electronic directory

Electronic Directory (re)presents Subject Detroit – featuring interview with Rennie Foster.

Rennie Foster Biography

Rennie "Dubnut" Foster has been a well respected figure in the Canadian music and art community since he was just a teenager. He influenced many as an early pioneer of the Hip-Hop / B-Boy movement and later the House Music and Techno / Rave scene with his uncomprimising underground spirit and dedication to breaking ground with everything he puts his mind to whether he was making music for the local CHUM television network, judging the DMC dj contest or fighting for the right to dance at City Hall. Known for his talent on the dancefloor aswell as with a mic or a can of paint it was behind the turntables and in the studio that Rennie would bring his relentless fusion of Hi-Tech Funk and Soul to a global audience.

After visiting Japan several times to play, Rennie fell in love with the techno oriented Tokyo club scene and has since relocated to Tokyo where he now resides with his 7 year old Japanese twin daughters, the main source of inspiration for this dedicated single father and full time vinyl pilot.

Rennie has been making himself heard the last few years with a well recieved string of vinyl singles and remixes as both a solo artist with labels such as Subject-Detroit, Monoid, Synewave, Rewired, Soiree, F… U ! Com etc. aswell as with partner Kan Shinomura as Futago Technologies. The Japanese word Futago means twins and Kan is also a father of twins, born only hours apart from Rennie’s children… its this kind of fate that has guided the Futago Tech. project to great success so far including the creation of thier own "Futago Traxx" imprint releasing thier original Fusion of Detroit and Tribal influenced sounds alongside artists such as Jamie Anderson, Ben Sims, Mark Williams, Damon Wild, Rue East and Oliver Ho aka Raudive. The Futago Technologies unit has also released on labels like IngomA and Teknotika including the heavily played Samedi remixes championed by Derrick May and so many others.

Now, with the rise in popularity of digital DJ technology and changes in the way music is being played and purchased Rennie has launched another label, "Dirty Works", dedicated to bringing the spirit of vinyl and roots of underground dance music into the digital age. Fusing the refined "minimal" elements of modern club sounds with the R.A.W. (Rock Any Warehouse) vibe of filthy Chicago House, Detroit Techno and early rave records. Dirty Works is truly the NEW WAY TO JACK !!! Rennie is also sponsored by RANE and Serato Scratch Live.

Rennie’s many releases have recieved stellar reviews in magazines and websites such as DJ, XLR8R, Loud, Traxx, Mixer, littledetroit.net, DJ Times, and Mixmag plus get regular charting and support from major figures such as Dave Clarke, Laurent Garnier, Jeff Mills, DJ Bone and Kevin Saunderson. Even if you havn’t yet heard Rennie’s name, chances are you have danced to one of his records. Rennie has showcased his unique and highly technical DJ style in clubs and venues all over North America, Europe and Asia holding his own alongside a diverse range of top players from Frankie Knuckles to Daniel Bell to Grandmaster Flash and a long list of other big names.

All in all Rennie Foster is a hard working purveyor of high quality techno and house based music, a dedicated student of dance music’s rich history and a steadfast believer in the bright future of electronic music.

Read the rest of this entry »

Electronic Directory (re)presents Subject Detroit – featuring interview with DJ Trench.

Trench Biography

As an old school house head, Trench had the pleasure of experiencing Detroit’s dance subculture from its infancy.

As a regular attendee of many now legendary hotspots, he experienced the birth of Detroit’s audio subculture firsthand, and his support and dedication to this art form has been relentless. As a DJ his skills are tight and saying flexible in selection is an understatement! He attributes his adventurous nature to his roots; "Back in the day there was no right or wrong, there was just music. You grabbed what you could and gleaned the parts that touched you. I believe in embracing experimentation, we can make our soundscape much more exciting".

Trench brings more than a style to the decks — he brings personality. A genre splicer constantly moving between palettes, he follows no man’s drum but his own, breaking through the expected and slamming down flags in new ground. With his soul deeply rooted beneath the mainstream, his love for the music is embodied by action: an endless source of complex creativity, simply defined by conviction.

