"Fans of electronic music will surely not be disappointed by the line-up of the Party Arena, as the world’s best DJs are spinning their records at this year’s jubilee Sziget Festival.Timo Maas (D) - German Timo Maas is one of the world’s most prolific and most celebrated producer/DJs. Credited on over a 100 releases, he’s remixed Depeche Mode, among others, and has been nominated for a Grammy. In 2006 he launched his own label called 99 Percent. He’s resident DJ at Pacha in New York and at DC10 in Ibiza. His sets combine pop, house and electro are real rarities in the electronic music world.
Silicone Soul (UK) - The name of Scots Craig Morrison & Graeme Reedie might not sound familiar to anyone, but their collective moniker of Silicone Soul immediately strikes a chord with every house-loving youngster. The two lads belong to the circle of Soma Recordings. Their current releases are to be found in all cool DJs’ bags, and their sets can transform the audience into a euphoric mood whether they’re playing a 200 capacity club.
Plump DJ's (UK) - It is hard to find anything more danceable and fun than their music; whether it’s their own records or the DJ sets they’re playing. Wherever they go they attract a huge crowd, and no one leaves their shows without being 100 per cent fulfilled. Plump DJs (Lee Rous and Andy Gardner) first appeared on the scene with their 1999 release: Plumpy Chunks/Electric Disco, which came out on kick ass label Fingerlickin'. Success was instantly tangible: their 2000 debut album, A Plump Night Out, became an immediate hit as people got hooked on their upbeat funky-break, and that hasn’t changed much in the last seven years. Their 2003 Eargasm further strengthened their position, while 2005’s Saturday Night Lotion finally lifted them up to the league of the biggest artists.
Annie Nightingale (UK) - In Annie Nightingale’s case without being offensive we can say that we are talking about an old institution of the music business. The 65 year old lady has done everything that is possible in the biz. She was the first female DJ on BBC Radio, before becoming presenter of the BBC programme called "Old Grey Whistle Test".
She made an award-winning documentary about the breakbeat scene, and in 1998 she received Woman of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2004 she was inducted into the Radio Academy Hall Of Fame. In the meantime she continued playing the clubs to show what her idea of a breakbeat set is about. It was her radio show that introduced tracks from such artists as the Chemical Brothers and Basement Jaxx. After John Peel’s passing, she became the oldest active DJ on the British airwaves. She knows everything about music that is possible and she is respected in her country like the Queen. Annie Nightingale is 100 per cent vitality, 100 per cent breakbeat.
Goldie (UK) - This British daredevil needs no introduction. The term Drum ‘n’ Bass, coined by the British electronic music press, was first used to describe his 1993 hit, Angel. He’s one of the fathers of Drum ‘n’ Bass and all of his released works are treated like the Bible by his fans. He’s won many awards as a DJ and also with his labels Timeless, Metalheadz and Platinum Breakz. Despite his success, he is still full of fresh ideas, and is always looking for new ways to demonstrate his artistic qualities. Thanks to his global popularity, he even caught attention of Hollywood and has appeared in several movies, among others in Guy Richie’s Bluff as well.
Blame (UK) - There aren’t many drum’n’bass producers who can boast having climbed to the top of the British dance chart. Blame is one of the rare few. Conrad Shafie, as he was called at school, was only 17, when he wandered into his mate Tony Justice’s basic studio, and threw a track together which was later to become the anthem of the drum’n’bass cradle of the British hard core scene. “Music Takes You” surged to number one on the British Dance 40 chart, and Blame’s future was assured. Following the success of the track, young Blame focused all his attention on making music, while at the same time, his tracks caught the interest of the famous Moving Shadow label.
Simon Bassline Smith & Youngman MC (UK) - Funk, soul, hip-hop oriented Simon “Bassline” Smith embraced the world of vinyl and illegal parties at a very young age, and his nickname originates from these times when on almost every occasion he managed to ruin the subwoofers. Being present at the big British rave events (Perception, Methology, Raindance, Worlddance), he made friends with names such as Grooverider, Fabio, Mickey Finn and Jumping Jack Frost, with whom he started spreading the jungle sound that was shaping up at the time.
