DJ Marky - The End - Jul 2008

Biography of DJ Marky

At the age of 32, Marky is considered one of the greatest DJs on the planet. World citizen, he set up house in Sao Paulo, the Brazilian capital of electronic music. Marky started to write his history in the '80s and in the beginning of the '90s he was already a phenomenon at the art of mixing and entertaining, being a pioneer in Brazilian land to work with the sounds of United Kingdom, Jungle and Drum N'Bass. A maniac vinyl collector, he owns one of the biggest classic collections anyone has ever heard of. He is currently in the vanguard of clubs and the Brazilian electronic music. He was a resident DJ at the Lov.e Club in the weekly night called Vibe for almost a decade in Sao Paulo, including guests of the highest level and importance in DnB.

Around 94-95, Jungle became popular here thanks to the insistence of the, up to that time, beginners like Patife, Andy and Koloral, who were Marky's partners since the very beginning. By the second half of the '90s Marky already had his own radioshow, he was resident at the legendary Toco, which used to be crowded every week with more than 5,000 people who came to enjoy the sound of the young master of turntables, who was then just a little more than twenty years old. In the same decade, he released and signed the first Drum N'Bass/Jungle compilation with Suburban Base Records (UK). He was awarded as DJ of the Year in Brazil in 95, 96 and 99.

In 1999 he was chosen the best DJ in the country by Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper. Marky's international success is very well documented and has significantly reflected on the Brazilian scene for more than ten years, because he is still the Disc-Jockey with more evidence in the electronic music scene of the country. His ability and technique have won fans all over the world and today, with his personality and charisma, he manages to attract crowds. With a massive coverage in Brazil, Europe, the United States, Asia, Australia and Czech Republic, Marky became an authority on the floors of every country and city where he passed. The DJ goes on tour around the world for at least 6 months every year.

His album, Brazilian Job, was one of the best DrumN'Bass records in sales and one of the most successful for the time of its release. The version for the song Carolina Carol Bela, by Jorge Bem Jor, entitled LK, reached the 15th place in Britain's Top Chart. The only artists who came close to this feat were Tom Jobim and Sepultura band. Marky managed to get a unique position that has never been reached before by a Brazilian artist in the English Charts. Marky has been winning the audience in general that listen to other kinds of music, especially those related to old school (classic funk and soul from the '70s and '80s), which is something not many people know, because Marky is a passionate and inveterate lover of rare grooves and jazz.

The distribution of the latest CD, In Rotation, in partnership with XRS (Xerxes), was by Universal Music, after years as an exclusive artist by Trama. Marky has started his new monthly night at The End, in London, in the second half of 2005, called marky and Friends, which takes his Top Deejays friends from many different nationalities to join him on the decks to play the sounds that influenced and inspired them in their lives, productions and, obviously, the new tendencies in electronic music worldwide beforehand. In the Marky and Friends nights people will certainly be surprised to see and listen to top DJs playing the real Funk, Soul, Jazz and Rare Grooves. The project also arrives in Sao Paulo/Brazil, where Marky will take on the decks at E-muzik in Vila Olimpia with his Friends and monthly will be able to show why he is the best of DJs in the world poll. DJ Marky was again nominated at the Muzik Magazine awards for best breakthrough DJ as well as appearing in the Hot 100 poll in URB magazine.

DJ Marky has also begun to make a concerted move into production, both by himself and with long-term collaborator, XRS. In fact, it was their July 2002 UK Top 20 single 'LK' (produced alongside Stamina MC) which really propelled DJ Marky into the bright lights. DJ Marky also has also remixed US3, Bebel Gilberto, Everything But The Girl, J Majik, Gil Felix and Ive Mendes in the last year. He is also keeping busy with Djing around the world, recently earning him the Best DnB DJ at the DJ Sound Magazine Awards in 2003. The big news for the end of the year is that DJ Marky, alongside XRS, is launching his Innerground Music project. Starting with a limited single on October 27th and then the massive Rotation/Rude Bwoy single on January 19th 2004, Innerground Music will go large with the DJ Marky and XRS artist album, provisionally entitled In Rotation, on February 2nd.

http://www.myspace.com/djmarkyinnerground

Calibre - The End - Jul 2008

Biography of Calibre

Since his early work for Dublin label Qaudrophonic in 1998, Dominick Martin aka Calibre has always delivered a sound that delves below the all too often unsatisfying D&B surface. His ability to bring a warm, natural feel to the digital landscape of D&B raised interest from Creative Source and Radio 1's Fabio, leading to a critically acclaimed double album in 2001, entitled 'Musiqe Concrete'.

This opened the door to a new breed of dance floor capable, musically orientated D&B, as confident in its longevity as in its originality. Less was certainly more. Since then Calibre has released for labels such as MIST's Soul:R label, including collaboration work under the Mist:I: Cal moniker with the Manchester duo. Other label contributions have included CIA, 31, Defunked, V and Critical. Remixes have also been a heavy outlet for Calibre's take on 21 st century blues and soul, with commissions from the likes of High Contrast, Badmarsh & Shri, and US R&B up-and-comer Jaheim.

Fast forward to 2003, and Calibre's own vision, Signature records has come to light. This imprint is the home for his own prolific studio output, offering an unprecedented freedom to experimen t and release music on his own terms. Signature offers regular Drum and Bass singles as well as further artis t albums, remixes of his own work from fellow boundary pushers such as Omni Trio and Klute as well as further collaborations, including MIST's ST Files. Signature will eventually also showcase Calibre's House and down tempo work, which has already seen the light of day thanks to John Tejada's US house imprint, Palette. 2004 continues apace, with Radio 1 D&B chart topping releases such as 'Feeling Happy' (Signature), 'Mr Maverick / Highlander' (Signature), 'PUR' (Revolve:R) and 'Drowning' (Liquid V) and the massive 'Drop It Down (feat. Fats)' . Calibre's project with ST files under the St.Cal moniker saw its first release on Soul:r in September 2004 with 'Red Light / Little Man'. Calibre has completed two mixes of Zinc's 'Flim' for Bingo Beats as well as remixes for 'Silent Witness & Break' on Critical.

It's now 2005 and this has truly been the year of Calibre. Spending less time djing and more time in the studio he was able to finalise his new album, the first for his label Signature. Early work such as 'Kiya', 'Is it You?' and 'Second Sun' got well supported across the board from Fabio, Grooverider, Friction, Zinc, Bailey, High Contrast, Flight, Marcus Intalex etc.. Calibre's hard work paid out and the result is what can only be described as a phenomenal long player, for many dnb fans, easily the album of the year. With the album release in November, Calibre has given in to the overwhelming demand for dj work and spent the last few months of 2005 touring solidly across the UK, Europe and Japan.

2005 also marked the return of the St.Cal partnership (ST Files & Calibre) with their single 'Losing Ground' / 'Henshaw Dub' on Soul:R. This was a first taste of forthcoming Mistical LP project which is being worked on at the moment. The LP will feature tracks from Marcus Intalex, ST Files and Calibre in their various combinations and is due for release on Soul:r in April 2006.

Other plans for the first half of 2006 include tours of the USA, Australia and New Zealand . Beyond those, Calibre will cut back on dj work and once again spend more time in the studio, where he feels most at home.

Whatever the doubters may say, Drum and Bass isn't going anywhere; and neither is Calibre.