we have had many mad requests! I’m not sure what you will be able to print here so I guess this might be edited haha. The humble mobile glory hole had to be the maddest one, I won’t go into too many details but basically a glory hole that you can take around with you and invite guests for a visit! This was a chain company that actually exists around us lot more commonly than you would think. The slate… CDJ3000, 1210, Mastersounds rotary, 1210, slate… this wasn’t for a diet of full fat coke!
Where do things go from here?
We would very much like to become the go to guys for audio furniture in the UK, aim high right? We are constantly developing products and each booth there has been a modification on how it can go together better or made easier to set up, an example of that is we don’t fit the booths with a power supply built in all packed away neatly. We are off to Ibiza this week to set up a booth that we shipped over, we definitely want more booths going to Ibiza.
For more information on Kev and Crescent Fifty One, head to their website.