Felix da Housecat
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Felix da Housecat | |
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_1.JPG) Felix da Housecat performing in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Felix Stallings, Jr. |
| Also known as | Aphrohead Thee Maddkatt Courtship Thee Maddkatt Chronicles Sharkimaxx Virgo Blaktro Electrikboy Thee Jamie Starr Scenario |
| Genres | Electroclash House Minimal Techno Electronic |
| Occupation(s) | DJ Producer |
| Labels | Emperor Norton Rykodisc |
Felix da Housecat (born Felix Stallings Jr., August 27, 1971, Chicago, Illinois) is an American DJ and record producer, mostly known for house music and electroclash. His name was inspired by Felix the Cat.
Felix is regarded as a member of the second wave of Chicago house.[1] He gained fame not only via his recordings (under a number of aliases, including Thee Maddkatt Courtship, Aphrohead and Sharkimaxx), but also for his ownership of Radikal Fear Records.
Life
Beginnings
Stallings developed an interest in the emergent Chicago house music scene at a young age. While a student at Rich East High School in Park Forest, Illinois in the mid-1980s, a chance introduction to acid house pioneer DJ Pierre gave the then 15-year-old Stallings his break, and under the patronage and guidance of Pierre, he released his first single, "Phantasy Girl," in 1987.[citation needed]
Also in 1987, Felix went to Alabama State University to study media and communication. There he studied different musicians of the era, including Prince, A Tribe Called Quest, and Gang Starr, as well as developing an interest in hip hop and R&B tracks.
1990s
After graduating, he released "Thee Dawn" on Guerilla Records. He became popular in Europe, and in the following year, "By Dawn's Early Light" and "Thee Industry Made Me Do It" followed. A further single, "In The Dark We Live (Thee Lite)", appeared under his pseudonym, Aphrohead. Originally released on the UK label, Bush, "In The DaAlbum", followed in 1998. In 1999, he released with "In The Dark We Live".
Shortly afterwards, Stallings formed Radikal Fear Records. It released material from Mike Dunn, DJ Sneak, and Armando as well as Felix himself. During 1995, he released his debut album Alone in the Dark (as Thee Maddkatt Courtship) on Deep Distraxion, followed by the Radikal Fear compilation album, The Chicago All Stars and a remix album entitled Clashbackk Compilation Mix. The album I Know Electrikboy was never officially released in either the US or UK, although promotional copies are in circulation.
2000s
In 2001, Kittenz and Thee Glitz, was issued that gained Felix mainstream exposure. At the end of that year, Felix won Best Album at the now-defunct Muzik Awards. The ensuing fame brought Felix remix work for Madonna, Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue. The proper follow-up, Devin Dazzle & the Neon Fever, was released in 2004, though Felix released a pair of mix albums, 2002's Excursions and 2003's A Bugged Out Mix, in between.
Felix also collaborated with P Diddy on the pair's "Jack U" single. The pair remain friends, with Diddy performing alongside Felix at Space in Ibiza in 2005, and Felix performing at Diddy's after-party for The Main Event at the Winter Music Conference.
Various remixes of "Silver Screen (Shower Scene)" were used in video games such as Midnight Club 2, and SSX 3, and films including Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. The Soulwax Remix of His song "Rocket Ride" was featured in the game Need for Speed: Underground 2. "Everyone Is Someone in LA" was featured in Tony Hawk's American Wasteland. His songs have also featured in television programs such as The Sopranos and "Silver Screen" featured in the party scene in Robert Downey, Jr's 2005 film, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
Felix's album, Virgo Blaktro and the Movie Disco, was released on October 2, 2007 in the US on Nettwerk Records. Production was overseen by Dallas Austin. l "Future Calls The Dawn" was released on July 9, 2007 on Wall of Sound/PIAS with "Sweet Frosti" featured as the B-side. "Sweetfrosti" contained a sample of Devo's "Snowball", originally released in 1981.
"Like Something 4 Porno!" is released as the album's lead single on September 24, 2007 with remixes from Kris Menace, Teenage Bad Girl and Armand Van Helden, while a third single, "Radio", was released digitally in April 2008. Since then, Felix has released his first Global Underground compilation, for the Newcastle-upon-Tyne compilation and club label. Felix also teamed up with Kris Menace to release "Artificial" in June 2008.