As an accomplished designer Trench has provided artwork for many labels and artists: Mike Hukaby, Terrence Parker, Juan Atkins, Brian Gillespie, DEQ, NDR, Beretta Music, Throw Records, Visillusion, Detroit Grand Pubahs, Lumina, Pure Plastic; but home is 100% independent record label Subject Detroit where he serves as visual liaison. The extensive catalog of DJ Bone showcases many of his graphic contributions to the underground movement.

Read the rest of this entry »

Electronic Directory (re)presents Subject Detroit – the first one with Stephen Brown, here !

Stephen Brown Biography

Stephen was born in Edinburgh in 1972 and has a long history of involvement in electronic music. He started listening to the original electro sound of the early eighties while breakdancing. His inspiration to make music comes from artist like Bobby Orlando, Heaven 17 and early Human League. Then in 1988 Stephen discovered House music at the Hoochie Coochie Club in Edinburgh. Local DJ Yogi Haughton would play anything from jazz to the first early Chicago and Detroit releases. It was these records that converted him from a music listener to a music maker. He started playing live with Roland drum machines and basslines emulating the acid sound of Chicago under the name of MD3 and would continue to do this for another two years.

Stephen recalls when things started to get out of control around the early nineties. A time when real Detroit techno and Chicago house music was hard to find and Rave music was on the increase. After numerous live shows throughout 1989/1991, Stephen retired to his bedroom to make music for the next three years. He spent his time wisely perfecting a sound that is uniquely his. All this paid of in 1995 when Stephen released his first EP on Djax up Beats (Holland). Label owner and DJ Saskia Slegers liked Stephens’s music so much that his first release would be an album. Stephen stayed loyal to the label and covered 8 releases between 1995 to 2000.

Soon after the first Djax releases Stephen was recording for other labels such as Soma, T&B, Drought, Scandinavia, to name a few. Stephen released an EP under the name Earl Brown called the cornucopia EP in 1996, the lead track "how I feel" made number 20 in Music magazines top 100 of 1996, where his talent was compared to that of Chicago innovator LIL’ LOUIS. Not a bad achievement for his second release.

Around the same time he contributed a track to Glasgow’s label Soma under the same name Earl Brown for their 50th release. He also collaborated with Envoy for two trax on his album Shoulder to shoulder.

Stephen decided to start his own label in 2000 called Realtime Records. The purpose of this project was to release all his own material that had been rejected from other labels. The reason was because Stephen believed they had missed something. After five very successful releases Stephen decided to put the label on hold.

All his early releases were getting Stephen a lot of attention so he started playing in the clubs again mostly playing live sets. Enjoying playing in Belgium, Germany, France, Copenhagen, and Oslo he would always return to play at his local club PURE in Edinburgh.

Here Stephen’s career would take another turning point when he was playing live before Derrick May one night. As soon as Derrick entered the club he approached Stephen to talk to him about his music. This was the beginning of a friendship that still lasts today. A deal was struck after long negotiations and Stephen released two EPs on the Legendary Detroit label Transmat in 2002.

Recently Stephen approached DJ Bone after purchasing the first release on Subject Detroit and the conversation led to him contributing trax for Bones mix CD. Soon after he was given the opportunity to record an EP called Subject Scotland as part of the Subject Detroit global series.

Stephen’s inspiration lies firmly in Detroit techno, his releases and live performances are proof of this. He chooses to give his music to labels that he respects, rather than make a certain style of music for a particular type of label. "That for me is fashion and music is not fashion Music is Music".

Future projects include a new EP on Transmat. A remix for Mark Williams and to work with Mark on a joint release. Material for Arne Weinberg and Paul Mac should be available this year. To stay loyal to the subject family and release more material through Subject Detroit.

Read the rest of this entry »

Orlando Voorn Biography

For more than two decades Orlando Voorn has been one of the major contributors to the electronic music scene. Being one of Europe’s most original and innovative producers, he was one of the first Dutch musicians to try and establish a vital connection between Detroit and Amsterdam. Orlando undoubtedly has an ear for melody and always succeeds in combining it with an innate understanding of the importance of atmosphere and tension in music. Orlando can now look back at a solid career with about 80 releases and a number of remixes and productions for numerous Artists. Still going on strong, with release after release Orlando explores many different styles of music.

