Armand Van Helden

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Not to be confused with Armin van Buuren
 This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2009)
Armand Van Helden
Vanheldenforum160404-4.jpg
Armand Van Helden in 2004
at the Forum in Trier, Germany
Background information
Birth name Armand Van Helden
Also known as Deep Creed, Sultans of Swing, Banji Boys, Circle Children, Old School Junkies, Jungle Juice, Armand & The Banana Spliffs, Hardhead, Wizzards of Wax, The Mole People, Chupacabra, Duck Sauce
Born (1970-02-16) 16 February 1970 (age 43)
Origin Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Genres House, electro, hip hop, speed garage, drum and bass
Occupations DJ, producer, remixer songwriter
Years active 1990–present
Labels

AV8 (1992–1996) Nervous Records (1992–1999)
Strictly Rhythm (1993–1997)
ZYX Music (1993–2002)
Henry Street Music (1994–1996)
FFRR (1994–2001)
Armed Records (1999–2004)

Southern Fried (2004–present)
Associated acts

Subspecies, Da Mongoloids, Klobber, Sahara

DJ Sneak, Duane Harden, Roland Clark, Common, Roger Sanchez, Tekitha, Spalding Rockwell, Tara McDonald, Fat Joe, Nicole Roux, Christina Rich, Team Facelift, Dizzee Rascal, A-Trak, Duck Sauce
Website www.armandvanhelden.com

Armand van Helden (born February 16, 1970) is an American DJ and producer of electro house music from Boston, Massachusetts. He was one of the main proponents of the genre Speed Garage, remixing various artists such as Janet Jackson, Juliet Roberts, KRS-One, and Sneaker Pimps among others with this musical style. He is closely linked to the electronic music scene of New York.

Van Helden often remixes and uses samples of funk, soul, rhythm, blues and rap. He also uses filters and dub progressions, as in NYC beat, dancehall and reggae samples.

His greatest successes have been the remix of the song "Professional Widow" by Tori Amos, "My My My" featuring Tara McDonald (containing a sample of "Comin Apart" by Gary Wright), as well as "U Don't Know Me," (with a sample from Carrie Lucas "Dance With You") which is van Helden's own work.

Contents

Biography [edit]

Early life and career [edit]

Van Helden was born to an Indo (Dutch-Indonesian) father and a French-Lebanese mother but traveled around the world as a child, spending time in the Netherlands, Latvia, Turkey, and Italy as his father was a member of the U.S. Air Force. At the age of 13, he bought a drum machine and started DJing two years later.[1]

He returned to Boston in 1988, moonlighting as a DJ in Boston clubs. He attended college in Boston. He quit his legal-review job in 1991 to work as a remixer under the management of Neil Petricone and X-Mix. He took up a DJ residency at the Loft, a top Boston nightclub at the time. He released his first official single, a mix of Deep Creed's "Stay On My Mind" through Nervous Records.

He released "Move It To the Left" (credited to Sultans of Swing) in 1992 on the Strictly Rhythm label, which became a moderate club hit and led to a string of singles released under several monikers for that label. His first track to make the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart was "Witch Doktor," which made the top 5 in 1994, and led to opportunities to remix acts such as New Order, Deep Forest, Jimmy Somerville, Deee-Lite, and Faithless.

However, it was the "Professional Widow" remix that established him and became a dance hit around the world as well as a number-one hit in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, Van Helden did not receive a penny for this remix because he presented it non-commissioned and, thus, was not entitled to compensation[citation needed]. However, it led to work remixing the Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, and Puff Daddy, as well as Daft Punk and Sneaker Pimps, adding to his reputation as one of the world's top house-music musicians.

"Cha Cha" was another top-ten dance hit from his first album, Old School Junkies: The Album, which was released in 1996, along with "The Funk Phenomena." A greatest hits album appeared the next year, followed by a breakbeat album later in 1997. "U Don't Know Me" was a number two hit on the Billboard dance chart, a number one hit in the United Kingdom, and a top 20 single on the pop charts in Australia and Canada. The song was the breakout track from his 2Future4U album, which was released stateside on Armand's own label, Armed Records.

Van Helden released the Killing Puritans album in 2000 (also on Armed Records), which contained the hit "Koochy". The track was based around Gary Numan's five times UK chart hit, "Cars".[2] His single "Why Can't You Free Some Time" made it to number 34 in the UK in 2001. His New York: A Mix Odyssey album released in 2004 produced two hits: "Hear My Name", a collaboration with Spalding Rockwell that reached number 7 on the Billboard dance chart, number 34 in the UK, and the top 40 in Australia; and "My My My", which reached number 4 on the world internet charts, number 5 in the Belgian and Dutch charts, number 6 in Australia, number 15 in the UK, and top 30 in the world dance charts.

2005 [edit]

In 2005, he released the album Nympho, featuring the singles "Into Your Eyes", "My My My", "Hear My Name", and "When the Lights Go Down". The album reached the top 30 in Australia, and number 48 in the UK. "When The Lights Go Down" reached #52[3] on the ARIA Chart in Australia, and was a dance and club hit.