In 2009, Felix released He Was King, via Nettwerk Records.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Chart peaks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 200 | US Dance | US Indie | ||
| 1995 | Metropolis Present Day? Thee Album! | — | — | — |
| 1999 | I Know Electrikboy (as Maddkatt Courtship III) | — | — | — |
| 2001 | Kittenz and Thee Glitz | — | — | — |
| 2002 | Rocketmann! (as Rocketmann!) | — | — | — |
| 2004 | Devin Dazzle & the Neon Fever | — | 8 | 41 |
| 2007 | Virgo Blaktro and the Movie Disco | — | — | — |
| 2009 | He Was King | — | — | — |
| 2011 | Son of Analogue[2] | — | — | — |
Mix albums
| Year | Title | Chart peaks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 200 | US Dance | US Indie | ||
| 1997 | Clashbackk Compilation Mix | — | — | — |
| Transmissions, Vol. 2 | — | — | — | |
| 2002 | Excursions | — | — | — |
| 2003 | A Bugged Out Mix | — | 19 | — |
| 2005 | Playboy: The Mansion Soundtrack | — | — | — |
| Past, Present and Future House and Electro | — | — | — | |
| 2008 | Global Underground 034: Milan | — | — | — |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Dance Play [3] |
U.S. Dance Sales [3] |
CAN [3] |
UK [4][5] | |||
| 2001 | "Silver Screen Shower Scene" | – | – | – | 39 | Kittenz and Thee Glitz |
| "Harlot" | – | – | – | 79 | ||
| "What Does It Feel Like?" | – | – | – | 66 | ||
| 2002 | "Madame Hollywood" | – | 11 | 19 | – | |
| 2003 | "Cyberwhore" | – | – | – | 103 | |
| 2004 | "Watching Cars Go By" | 39 | 6 | – | 49 | Devin Dazzle & the Neon Fever |
| 2005 | "Ready 2 Wear" | – | – | – | 62 | |
| "Rocket Ride" | – | 24 | – | 55 | ||
| 2008 | "Like Something 4 Porno!" | 13 | – | – | – | Virgo Blaktro and the Movie Disco |
| 2009 | "We All Wanna Be Prince" | 26 | – | – | – | He Was King |
| 2011 | "Burn The Disco" (feat Will.I.Am) | - | – | – | – | TBC |
Remixes
- Passion Pit- "Little Secrets (Felix Da Housecat Pink Enemy Remix)" (2009)
- Britney Spears- "Toxic (Felix Da Housecat's Club Mix)" (2004)
- Buy Now! - "For Sale (Felix Da Housecat Remix)" (2007)
- The Chemical Brothers - "Get Yourself High (Felix Da Housecat's Chemical Meltdown Mix)" (2003)
- The Disco Boys - "Born to Be Alive"
- Garbage - "Androgyny (Thee Glitz mix)" & "Androgyny (Thee Drum Drum mix)" (2001)
- Gwen Stefani - "What You Waiting For? (The Rude Ho Mix by Felix Da Housecat)" (2005)
- Holly Valance - "State of Mind (Felix Da Housecat's Dub)" (2003)
- Madonna - "American Life (Felix Da Housecat's Devin Dazzle Club Mix)" (2003)
- Madonna - "Die Another Day (Thee RetroLectro Mix)" (2003)
- Miike Snow - "Silvia (Felix Da Housecat Remix)" (2010)
- Mylène Farmer - "Je t'aime mélancolie (Felix Da Housecat Remix)" (2003)
- Mylo - "Drop the Pressure"
- Nina Simone - "Sinnerman (Felix Da Housecat's Heavenly House Mix)" (2003)
- Pet Shop Boys - "London (Thee Radikal Blaklight Edit)" (2003)
- Pet Shop Boys - "I don't know what you want but I can't give it anymore (Thee 2 black ninja mix) (1999)
- New Order - "Here To Stay (Felix Da Housecat Extended Glitz mix)" (2002)
- Paola & Chiara - "Vanity & Pride (Felix Da Housecat Club Mix)" (2008)
- Uffie - "Pop the Glock (Felix Da Housecat's Pink Enemy Remix)" (2009)
- Kylie Minogue - Where Is The Feeling? (Da Klub Feelin Mix)" (1995)
References
- ^ Bush, John. "Biography: Felix da Housecat". AMG. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
- ^ Monypenny, Mike (2011-03-25). "Felix Da Housecat releases 'Son Of Analogue' album exclusively on the cover of Mixmag". Mixmag. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
- ^ a b c (((Felix Da Housecat > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles))) Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
- ^ Felix Da Housecat Chart Stats. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
- ^ http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_F.HTM
External links
- Template:Myspace
- Official Blog
- Felix da Housecat discography at Discogs
