DJ Deviant - Opening Set For Ty Tek - Jul 2004

Biography of DJ Deviant

de·vi·ant One that differs from a norm, especially a person whose behavior and attitudes differ from accepted social standards.

Deviant, aka David Christopher, began playing his tripped-out blend of deep progressive house and breaks in 1998 at venues throughout New York City, including Vinyl, Limelight, Roxy, and Cheetah. In 2000, Deviant founded HeadRush Music, a promotions company that pioneered the use of online and e-mail event marketing in New York City. In 2003, following a move to Cleveland, Ohio, and with the addition of partner Amy Dana, HeadRush Music expanded beyond promotions to be a company at the forefront of dance-music culture, helping to educate and enlighten others by spreading progressive music to progressive minds.

This expansion has most recently taken the form of HeadRush Music's record label, Toes in the Sand, which has grown into one of the world's most respected progressive labels. The first release, 'Bound for Ascension' by Michael Lanning, appears on Anthony Pappa's Balance 006. Other artists on the label include Steve Porter, Naveen G, Siberian Son, Brahma, Alican & Soner, Emrecan Cakir, Andrew K, and Drew Nichols, and their tracks can be heard on CD compilations as well as Internet, FM, and satellite radio.

As a DJ, Deviant's late-night sound has been the perfect finish during closing sets for Sean Cusick, Steve Porter, Hybrid, John Howard, Jerry Bonham, Mazi, Randall Jones, Habersham, and Thomas Penton, helping him twice earn the Cleveland Music Award for Best DJ. Not only gifted at raising the roof for the peak hour, Deviant has also proven his ability to warm up the dance floor, opening for Sandra Collins, BT, Max Graham, Jondi & Spesh, Tim Skinner, Trendroid, Austin Leeds, Micro, Noel Sanger, Three, Steve Gerrard, John Howard, George Acosta, and Pete Moss. Deviant has also played the headliner role at events in San Francisco, Orlando, Louisville, Syracuse, and Pittsburgh, and even spun on Cleveland's FOX Morning Show to promote Paul Van Dyk's Rock the Vote event and HeadRush Music's Get Your Vote Out event with Dennis Kucinich.

In August 2004, Deviant's contributions to the American dance music scene led to an invitation to join the Balance Record Pool, a hand-picked collective of the top 40 progressive DJs in North America, including Chris Fortier, Jimmy Van M, Sandra Collins, D:Fuse, and Deepsky. In 2006, Deviant was also invited to join the Release Promo Pool.

Following through on HeadRush's commitment to getting the music to the masses, Deviant actively participates in numerous radio shows around the world. Despite not being a trance DJ, Deviant appeared on SIRIUS Satellite Radio's 'The Peak Hour with Victor Dinaire,' putting him in the company of past guests Paul van Dyk, Ferry Corsten, and Armin van Buuren. Deviant has also appeared on ProtonRadio.com, FriskyRadio.com, Galaxie 95.3 FM France, EccentricBeats.com, Rotationz.be, Beatfactor.net, and on FM radio from Argentina to Belgium. Beginning March 2006, Deviant hosts the new Toes in the Sand radio show on ProtonRadio.com.

Deviant has been creating music since 1992, long before he ever stepped up to a turntable. Raised on the music of artists like Funki Porcini, Squarepusher, Public Enemy, Portishead, Autechre, and BDP, Deviant draws his influences from across the musical spectrum to create songs (and DJ sets) that defy typical dance-music formulas. His latest release, 'That Marijuana Track,' was the #5 top seller at EDMDigital.com. He also remixed Jairus Miller's 'Cobra' for Infamous Light Recordings, Brahma's 'Peaks of Destiny' on Toes in the Sand Recordings, and is currently hard at work on other remixes and original tracks.

David is a resident at Cleveland venue Abbasso, where HeadRush Music helps to lead a movement to revive Cleveland nightlife and push the sounds of progressive house.