Van Helden was the featured DJ in the Southern Fried tent at Get Loaded in the Park at Clapham Common on the August Bank Holiday in 2005. He treated concertgoers with an incredible mash-up set that is still spoken about today about being one of his best performances.[citation needed]

2006 [edit]

In 2006, he re-released "My My My" featuring the British singer Tara McDonald, which reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart and number 1 in the UK dance charts. Remixes included "Funktuary radio edit and Stonebridge remix

2007 [edit]

In 2007, Van Helden released his new album, Ghettoblaster, from which he released the singles "NYC Beat," which reached number 22 on the UK chart, and "I Want Your Soul," which reached number 19.

2008 [edit]

In 2008, Van Helden gained more commercial success by remixing "Inspire", a No. 1 hit by the Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki. This remix was released on the album Ayu-mi-x 6: GOLD. Also, in 2008, Van Helden released two albums, You Don't Know Me: The Best of Armand Van Helden and a mix album titled New York: a Mix Odyssey 2.

Two of his songs, "My My My" (featuring a sample from Gary Wright's "Comin' Apart") and the Dark Garage Mix of the Sneaker Pimps' "Spin Spin Sugar," are featured in Dance Dance Revolution EXTREME 2. He also edited music for Deee-Lite.

2009 [edit]

In May 2009, Van Helden collaborated with English rapper Dizzee Rascal on his single "Bonkers". It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 1, where it stayed for two weeks.

Later in 2009, Van Helden worked with A-Trak to create "aNYway" which was released in October under the name Duck Sauce. The duo later gained chart success with the song "Barbra Streisand", which reached number 3 in the UK.

2010 [edit]

Remixer for "Memories" by David Guetta and "California Gurls" by Katy Perry

The hit "Barbra Streisand", "The Motion" and " You´re nasty" with Duck Sauce

Teamed up with American DJ/producer Steve Aoki to produce the song Brrrat! which featured on Godskitchen's eclectic album.

2011 [edit]

In early 2011, Armand Van Helden stated that he has an album planned for 2013. Armand Van Helden teamed up with fellow DJ/producer A-Trak to form Duck Sauce in 2011. The duo scored hits with "Barbra Streisand" and "The Big Bad Wolf"

Show – Tour Dates 2012 [edit]

   1/14/2012: Arkadia Club: Miami – Florida (USA)
   3/09/2012: Vevo & Nike Festival: Austin – Texas (USA)
   3/23/2012: Shine at the Shelbourne: Miami – Florida (USA)
   3/24/2012: Ultra Music Festival: Miami – Florida (USA)
   4/06/2012: Sandance – Dubai (UAE)
   4/07/2012: Arma17 – Moscow (Russian)
   5/25/2012: "I Love This City" Shoreline Amphitheater – San Francisco(USA)
   5/28/2012: Adidas Originals Mega Party- Magazzini Generali (Milan)
   6/02/2012: Sensation Brazil – São Paulo (Brazil)
   6/03/2012: Los Angeles Historic Park – Los Angeles (USA)
   6/24/2012: The Governors Ball Music Festival – New York (USA)
   6/29/2012: Molson Canadian Amphitheatre – Toronto (Canada)
   7/01/2012: Wavefront Beachside Music Festival 2012 – Chicago (USA)
   8/11/2012: World Electronica Carnival – Jarasum (Korean)
   8/12/2012: D.W.P - DJakarta Warehouse Project 2012 - Jakarta (Indonesian)
   12/01/2012: City Gas | Samedi 1er Decembre NEW CITY GAS - Montreal, QC ( Canada )
   12/08/2012: Festival - Your Music + Art Festival at Bayfront Park Downtown Miami - Florida (USA)
   12/09/2012: Festival - Your Music + Art Festival at Bayfront Park Downtown Miami - Florida (USA)
   12/31/2012: Meydan Racecourse - Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) alongside Snoop Dogg, Faithless & Greg Stainer

Show - Tour Dates 2013 [edit]

   2/01/2013: Zagrebacki Velesajam - Zagreb (Croatia)
   2/02/2013: DECADANCE - 'Night Of Heroes' - Prague (Czech Republic)
   3/01/2013: 'One Last Tour' with Swedish House Mafia - Madison Square Garden, New York City (USA)
   3/22/2013: XMIX Productions Festival - Miami – Florida (USA)
   3/23/2013: Ultra Music Festival - Miami – Florida (USA)
   5/19/2013: Tiktak Eclectic Music Festival at Arenapark - Amsterdam ( Holland / Netherlands )
   5/23/2013: PURE Pacha = Ibiza (Spain)
   5/26/2013: TOYOTA PARK - Bridgeview, IL (USA)
   6/16/2013: The JamBO = Bologna, (Italy)
   5/22/2013: Pure PACHA - Ibiza (Spain)
   8/03/2013: Hard Summer = Los Angeles( USA )
   8/15/2013: Pukkelpop 2013 = Hasselt( Belgium )
   8/17/2013: Pure PACHA - Ibiza (Spain)
   8/25/2013: Creamfields 2013 - Cheshire / Liverpool (UK)

Discography [edit]

Main article: Armand Van Helden discography

Studio Albums [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ IMO Records. “Armand Van Helden Biography", IMO Records, London, Retrieved on 25 January 2012.
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 398. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
  3. ^ Pandora.nla.gov.au

External links [edit]

Armand Van Helden
Studio albums
Compilation albums
Singles
Other songs
Related articles
Authority control
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Armand_Van_Helden&oldid=555482573"