After his departure with Submerge, Orlando joined a new label; TriangleRecords distributed by TripleVision. He is finally elaborating on the Detroit roots of the original music, bringing up a remix with great buildup, perfectly timed breaks and wonderful hints to a magnificent musical heritage. Orlando has an impressive career as pioneer of the Dutch/Detroit techno scene and made numerous recordings under various monikers.

Voorn began DJing at the tender age of 12 and went on to win the Dutch DMC DJ Championships in 1986 with his own characteristic blend of hiphop and electro. Towards the end of the eighties he acquired his first sequencer, packed away his turntables and turned his hand to producing. Following a series of dance floor tracks recorded for the now defunct Lower East Side Records under the moniker of Frequency in the early nineties (Where Is Your Evidence, Kiss The Sky…), he was introduced to Juan Atkins (Industrial Metal, Game One) and went on to work with both Derrick May and Blake Baxter (as one half of the Ghetto Brothers).

Voorn was also recording as Nighttripper (Tone Exploitation), Format (Solid Session – one of the most sought after classic techno records until its re-release in 1998), Basic Bastard, The Living Room, Baruka, Fix (Flash on Kevin Saunderson’s legendary KMS label), Dope Dog, Boy (Paco Di Bango’s World) and Stalker (The Stalker/The Riderman)… Many of these tracks can be heard on the double cd "Best of Nightvision". He has made his mark producing his own vision of techno, ambient and hiphop and adamantly sidestepping genre limitations thus far.

Nightvision originally started in 1993 and consisted of quality uncut techno music mainly set up for Orlando’s own creations like "The living room ‘Baruka’ Defence" Progress "FIX Frequency vs Atkins" Infiniti. He is producing Exclusive Game one remixes of Infiniti, originally released in 1994, on Metroplex imprint of Juan Atkins & Orlando’s Nightvision Remixes by Mush, Quantec, Roberto Bosco, Claudio Mate, DJ S2 (Los Hermanos), Rennie Foster, Ritzi Lee, Subotic, Pacou, Steve Rachmad & Orlando himself. Following will be Terrence Dixon ""’Climb & Downtown Detriot" Mush "" Test 72 & Test 66"… Remixed by Chez Damier.

Real Booking Artist Agency

The art form of DJing is swiftly being robbed of its passion, skill and brilliance.

Nowadays, constant promotion is shrinking attention spans and brainwashing endless masses into settling for less.

Their choices are limited/controlled and therefore so is their range of independent growth.

Must raw talent, instinct and innovation now compete with a DJ’s ability to cheerlead or celebrate behind the "decks" ?

Real Booking represents some of the world’s most talented DJs who know how to rock the party.

We stand for equality, innovation and skill.

Our mission is to bring you the top level DJs you need to give your crowd a DJ set they will never forget.

We are the leaders, the example of what true DJing is all about.

bookREALdjs.

Read the rest of this entry »

Aaron-Carl Biography

Aaron-Carl’s music career began in 1996, when he signed to Underground Resistance’s "Mad" Mike Banks’ label, Soul City Records. The Metro Detroit native refused to be boxed into just one style and quickly made a name for himself by releasing his first two records, both of which were completely different genres, at the same time. "Crucified," a deep soulful vocal anthem, met instant critical acclaim; while "Down," an explicit electro-house track (the b-side to "Wash It"), became – and remains – one of Aaron’s biggest records to date.

Aaron-Carl’s extensive discography showcases his powerful versatility; with releases on labels such as Subject Detroit, Ovum Recordings, Metroplex, Afrosyntrix, as well as his own imprint, Wallshaker Music.

His music has been remixed by some of the industry’s top producers; such as, Ewan Pearson and Grammy award winner Peter Rauhofer / Club 69. Aaron has also remixed a variety of big-name artists, including jazz legend Manu Dibango and techno pioneers, Underground Resistance. In addition to producing and remixing, Aaron is an international DJ. He has captivated audiences throughout the world with his Detroit-style blend of house, techno and electro.

As a vocalist, Aaron displays a well-seasoned, four-octave range. "People often ask me who the woman is, singing on my records," he recalls. (Answer: AC himself !) From the sensual, seductive whispers of "Down" and "21 Positions" to soul-stirring shouts of "My House" and "Sky," Aaron delights in living up to his "genderless," 10 ft. tall reputation.