As the result of their success, Simon quickly put together his label, called Absolut 2, and started releasing records by such artists as Doc Scott, Nookie, Ray Keith and Danny C (Twisted Anger). Later, in 1998, with other producers, he started another label called Technique Recordings, which is still successful today. From the jazzy, double bass sound through tougher music to happy jump-up, the label represent many different styles – what matters is that it should be danceable. During the last couple of years, Simon Bassline Smith has been travelling around the world with Youngman MC, who according to Simon, really knows what makes a good MC.
Dave Clarke (UK) - Dave Clarke is regarded in the electronic music scene as one of the world’s best techno DJs. From his stormy childhood in the ‘80s to his recent media scandals, he’s always been a rebel and an outsider. By the millennium, most of the first generation techno DJs had disappeared, but Dave Clarke’s sets, his unique mixing technique (blending techno, electro, hip-hop and ‘80s new wave with masterful skill) is still as successful as ever. Throughout the years, he has published many mix CDs, and proved to be a representative of several different styles and genres, while remaining one of the leading international ambassadors of techno.
Motor (UK) - American Bryan Black and Frenchman Olivier Grasset met up at the end of the nineties in a smoky pub in dear old blighty. Bryan – former producer for Prince – instantly recognized Grasset’s talent and one year later they formed Xlover which was supposed to be the next big electro-rock thing but it unfortunately failed to bang.
Beside Xlover they also established another project in common „Motor” which was intended to operate just for fun. Novamute, however, dicovered the underlying potential in the project immediately and contracted them without much ado. Xlover stopped existing at that very moment.
Thanks to Novamute’s network of contacts they got to remix such songs very soon as „Personal Jesus” by Marylin Manson and „Persuasion” by Throbbing Gristles. Success came to stay and their record „Stuka Stuka” proved a dancefloor-explosion. Played by Sven Väth, Dave Clarke and Miss Kittin it turned out to be the big thing in that year on electronic scene. After Depeche Mode and T. Raumschmire remixes the time for their first self-penned album was more than due: „Klunk” came out in 2006.
Motor’s individual mystic sound makes everyone move in New York, London or anywhere else.
Satoshi Tomiie (J) - Besides being Japan’s most successful, internationally acknowledged DJ and house producer, Satoshi Tomiie is one of the worlds most sought after DJs. His debut alum, Full Lick came out on Sony Music in 2000, and continues to be considered as one of the very best house albums by the critics. In 2001 he launched his own label called SAW.RECORDINGS.
Thus, in realizing his dream, he provided the biggest possible platform for new, creative ideas, experiments and naturally for the underground. He was the first foreign DJ living in the States who was commissioned by Global Underground to make a CD for the NuBreed series. The last few years were all about DJing for the Japanese New Yorker, who has been performing at every possible place lately. Perhaps that’s why he keeps reclaiming his place in the higher realm of DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJ Chart. Satoshi is a quiet and modest person, who is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding creators of underground dance music, which is something he is ready to prove on a daily basis at different corners of the globe.
Booka Shade (D) - Walter Merziger and Arno Kammermeier, better known as Booka Shade, were one of the big breakthroughs of 2006. Together with three of their producer mates they have started their own label, Get Physical, through which they put their records out. Their music is celebrated by critics and there is no DJ who wouldn’t play at least one Booka Shade track. The first success of these two talented producers came with the release of their 2004 Memento album. The album remained at the top of the dance charts, which caught the attention of big artists and the duo were asked to do remixes for such artists as Depeche Mode.
After a few singles, they released another album at the end of 2006. Movements was even more positively received than expected. What’s Booka Shade’s secret? Musically, by mixing house, techno, minimal and their very own style, they have been pushing electronic music in a new direction. After releasing their latest album, they embarked on their world tour, and will stop by at the Sziget 2007 festival. Even though they are new in the business, there are several thousand waiting for the Booka Shade live show, which will undoubtedly be one of the main attractions of Party Arena.
DJ Hell (D) - For the last 25 years DJ Hell has been an eminent member of the electronic music elite. DJ Hell and his label, International Deejay Gigolos, have collectively been responsible for much of the electro wave that has been rampaging worldwide over the last couple of years. His approach is more modern than that of any 20-year old. He has worked with Donatella Versace, played at a private party of Mr Playboy, alias Hugh Hefner, and has surprised the world with his curious looks and eccentric style.
