| Biography: |
DJ WHO
DJ WHO. Chemical Brothers.Defective.Smile. 4AD.Thievery.Gus
Gus.Kaleidoscopic.Lake Trout.#1 Mixmag Update. DJ WHO.
"Attack of the Deep Dark Dubs" came out 1993. A no name British
dude named Justin Robertson (that guy behind that breakbeat phenom
Lionrock) charted this tune for Mixmag. That was the first record that DJ
WHO ever released.
With help from Washington DC's top DJ, Scott Henry, a young DJ WHO
got his start. Hailing from Baltimore, he found his way from DJing into
production quickly. As he dropped his debut record, he graduated from
local favorite into the world of the international jet set.
His style of tunes takes a departure from the hum-drum world of
cotton candy saccharine melodies and twirls the deep beats of house
together with the drones of trance. Inspired by the likes of Danny
Tenaglia, Terry Lee Brown jr. and Adam Freeland, WHO puts his sets together
with a very certain flavor in mind. He cites his favorite labels: Hooj,
Thunk from Australia, Silver Pearl and Baroque. Perhaps the simplest way
to describe a WHO set is with own idea of how things should be, "The whole
point, this music is very tribal, if they could light the middle of the
dancefloor on fire every time, I would be all for it."
The Chemical Brothers discovered his sophomore effort, "Attack II"
and it became a staple in their DJ sets at the Sunday Social (their weekly
UK club night). Its popularity earned it a place on the club's eponymous
CD mixed by Ed and Tom Chemical. In the wake of the CD, the Chemical
Brothers invited DJ WHO along for a few stops on their tour. (By the way, "Attack II"
found its way to #1 in the illustrious Mixmag Update.
After a series of 12"s on the Defective label, DJ WHO founded SNS
Records and its debut release was DJ WHO, "Rhythm" and a project with the
Bassbin Twins.
The tracks fused dark acidic synth lines, tribal drums, and funky
dubbed out vocal elements that were far from the norm on the US dance
floors. "Rhythm" was an instant hit, spawning a wild touring schedule.
Profile/Smile records included it on their collection Best of House Music vol. 8
Further studio projects followed with Dave Trance & Onionz (From Caffeine NYC), a slew of remix for labels the likes of; Kram, and Cosmic, Psychoactive, and Richard
"Humpty" Vision's Aqua Boogie imprint in LA
WHO took some time out from touring and recovered in the studio,
finishing couple of lingering projects. SNS Records changed and returned
with a new direction and bigger projects. The label secured the rights to
release the US remixes of the first Gus Gus single "Polyesterday" from the
legendary UK indie label, 4AD. In addition to the two DJ WHO remixes, a
then up and coming duo from Washington, DC, Thievery Corporation,
contributed a remix.
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