DJ Fresh
DJ Fresh | |
|---|---|
| DJ Fresh DJ Fresh | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Daniel Stein |
| Also known as | DJ Fresh, Fresh, Mosquito, Absolute Zero |
| Origin | England |
| Genres | Drum and bass, Dubstep |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, DJ, Musician |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Breakbeat Kaos, Data Records, Ram Records, V Records, Valve Recordings |
DJ Fresh (real name Daniel Stein) is an English Drum & Bass and Dubstep producer and DJ. He was one of the principal members of drum & bass supergroup, Bad Company,[1] alongside Darren White (dBridge), Jason Maldini, and Michael Wojcicki (Vegas). He also owns and runs the pioneering drum & bass label Breakbeat Kaos with Adam F.
Career
Early success and 'Escape from Planet Monday' (1993-2008)
Along with the three other members of Bad Company, Fresh founded the record label BC Recordings, as well as the website Dogs On Acid.[2] Bad Company are heralded as one of the finest drum & bass acts ever, having produced numerous genre-defining tracks. Undoubtedly their most renowned track is "The Nine", a track released in 1998 when Fresh was just 19 years old. "The Nine" was later voted the greatest drum & bass track of all time by readers of Knowledge Magazine[3]
Resuming his solo career in 2002, Fresh founded Breakbeat Punk, which merged with Adam F's Kaos Recordings to become Breakbeat Kaos in 2003.[4] In 2004 Dogs on Acid was given its own imprint.
Fresh has worked with artists ranging from Pet Shop Boys, DJ Shadow, Apollo 440 to Andy C and Grooverider, and has also held a working relationship with the drum and bass trio Pendulum, whom he signed to Breakbeat Kaos in 2005.[5]
Fresh has had his own tracks included on a number of remix CDs, including the 2006 release Jungle Sound: The Bassline Strikes Back!, Andy C's Nightlife series, DJ Hype's Drum and Bass Warfare, and Goldie's Drum and Bass Classics.
In 2006, Fresh released his first studio album, Escape from Planet Monday, featuring "The Immortal", "X Project", "Nervous" and "All that Jazz" on Breakbeat Kaos.
A 100% Pure Mix of X Project was featured in the video games Wipeout Pulse (2007) and Wipeout HD (2008).
'Kryptonite' and Commercial Success (2009-Present)
In 2009 Fresh released a 12" of "Heavyweight" (with Fantasia on the B side) on the Digital Soundboy label. "Heavyweight" had a different style from Fresh's usual output, and gained positive reviews and a general positive response through the underground scene and within various radio stations.[6] Fresh subsequently released "Hypercaine" (including a remix from Nero) in September 2009,[7] and made BBC Radio 1's daytime playlist.
On the 1 August 2010, he re-released his song Gold Dust Featuring vocals from Ce'cile, Where it peaked 24 in the UK and 39 in Ireland, it marked his first Top 40 hit in both countries. Drum & Bass producer Finka remixed Gold Dust in early 2011. On 16 August, he released his second studio album, "Kryptonite" where it peaked 4 on the UK Dance Chart.
He then released his follow-up single, called "Lassitude" with Sigma and Vocals from Koko. It managed to peak 98 on the UK Singles Chart and 11 on the UK Dance Chart.
Third album , tour and continued commercial success (2011 - Present)
The first single from his Third Album, "Louder" was released on July 3, 2011. The song was used as part of a Lucozade Lite advertising campaign the UK and Ireland. The song features vocals from Welsh singer Sian Evans from the band Kosheen, it peaked number 4 on the Irish Singles Chart and Number 1 on the UK Singles Chart. It marked his first top five hit in both countries and first to reach number 1. It is also the first ever song of the dubstep genre to reach number 1 in the UK Singles Chart.[8]
His third album is due for release in 2012, including the next single "Hot Right Now" featuring Rita Ora to be released on February 12, 2012[9].
In late 2011, DJ Fresh began a new aspect of his career by launching the unique concept show 'FRESH/LIVE'. This live show was the first of its kind in the drum & bass/dubstep world, incorporating a drummer, guitarist, vocalist and Fresh himself on keys to perform identical renditions of his studio-produced hits in live settings.
Fresh handpicked the musicians that made up the band, calling on people he had encountered at various stages of his career. On the drums was Kodish, a man with over ten years experience as a drummer in the drum & bass scene, having performed with such eminent acts as Moving Fusion, Bad Company, and Pendulum. Guitarist Richard de Rosa founded the Ska/Swing band Scubaroots, with whom he has performed to thousands of people at countless festivals. Seemingly a master of all trades, he also produced the band's album, was nominated for producer of the year at the 2011 South West Music Awards, and had previously performed on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge with Example and Fresh. Vocalist Fleur exploded onto the scene after performing on X Factor to 9 million TV viewers in 2005 and had also previously performed with Fresh on Live Lounge, and with Ms Dynamite on 1Xtra.
The UK-wide tour completely sold out, taking in seven prestigious venues: The Arches in Glasgow, Alexandra Palace in London, The Big Reunion in Skegness, Manchester Club Academy, Waterfront in Norwich, Concorde 2 in Brighton, and the Student Union in Leeds. FRESH/LIVE is set to return in Spring 2012.
Discography
- Escape from Planet Monday (2006)
- Kryptonite (2010)
- Third Studio Album (2012)
See also
References
- ^ IMO Records. "DJ Fresh Biography", IMO Records, Retrieved on 15 December 2011.
- ^ FRESH (Bad Company, Breakbeat Kaos, Dogs on Acid, UK) !' Illegal party: Accessed 22 July 2009
- ^ 'Kmag Announces the Top 100 Drum & Bass Tracks of All Time'
- ^ World's Top DJs Coming to Seoul Korea Yimes: Accessed 22 July 2009
- ^ Junglesound Gold)
- ^ "DJ Fresh Live" Last Fm: Accessed 11 August 2009
- ^ "BBK - DJ Fresh News // Hypercaine, Heavyweight, Kryptonite" Dogsonacid.com: Accessed 11 August 2009
- ^ http://www.dirtysmart.co.uk/news_article.php?id=320
- ^ http://itunes.apple.com/gb/preorder/hot-right-now-feat.-rita-ora-ep/id493750548
External links
- Template:MySpace-music
- DJ Fresh discography at Discogs
- DJ Fresh at Rolldabeats