Deviant - Opening Set for Ty Tek - Jul 2004

Biography of Deviant

David Christopher, aka Deviant, began playing his tripped-out blend of progressive house, techno, and breaks in 1998 at venues throughout New York City, including Vinyl, Limelight, Roxy, Cheetah, Chaos, W8TH, and Speeed, while also rocking events in upstate New York, Connecticut, Ohio, and Miami’s Winter Music Conference.

In 2000, David founded HeadRush Music, a promotions company that pioneered the use of online and e-mail 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 ceaselessly spreading the gospel about the scene.

This expansion has most recently taken the form of HeadRush Music's record label, Toes in the Sand. Almost immediately after launching, a global buzz set afoot, including the licensing of the first release ('Bound for Ascension' by Michael Lanning) to Anthony Pappa's latest mix CD, Balance 006, as well as high placement on charts of the Balance Record Pool, Release Records, and scores of top DJs around the world. Future releases include tracks by Steve Porter, Benz and MD, Jas, Naveen G, Brahma, and Deviant himself. Deviant's remix of Brahma's 'Peaks of Destiny' will hit stores in August 2004.

David has been producing 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, David draws his influences from across the musical spectrum to create songs (and DJ sets) that defy typical dance-music formulas. His style lives up to his 'Deviant' moniker, creating unique listening experiences that enrich the mind and soul as well as move the body.

David's late-night sound has served well as the closing set for DJs such as Sean Cusick, Steve Porter, Hybrid, John Howard, Jerry Bonham, Mazi, Randall Jones, and Thomas Penton, helping him earn the title of Best Club DJ in Scene Magazine's 2003 Best of Cleveland Poll. Not only gifted at raising the roof for the peak hour, Deviant also has proved an ability to warm up the dance floor. 2004 heard Deviant spin opening sets for Sandra Collins, Max Graham, Jondi & Spesh, Trendroid, Austin Leeds, Micro, Noel Sanger, Three, Steve Gerrard, John Howard, and Pete Moss.

Concerned with the current political environment in the United States, Amy and David also are active in raising awareness on the government's impact on the ability of dance music to survive in conservative parts of the U.S., fighting such legislation as the RAVE Act, and advocating for independent radio stations where electronic dance music can be aired. David also spun on Cleveland's Fox (network) Morning Show to help promote Paul Van Dyk's Rock the Vote event.

Following through on HeadRush's commitment to getting the music to the masses, David actively participates in numerous radio shows around the world. David's Winter 2004 mix, despite not being a trance mix, was selected for broadcast on SIRIUS Satellite Radio's premier dance-music show, 'The Peak Hour with Victor Dinaire,' putting him in the company of past guests Paul van Dyk, Ferry Corsten, and Armin van Buuren. He has also had mixes broadcast on ProtonRadio.com, EccentricBeats.com, Rotationz.be, Beatfactor.net, and on frequency modulation radio stations from Argentina to Belgium.

This vision to spread progressive music to progressive minds is shared by the prestigious Balance Record Pool. In August 2004, David joined the Balance Record Pool, a hand-picked collective of the top progressive house DJs in North America, including Chris Fortier, Danny Tenaglia, Jimmy Van M, Sandra Collins, D:Fuse, and Deepsky.

David is a monthly resident at Cleveland venue Abbasso, where HeadRush Music helps to lead a movement to revive Cleveland nightlife and push the sounds of progressive house. Won't you join us?