I was born in November 1968. Nothing much happened until I became a DJ on December 26th 1985 when I started a mobile disco for weddings, birthday parties and the like.
I played lots of pop music then including Depeche Mode, Spagna and The Pet Shop Boys until discovering house music in the late 80's.
I went to a lot of parties in fields and clubs and fell in love with dance music (and a voodoo woman named Phyllis).
I moved from the UK to Hong Kong in 1991 (which isn't in Japan, as lots of journalists seem to think).
I helped build up a crazy underground scene in HK between 1991-97 as no one was playing dance music there.
I also spent a lot of time from 1992 onwards playing at the full moon parties in Thailand as no one was playing records there either.
I moved back to the UK in 1997 and teamed up with Craig Richards and Sasha to play at the Tyrant parties in London and Nottingham.
I slept on a trolley in Craig's studio for a while but eventually got a real bed.
I released two super Tyrant mix CDs with Craig.
I have also released four other mix CDs including two for Global Underground.
I play many, many crazy clubs all over the world each year and usually end up DJing in someone's living room or garden (weather permitting).
I play at festivals such as Coachella, Love Parade, Exit, Creamfields, Notting Hill Carnival and enjoy camping.
I often get asked by journalists to describe what type of music I play.
I don't know is the answer.
I launched my 365 project in June 2005. It's been really fun and unbelievably interesting.
I mostly play records but sometimes play CDs.
I don't take my computer clubbing.
I like making records with silly titles.
I don't ever seem to get round to releasing them though.
I started a record label called Almost Anonymous.
I guess I'll release those records with silly titles now.
I can't play the piano.
I can play the triangle.
I have been in the DJ mag poll at number 10, 27, 31, 56, 76 and 88 but still feel exactly the same.
I have lied once (or was it twice?) in this biography.
Without doubt the hottest new trance DJ / producer to emerge from Holland this past couple of years is Richard Durand. Recommended by the mighty Tiësto as his 'Tip For The Top in 2007' in DJ Magazine, Richard responded with a string of stunning productions, including official remixes for Tiësto, culminating in a new entry placing in the DJ Magazine Top 100 DJs poll at the end of 2007.
The Richard Durand sound is trance, techno and tough electro in a unique package that's both dynamic and devastating. Having initially made his mark as a solo producer with big tech trance bombs such as 'Make Me Scream' and 'Slipping Away' on the Terminal 4 label, the huge success of his remixes of Tiësto singles 'Lethal Industry', 'Flight 643' and 'Break My Fall', plus infamous festival favourite reworks of the likes of Prodigy 'Smack My Bitch Up' and Snow Patrol 'Chasing Cars' soon had Richard Durand marked as one of the hottest remixers on the planet with consistent playlist support from the DJing elite Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Ferry Corsten, Judge Jules and Eddie Halliwell to name but a few.
Richard Durand continued to deliver big tracks in 2008, adding his magic touch to Fragma 'Toca's Miracle' and stepping up to rework Armin van Buuren 'In And Out Of Love' to equally devastating effect. At the same time, Richard's solo productions were also hitting the headlines; his 'Weep' track featuring Skin from Skunk Anansie on vocals was signed to Perfecto and proved to be one of the summer's biggest anthems.
It was also 2008 that saw the Richard Durand DJing schedule explode into overdrive as the dance community embraced an artist who was not only a hot producer, but also one of the most technically accomplished DJs in dance music today. Utilising 4 x CD decks and effects units, Richard Durand DJ sets are a whirlwind journey of cutting edge tunes, exclusive reworks, slick mixing and technical wizardry behind the decks. His ability to work crowds into a frenzy and a clear passion about his music have cemented Richard Durand's place as a fans favourite the world over and a legend in the making.
Richard Durand’s show-stopping sets and crowd pulling DJ status is confirmed by his DJ diary reading like a who's who of A-list events, headlining global festival brands such as Sensation, Trance Energy, Planet Love, Coloursfest, Tunnel Electrocity and Summer Of Love, plus leading club brands including Godskitchen, Gallery, Gatecrasher and Slinky, a standout summer residency at Judgement Sundays in Ibiza and tours to every corner of the globe. He's also joined the exclusive set of DJs to be awarded a coveted 'Essential Mix' on BBC Radio 1, as well as co-hosting shows twice with Judge Jules on Radio 1.
In 2009 Richard Durand clocked up another huge remix, this time of Art Of Trance 'Madagascar', before setting another landmark on his rapid career path to the top by releasing his debut artist album 'Always The Sun' on Magik Muzik / Black Hole Recordings. The album has spawned three massive singles already; 'Into Something', title track 'Always The Sun' which had heavy playlist rotation on dance music TV channels worldwide, plus the latest smash 'No Way Home'. With dedicated album release dates and support tours in various territories worldwide, expect Richard Durand's star to shine brightly into 2010.
/// LANGE (UK)
Ranked 31 in the world (2009 DJ Mag Top 100 Poll), Lange is recognised as one of the most influential dance artists of the past decade. A DJ who has remained at the forefront of the scene throughout his career and a producer that continues to push all boundaries.
After an exhausting list of achievements, counting among them 20 UK top 40s, featuring on a film soundtrack, and remixing mainstream artists such as the Pet Shop Boys, Lange remains one of the leading EDM producers. His modern day anthem “Out of the Sky” catapulted to the top of the trance charts, making him one of the top selling trance artists in 2008 and it still remains a ‘never fails’ track for djs and clubbers alike.
2009 has perhaps been one of his most prolific in recent times with a host of successful singles and remixes for the likes of Ferry Corsten and Above & Beyond. His summer co-write with Andy Moor, ‘Stadium Four’, received strong support from the Dj elite and debuted in Armin Van Buuren’s 2009 Essential Mix. ‘Let It All Out’ is his follow up to ‘Out of the Sky’ with vocalist Sarah Howells; appearing week after week on both Armin’s ASOT and Judge Jules’ Radio 1 show as well as receiving across the board support from many others, it looks set to enjoy the success of its precursor. His latest release in 2009 is his retake of the massive classic, ‘Happiness Happening’. His original remix entered the UK sales charts at no.18 in 1999 and is already topping the trance charts in 2009.
2008 saw Lange launch his Intercity radio show, growing quickly in popularity, it has already become one of the staple shows for trance fans despite its short life, owing its success to its charismatic host and notoriety for showcasing the most exciting new releases in trance and related genres. The show launched as a podcast in summer 2009 alongside ‘Intercity: Summer 2009’, the first in a continuing, and already highly acclaimed, compilation series. Also in 2009, Lange relaunched his Lange Recordings label which features new rising talent in the scene alongside his own work, and over the years has become well known for its high quality, successful releases.
Alongside Lange’s exceptional and successful studio work, he is a prolific international DJ with weekly jaunts around the world, making appearances for some of the best club brands in the world including Godskitchen, Gatecrasher and Ministry Of Sound as well as performing for prestigious festivals such as such as Global Gathering, Summadayze, Creamfields, and the Zurich Street Parade. His eclectic, stimulating and driving sets pull influences from across the dance music spectrum from, trance, progressive, techno and electro; he is an exciting and lively performer that keeps the crowd buzzing for more.
Lange is one name in trance that has continued to reinvent himself to take on the evolving dance scene and show any inspiring new comer how to be an industry leader through pure talent alone. After climbing the Top 100 Dj Poll for the 5th year in a row and 2010 set to see the launch of his second artist album, he looks only set to dominate further.
