The DJ List

Thomas Zweifel

Progressive Turntablist Max Graham to Shine in 2004 With Brand New Release

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New York, NY – DJ/Producer MAX GRAHAM, a pioneer in the incorporation of scratching during progressive house sets, releases his latest mix CD, Shine, on system recordings, due out late January/early February 2004. Drawing from his beginnings as a hip-hop DJ, influenced by the likes of Run DMC’s Jam Master Jay, Max’s famous eight-to-ten hour sets stand out not only because of the diversity of the music played (from progressive to techno with a dash of house and breaks), but also because of the turntablism he integrates, a practice which is highly uncommon in the progressive vein of dance music.

Featuring tracks from JUNKIE XL, SANDER KLEINENBERG and MEDWAY, Max tries to recreate a night out on the dancefloor, right at the point where the pounding techno cools off into a more melodic sound. “This is where the CD is made,” Max says. “With tracks that tap into your head and make you close your eyes, imagining a better place to be.” Shine is about “creating that feeling as the night itself… when you open your eyes to realize you are surrounded by friends feeling the same thing you are.” And Shine is more than just the title of his new CD – “It’s really a concept.” The CD is a reflection of both the “Shine” night he runs in Canada as well as shinemusic the label - which, with two singles signed, is due for launch in early 2004. “Branching into a label has always been something I’ve wanted to do – I come across so much amazing unsigned material that I want to see in a good home, this label means a lot to me.”

MAX GRAHAM, whose rise in dance music has been called “meteoric,” first made a name for himself touring alongside superstar DJ/producer PAUL OAKENFOLD. In 2001, with his chart-topping track “Airtight” nominated for a Juno Award (the Canadian version of the Grammy), Max was asked to mix the 4th installment of the “Transport” mix series, following such heavy hitters as PAUL OAKENFOLD, DAVE RALPH, and SANDRA COLLINS. That year Max hit #23 in the prestigious DJ Magazine Top 100 – the highest new entry. Having thus far completed commissioned remixes for Hooj Choons, Delerium, Uberzone, and many others, Max finds himself touring non-stop, with gigs everywhere from Hong Kong to Melbourne to Tel-Aviv to Peru as well as a residency at the legendary Gatecrasher from 2001-2002.

“MAX GRAHAM is the future.”

- DAVE RALPH

And while Max often admittedly prefers DJing to producing, equating himself to a conductor at a classical concert (“each record/instrument serves its purpose and the DJ/Conductor makes sense of it all, choosing what plays when and how loud/soft it plays”), his interest in writing original music has increased. Max produces all his records alone, using mostly Soundforge and Cubase SX in the studio. And since Max doesn’t intend on any specific genre, Shine is certain to appeal to fans of all types of dance music – and even entice a new generation of listeners.

[ December 04, 2003 ]

Written by Maya Duani

Courtesy of System Recordings

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