Philipp Straub aka Felipe (A) - Philipp Straub, aka (DJ) Felipe first encountered electronic music in 1992 at different techno and house parties, and as he became addicted to it, he started collecting records. Over the following years he grew to be the most popular DJ in Austria, and in 1998 he started “Titan Production”. In the last few years he’s been touring with such stars as Faithless, Underworld, Chris Liebing, Sven Väth, Laurent Garnier, Pascal FEOS, Westbam, Paul van Dyk, etc. He has also appeared on several compilations such as Favorite Tools, Fab. Mix II, Hyperspace II & IV.
Sharam - Deep Dish (USA) - Deep Dish does not seem to be fed up with their workaholic lifestyle. After all the remix requests from superstars and Grammies the work they invested had obviously long paid off still there’s a lingering drive in Ali and Sharam which won’t let them stop ever.
And how did the story of the most influential electronic dance duo begin? Ali „Dubfire” Shirazia and Sharam Tayebi met by chance back in 1991 and instantly realized how much they had in common. Their main vision is a permanent urge to bridge the gaps between the different brands of electronic music. To make the long story short, Deep Dish Records was set up before long and the released tracks caught the eye of the vanguard Tribal America Records very soon which resulted in the release of the classic „Penetrate Deeper”.
Due to the upcoming DeLacy – Hideaway remix and their benefactor Brian BT Transeu no doors were closed before them by 1995.
It was in 1998 that their self-penned debut „Junk House” was released as a mix of sensuous house, dancey rock and jazzy soul. The single „The Future Of The Future (Stay Gold)” turned out to be both club and FM hit.
Nothing could stop the flow of mixes from this moment on: Yoshiesque (1999), Renaissance Ibiza (2000), Yoshiesque 2 (2001), Global Underground-Moscow (2001), GU-Toronto (2003) all reflect eclectic Deep Dish clubsound. Meanwhile they carried on making remixes with the same old zeal, be it mainstream or underground. Memorable reworks of tracks by Brother Brown, Gabrielle, Morel, Beth Orton, Sven Väth, Depeche Mode, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, ’N Syinc or even Justin Timberlake granted Ali and Sharam the status of most wanted remix-makers.
Small wonder they got their first Grammy nomination in 2001 as „Remixer OF The Year” for – amongst others – Madonna („Music”), Amber („Sexual”) and their very own „Mohamed Is Jesus” reworks. 2002 bought another nomination – awarded at last! – with Dido’s „Thank You”. This single is the par excellence example of their way of blending pop and clubsound. It even topped the Billboard chart. The next ones were P.Diddy’s „Let’s Get Ill” and „Say Hello” which were played twenty-four seven by DJs all over the world.
It goes without saying their live-acts are held in high esteem and sold-out. According to Los Angeles Times there is no DJ set that is comparable with Deep Dish.
Sharam and Ali have been playing separately recently to give a taste of Deep Dish to even more people. Sharam’s own Global Underground mix recorded in Dubai has just been released as Vol. 29.
Cedric Gervais (USA) - His curriculum would do as a Hollywood script. By the time most guys just kissed a girl for the first time he is already playing to a crowd of four thousand on France’s biggest open-air festival.
The fifteen year old Cedric found himself being resident in Paris’ hippest club Queen in no time. He played back to back with such names as Sven Väth, Carl Cox and Laurent Garnier. It was fair enough but Cedric wanted more so he packed up his vinyls and left for Miami to chance it. It wasn’t long before he made it to the legendary club Space. He began on the terrace where DJs hung out after „work”. Roger Sanchez, Sander Kleinenberg and Deep Dish were regulars during his sets.
Self-penned tracks began to see their release and remixes were requested by such labels as Deep Dish’s own Yoshitoshi or Ministry. Nowadays Gervais travels the world as the official warmup DJ to Deep Dish by Sharam’s and Ali’s side. His new mix „Yoshitoshi:Miami” includes the best tunes of this year’s Miami Music Conference."
Source:
Sziget.hu
10.08.2007