Signing a global distribution deal with Cratesavers Muzik; owning and overseeing the successful Wallshaker Music label (including sub-label "Cherry Juice Recordings"), plus heading his own music publishing company, Symphonic Storm Music Publishing, Aaron-Carl proves himself as a definite force to be reckoned with – and shows no signs of slowing down.

Aaron-Carl is featured in the ghetto-tech music documentary "The Godfather Chronicles", and also has songs featured in movies such as "Pick Up the Mic," and House music documentary "Maestro."

Real Booking Artist Agency

The art form of DJing is swiftly being robbed of its passion, skill and brilliance.

Nowadays, constant promotion is shrinking attention spans and brainwashing endless masses into settling for less.

Their choices are limited/controlled and therefore so is their range of independent growth.

Must raw talent, instinct and innovation now compete with a DJ’s ability to cheerlead or celebrate behind the "decks" ?

Real Booking represents some of the world’s most talented DJs who know how to rock the party.

We stand for equality, innovation and skill.

Our mission is to bring you the top level DJs you need to give your crowd a DJ set they will never forget.

We are the leaders, the example of what true DJing is all about.

bookREALdjs.

Read the rest of this entry »

Terrence Parker Biography

Unlike many of Detroit’s famous artists, Terrence Parker has established himself as a producer, remixer and DJ of the classic sound of Detroit House Music. He is also known as a pioneer of the Inspirational/Gospel House movement ! TP has performed as a DJ in more than 100 cities throughout the world. Since 1988, he has released more than 100 recordings, and had top 20 hits with his songs "Love’s Got Me High", "The Question" and albums like "Detroit After Dark" in the U.K., the Netherlands, Germany, and France.

As one of the headliners for the 2004 Detroit Movement Festival (May 2004), TP (along with his friend & Detroit legend DJ Mo Reese) performed a stunning tag team DJ set on 4 turntables with 2 live vocalists for a crowd of over 100,000 people.

TP’s collective musical works and pioneering efforts have been recognized as a valuable contribution to Detroit’s music history, as well as the International History of Dance Music, in the Detroit Historical Museum’s History of Techno International Exhibit.

TP’s incredible DJing talents can be heard regularly on Channel 955 FM’s "The Pulse" (Detroit’s No # 1 Pop/Urban FM Radio Station). Furthermore, TP produces several DJ mix shows (including The Inspirational House Mix Show), which can be heard on FM, Internet, and Satellite/Digital Radio stations internationally.

Terrence’s remix projects are currently topping charts and driving dance floors all over the world. Some of his most recent remix projects include such popular artists as Kelly Rowland, Vickie Winans, Lyfe Jennings, Michelle Williams, Trinitee 5:7, Omarion feat. Bow Wow, Aaron Carl, Tiffany Evans feat. Ciara, Wyclef feat. Akon, Beyonce & Shakira, Kanye West, Christina Aguilera, Shaun Escoffery , Ce Ce Winans, Dr. Charles Hayes & The Cosmopolitan Church Of Prayer Choir, Amerie, Chris Brown, Anointed Pace Sisters, and Upper Street.

Terrence has also been busy working on his own projects with artists Coco Street, Darnell Kendricks, DJ Mo Reese and Precious Blood Sound System. These artists and more are featured on TP’s new House Music label called Parker Music Works ! TP also has several releases and remixes on Superb Entertainment label which is based in London, England.

Terrence Parker is definitely still in the game, and better than ever. Some people call TP the "Telephone Man" because he uses an actual telephone as headphones. We call him the "Telephone Man" because he has answered the CALL to bring us music to feed our souls !

Real Booking Artist Agency

The art form of DJing is swiftly being robbed of its passion, skill and brilliance.

Nowadays, constant promotion is shrinking attention spans and brainwashing endless masses into settling for less.

Their choices are limited/controlled and therefore so is their range of independent growth.

Must raw talent, instinct and innovation now compete with a DJ’s ability to cheerlead or celebrate behind the "decks" ?

Real Booking represents some of the world’s most talented DJs who know how to rock the party.

We stand for equality, innovation and skill.

Our mission is to bring you the top level DJs you need to give your crowd a DJ set they will never forget.

We are the leaders, the example of what true DJing is all about.

So, bookREALdjs.

Read the rest of this entry »