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Here is a pretty good article I just came across...
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More info:
Christopher Lawrence
Type: | DJ | Producer |
Main Genre: Trance
Other Genres: Acid Trance
Progessive Tech Trance
Location: United States
When a DJ / producer has achieved the highest accolades and press acclaim in his own country and abroad, what is left?
The release of his first all originals artist album All or Nothing.
Christopher Lawrence has released a string of successful singles overseas but the time has come for his full length domestic artist debut, All or Nothing (Kinky Beat / Pharmacy Electronic Music). For Christopher, the title sums up his view towards life – “you only have one chance and life is what you make of it. My view is it’s all or nothing. If you’re not going to do your best in everything you do you might as well not do it.”
All Or Nothing features twelve tracks, two of which were previously released as U.K. singles (“Renegade” and “Rush Hour”) and two of which were released as U.S. singles on Moonshine (“Mind Eraser” and “October’s Child”). Christopher worked with acclaimed DJ / producer Dave Aude on four tracks including the first two singles “Saboteur” and “Hot Rod.” DJ / producer BK (Ben Keen) from the U.K. who scored the trance hit “Revolution” (Nukleuz) collaborated with Christopher on “Warp.” Vocalists are Camille Kramer and Laura Derby.
Winner of "Best DJ" at the Dancestar U.S. Awards, Christopher is recognized as one of the world’s top DJs and producers. Whether DJing at Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator 3 party, Creamfields U.K. or Tokyo’s superclub Ageha, Christopher’s tough progressive and sleek techno trance sets have placed him in high demand worldwide.
Described as “One Of The Most Popular DJs On The Global Circuit” by DJ Magazine and an "All Round International Jet Setting Superstar" by M8, Christopher was the only U.S. DJ invited to headline all three of the inaugural Ministry Of Sound, Cream and Gatecrasher tours of America.
Christopher’s ever increasing popularity is reflected in recent wins in the DJ polls, with him earning the #5 position in BPM Magazine’s influential ‘America's Favorite DJ’ issue for 2004. Christopher also took out the #35 position in England’s DJ Magazine’s prestigious ‘Top 100’ for 2003, surpassing such music greats as Fatboy Slim, Dave Seaman, Timo Maas, Seb Fontaine, Darren Emerson and many others.
With a list of international events, tours and clubs too long to mention, Christopher cites recent favorite events as the U.K.’s Global Gathering, Netherland’s Extrema Festival, Creamfields, Brazil’s Skol Beats, MTV’s Dance Heat in Turkey, Cream Ibiza, Hong Kong’s HITEC, Sony’s Dual Play U.S. Tour and California’s famed Coachella festival (which Christopher holds the record of playing more than any other DJ). In the past year, Christopher has also toured Japan, China, Australia, South America, Canada, Europe and the U.K.
The global DJ circuit where Christopher has found such fame and popularity is a far cry from the pirate radio station and free parties in San Francisco’s famed Golden Gate Park where Christopher began his career in 1991. In 1994, Christopher moved to Los Angeles, where the rave scene was exploding in Southern California and DJs would play to crowds of tens of thousands. In the early days the focus was on the party and promoter and the DJ took a back seat. This took a turn in the mid 90s when revelers started to learn the names of DJs, allowing the DJ to create and define their audiences taste in music. Mix tapes sold by DJs at shows laid the groundwork for clever dance labels like Moonshine to start releasing mix CDs from the name DJs. It was this fertile electronic music breeding ground that truly launched Christopher’s career and he quickly went on to become the cities biggest DJ, developing a huge cult following which continues to this day.
In 1996 Christopher released his first single “Navigator” on Scottish label Hook Recordings. In the years that followed, he released a catalog of groundbreaking tracks that brought him to the attention of well known European DJs including Paul Van Dyk and Paul Oakenfold. The late 90s saw a broader cultural exchange of DJs than the previous years – U.K. and European DJs started headlining gigs in the States and U.S. DJs including Christopher were welcomed overseas.
In the late nineties, Christopher also established himself as one of the U.S.'s biggest selling DJs, selling over 200,000 mix CDs following a string of record breaking releases including Rise, Temptation, Christopher Lawrence Presents Hook Recordings, Empire and Around The World.
In 2001, Christopher continued to smash sales records when his mix United States of Trance debuted and remained in the Top Ten U.S. dance charts alongside Moby, Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim. Christopher's most recent mix Exposure IV has been described by Remix as “The U.S. Trance Master’s peak-of-career mix,” - reiterating the fact that Christopher continues to be one of the world's most evolving and respected DJs.
Fast forward to 2004. Christopher’s passion for DJing live continues, but he has also embraced production work and launched his own label Pharmacy “for the love of music.” He views the label as an outlet for the good music he hears during his road travels. “There are a lot of great bedroom producers making music. I’m in the fortunate position of being able to travel and meet people and see what they’re doing. That in turn inspires me.”
When he first started writing his own music, Christopher saw it as a way to make the album no one else had made but he knew was out there. He also saw it as a way to give back to the scene. Now that he is so beloved in the scene that he has helped to create, he is once again “giving back” with his label Pharmacy Music. The first single release “Genesis” is not on the album All or Nothing and it will street in early summer. “Genesis” will be followed by several singles from the album, including “Hot Rod,” “Saboteur” and “Freefall”, which will also feature a music video.
As for the cyclical nature of trends in dance music, Christopher subscribes to the old adage that once something becomes mainstream or trendy, people shy away from it. He believes the current trance genre has gone deeper and darker, miles away from the cheesy Euro stuff of the late 90s and early 2000s. According to him, “Trance music now is the best ever, it’s becoming more underground.” Because of his faith in the scene and of bucking trends, Christopher has never abandoned trance, his musical true love.
In the world of international dance culture, there are DJs who are leaders and those who are followers. Christopher Lawrence is a true leader.
Discography
Albums
'all or nothing' - kinky beat/usa - release date: 06/29/04
Mix CDs
'exposure iv' 0 system/usa - hook recordings/uk
'around the world' - moonshine/usa
'united states of trance' - moonshine/usa
'trilogy vol 1: empire' - moonshine/usa
'christopher lawrence presents hook recordings' - egil/priority/usa
'temptation' - city of angels/fragrant/usa
'rise' - fragrant/usa
Original tracks
'genesis' - pharmacy/us/12 - release date: 05/04
'acid people' - bk & christopher lawrence - nukleuz/uk/12
'warp' - bk & christopher lawrence
'october's child' - moonshine/usa/12
'mind eraser' - moonshine/usa/12
'cruise control' - hook/uk/12
'rush hour' - hook/uk/ep
'renegade' - hook/uk/12
'defiant' - taken from 'together as one' - moonshine/usa/cd
'shredder' - hook/uk/12
'interceptor' - hook/uk/12
'navigtor' - hook/uk/ep
Filmography
'put the needle on the record' - directed by jason rem - release date: fall 2003
'pimp n ho ball - las vegas' - produced by late night digital - release date: november 2003
'world party on tour - ibiza' - produced by world party - release date: august 26th, 2003
'intellect' - produced by barclay crenshaw - release date: july 22nd, 2003
'midsummer night's rave' - directed by gil cates jnr - release date: summer 2003
'american massive' - produced by moonshine movies - release date: september 24th, 2002
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