For those who lived the glory days of the 1990s dancefloor—or just wish they had—Saturday Nonsense by DJ Mark M is a sonic time capsule worth diving into. Hailing from Birmingham, UK, DJ Mark M is no stranger to the decks, and in this mix, he crafts a nostalgic yet electrifying journey that captures the full range of 90s house music. From blissed-out vocal piano tunes to the darker, driving beats of the era’s harder house, this set is a love letter to the clubs, the records, and the messy, magical energy of a Saturday night out.
The mix opens like a sunrise over a dancefloor just beginning to stir. Classic vocal-led piano house tracks lead the way, evoking memories of packed dancefloors at clubs like Tin Tins, The Que Club, or Sundissential. Warm chords, uplifting diva vocals, and infectious hi-hats swirl together in a kind of soft euphoria. Mark draws on timeless gems—perhaps a Frankie Knuckles remix here, a K-Klass anthem there—reminding listeners of the soul and joy that defined the early part of the decade.
The Mix
It’s not just the tunes that shine in this section—it’s how they’re blended. The transitions are seamless, with the energy gradually climbing. This isn’t a show-off mix; it’s a carefully curated mood. The piano lines are rich, emotional, and melodic, serving as a reminder of a time when house music wasn’t afraid to be beautiful.
But like any proper night out, the sweetness only lasts so long before the need to go deeper, harder, faster kicks in. Roughly midway through the set, Mark M begins turning up the pressure. The pianos fade, and a more percussive, bass-driven sound takes over. The second half of the mix taps into the raw energy of late-night 90s clubbing—tracks with rolling basslines, tougher drum patterns, and hypnotic synths that speak to the harder edge of the era’s sound.
Piano, vocals, bass
Here, you’ll catch nods to labels like Tidy Trax, Tripoli Trax, and early Nukleuz, all of which championed a tougher strain of UK house. The vibe becomes more frantic, the BPM creeps higher, and the crowd in your head can’t stop moving. If the first half was a hug, the second half is a fist-pump—sweaty, intense, and full of grit.
What makes Saturday Nonsense stand out is its refusal to stick to one lane. It doesn’t just romanticize the past; it recreates it in full—the beauty and the madness. DJ Mark M knows his history, and more importantly, he knows how to tell a story with it. For fans of 90s house, this mix is more than a nostalgia trip; it’s a reminder of why we fell in love with the music in the first place.
Plug it in, press play, and let the nonsense begin.