Julian Liberator - Technopolis Mix - Oct 2006

Biography of Julian Liberator

The free techno party scene that gained momentum from the early 1990s in London (and later spread to the rest of the UK and Europe) provided a ground for several distinct artists. The whole movement meant different things to different people.

For Julian Liberator it provided a platform to experiment: sounds, structure, rhythms and styles. Julian's music and DJing has always tried to add a different twist to all of this. It would be unfair and misinformed to try to pin Julian's work under one comfortable title.

Hard techno, funky techno, acid techno, wonky techno… he has done it all successfully. But even to call him a techno DJ wouldn't cover all areas. Julian also produces and plays both electro and drum and bass, and has even displayed punk/new wave, funk and disco references in his tunes.

Julian LIberator was one of the key figures in bringing electronic music to the free party milieu. Together with Aaron and Chris, he formed the Liberator DJs in 1991. They went on to become stalwarts of that scene.

Always after the next challenge, he was one of the first DJs from the London free party scene to push things away from the dominant acid sound towards a more percussive, techno edge. His label 4 X 4 has from the beginning, championed a more minimal, techno funk: dance floor driven, but always with an experimental twist.

4 X 4 has become a highly respected imprint in techno circles, with releases from Julian, Henry Cullen, Cristian Varela, Renato Cohen (his first European release), DJ Rush, Paul Langley, Leo Laker, Mark Verbos, Mara Bruiser, Sandy Warez and Robert Natus.

Julian also started Artefact, a special picture disc series. The first, “Are U Jackin” was played by Bam Bam and Dave Clarke, who licensed it to his acclaimed World Service compilation as the A1 cut.
In 2004, he began a new label, Ultra Funk, which does exactly what it says on the label - extreme funk with hard abstract sounds, including releases from Leo Laker and two collaborations with Camilo Rocha, the Brazilian DJ who remixed the City of God soundtrack.

Julian is one of the founders and owners of the SUF Collective with Chris and Aaron Liberator. Apart from running eight labels of their own, the collective has gone on to nurture and financially back many an underground talent including Geezer, DAVE The Drummer, DJ Ant, Martin Hare and Alex S from Brasil.

With everyone going mad for bootlegs, Julian's contribution to the wave of mash-ups, is an awesome techno bomb that features 'O Superman' by Laurie Anderson. The record was played by the late John Peel on his Radio One show and got many plays on London's XFM. Another memorable Julian record, the 'Funky' track of 4 X 4 X 9, borrowed from a classic disco anthem, which received intense radio play by Judge Jules (11 consecutive Radio 1 shows) and was licensed to several compilations.

Julian is currently splitting time between the UK and Brazil. He has had a long-time relationship with the latter country. He was around back in the day, at the peak of São Paulo's legendary Hell's Club. He played at another historical SP club, Sound Factory, as well as some of the city's first raves. Julian has continually brought new music over and given support to the local DJ’s and radio stations. Renato Cohen's first international release and Anderson Noise's debut international gig happened thanks to Julian. He has worked with several Brazilian names such as Camilo Rocha, Embolex VJs collective and MC Gaspar, from hip hop outfit Z'África Brasil.

Julian has traveled around the world with his music, including gigs in Russia, Japan, USA, Canada, Australia, Korea, Venezuela and most European countries. He has played at many festivals including Dance Valley, Glastonbury, Phoenix Festival, Megadog and many a Czech-Tech.

He is now about to launch his long-awaited debut album, True Defective, a truly amazing piece of music. A reflection of his various influences, it encompasses hip hop, electro, funky techno and hard tribal techno among other sounds.