TF Archives

Renaissance: Alive Mixed By James Zabiela

Author: Stomp
Monday, June 7, 2004
After winning Muzik Magazines 'Bedroom Bedlam' competition with a string of well-placed mix tapes in 2000, he went on to take out the 'Best Bedroom Bedlam DJ' at The Muzik Awards one year later.
James' unique, post-millennial blend of bleeps, breaks and house bought him to the to the attention of Sasha, Lee Burridge and John Digweed .

Swiftly snapped up by Sasha's Excession agency in 2001, James spent the next year taking on Eastern Europe, Australia, South America and the US while still finding time to record well received mix CD's for the Grooovetech and Hooj labels. Hes also unleashed a string of fine remixes along the way for artists like Royksopp, Virgin Souls and End Recordings artist Dave Breannan.

Fast forward to May 1st, 2004 and we find James stood infront of 5000 people at Renaissance's 'Wild in the Country'. His hands are a constant blur, flying between the mixer, two CDJs, two small FX units and a single deck. Tunes that had been playing 5 minutes earlier are re-looped and re-introduced; furious scratching (CDs) highlights and enhances following tracks and familiar samples; with a flick of a switch, bass lines and melodies are cut and chopped. "To me, it's about taking the available technology and utilising it to the best of your ability, even finding flaws and doing things you're not supposed to. You can get the maddest, most effective sounds that way."

James arrived at his technological cross roads in 2002 on a gig with Sasha. It was the first time he'd been in a booth equipped with the Pioneer CDJ1000. With the X-Box firmly relegated to the second division, James set about mastering and exploiting this new format.

Driven by his usual fervor, passion and commitment, word soon spread of the revolutionary techniques being employed by this rising star , who became known for abusing the CDJ1000s like a junior Jeff Mills for the post-Technics generation . Even Pioneer took notice, signing him on a sponsorship deal and taking him to the Plaza showcase at Earls Court to demonstrate their latest equipment.

During his first tour of Australia with Renaissance in summer 2003 James met former album star Phil K, another technological wizard devoted to pushing the boundaries of modern djing. He urged an initially sceptical James to explore the latest Pioneer FX machine.

Renaissance MD, Geoff Oakes says, "Just as Sasha and John founded a distinct, groundbreaking style 10 years ago, so James does now. But here the emphasis is on new technology. The landscape of djing is changing and, as 'ALIVE' demonstrates, James Zabiela is leading the way."

Whilst the live Zabiela experience is such that even a faultlessly executed double CD will only ever show part of the picture, Renaissance have captured a pretty mesmerising snapshot of a young man on the verge of great things !!

Launched in conjunction with James Zabiela's AUSTRALIAN TOUR
11 June Canberra, Friction @ Lot 33
12 June Sydney, Sounds @ Space
13 June Melbourne, Room 680

2CD Released 19 July on Renaissance through EQ/Stomp.
Tags