"I had originally come to Aber to study Genetics at the University. Being half Welsh, I've always had an affinity with the country anyway and, following a visit to the town in the summer, I was sold.

When I left University, I returned to Essex for six months but grew weary of the hustle and bustle of London and the constant traffic and pollution that comes part and parcel with living in the South-East.

Having hooked up with a friend outside of town (playing for Llanon Football Club), I made the decision to move back down here and my brother, Neil, decided to come with me. In April 2000, we found ourselves in Llanon in a house that would simply be out of my reach in the South-East. It's been the best move I've ever made!

As a student, I was a little wary of the locals. I can recall quite a few occasions where the "friendly" baiting between the locals and the students got a little ugly, and I still feel there is a bit of a strange dislike some in the area have with respect to those who put so much money and life into the town (i.e. the students and holidaymakers).

Since moving down here, I've integrated into the local community a lot more, particularly in Llanon, and have a better understanding of the area and now realise that the vast, vast majority of locals are exactly like the Welsh I've known in South Wales (where my family are from) - friendly, welcoming, and funny (and ridiculously good drinkers!).

Funktion was initially born as the 'S.O.U.L Sound System' - S.O.U.L stood for the "Sound of the Underground Lads" (rubbish I know!). We used to run these nights at the now-defunct Po Na Na until that closed in 2002.

After a great deal of pestering and gigs with local night, Juice, we were eventually installed as residents at the major local night, TimeFlies, at the Students Union. This is where we cemented a local reputation for the deeper side of house and breakbeat. As the night focussed on trance and hard house music, we were able to play a little deeper in our early warm-up sets and it was a great learning curve for us.

By the time TimeFlies eventually finished in Aberystwyth, we were also doing the promotion for the night for Cardiff-based promoter, Henry Blunt - this was a great schooling for our own night. When the promoter of Juice, Matt Hammond, moved to London in 2003, we took over his slot at The Bay Basement, and Funktion was born.

Since then, we've been careful to not jump in over our heads, and as a result, Funktion has developed into a gem of a night which myself and Neil are both very proud of.

We have a fiercely loyal following (The Bay Basement tends to pull a very friendly, open crowd anyway), a large number of which have been with us since our very first night in the summer of 2003.

Over the latter part of 2004, we've stepped up a gear and are now booking guests of higher quality and profile with an aim of cementing Funktion's place on the dance music map of Wales.

This has culminated in a visit from dance music's biggest-selling magazine, Mixmag, in November 2004. The article covering the night will be appearing in the magazine early in the new year!

The reaction and feedback on the night has been fantastic. As previously mentioned, we have a very loyal following. This year has seen us target the students a little more, since they are generally the ones who do not venture out to the 'alternative' nights in and around the town.

Plans for the future? To take Funktion to the next level, ensuring we can pack the venue out month after month by booking DJs that all those in Aberystwyth have heard of, not just those immersed in the dance scene. DJs such as Radio 1's Lottie and Yousef who we hope to have down in the near future.

All such developments are planned over time with a view to making sure the night doesn't take on more than it can chew and remains loyal to those who have followed us since our beginnings in 2003."

Written by David Soul from Funktion - Aberystwyth