DJ HAMZA

www.hamzarahimtula.com

Hailing from New Delhi, Hamza has attained a reputation as a pioneer of the house scene in India and one of the more innovative and exciting up-and-coming producers today. Hamza's diverse international sound is influenced from his strong musical background as well as growing up in India and traveling the world, living in Paris, Boston, and New York. Exposure to renowned house DJs such as Terry Francis, Dave Mothersole, DJ Heather, and Danny Teneglia inspired Hamza to create his own electronic dance productions. Soon he found a unique style of house music combining deep, tribal, and funky sounds with strong world music influences.

At the age of 27 Hamza has already worked with some of the biggest names in world music. These artists include Punjabi icon Jasbir Jassi and David Hykes, the only western vocalist specializing in sacred Mongolian chants. Besides these artists, Hamza has also worked with Taz from Stereo Nation, the largest selling Indian pop fusion act ever. 

To further nourish this growing production repertoire, Hamza has set up his own label Wind Horse Records. While in New York, Hamza did his Masters in Music Business at New York University, which gave him a very strong foundation and insight into how to creatively promote his own music. Wind Horse Records, the first Indian house music label, is a major part of that vision. Hamza has recently launched the label with his own Sufi Soul EP, containing three original world music influenced house music jewels. The Sufi Soul EP's vibrant, tribal sound earned the notice and accolades of many new fans including Dubfire (Deep Dish), Peter Kruder (Kruder & Dorfmeister), Richie Hawtin, Quentin Harris, and Tom Findlay (Groove Armada).

Hamza is also a top notch DJ, bringing his fresh sound to dancefloors from New York to Portugal, Boston to Hyderabad, Paris to Pune. His sets typically start with his signature deep house sound, heavily influenced by Latin/Afro/World flavors, before developing into powerful tribal and deep, tech-house influenced beats perfect for the peak time. Hamza's unmistakable style, combined with many of his own productions, create memorable DJ sets that turn many clubbers into instant fans and followers.

Currently Hamza is working on expanding his base in New Delhi to include regular stays in Europe and North America to allow for global partnerships and yearly DJ tours in different parts of the world. His vision is unstoppable, as Hamza has recently formed two different live acts with two different percussionists: Jasu Khan, a famous Rajasthani percussionist, and Manu Idhra, a Portuguese master of dance music percussion. Hamza has already taken this act on the festival circuit with an acclaimed performance at the Elektron Festival in Switzerland with percussionist Latif Khan playing Morchang and Khartal. Future performances will include even more musicians as well as dancers creating a truly unique performance atmosphere.

As for Wind Horse Records, a dozen releases have appeared thus far and the label’s world-wide audience is growing considerably. An EP recorded with David Hykes has been released, as well as Hamza EPs featuring fantastic world music artists such as Yungchen Lhamo of Real World Records and female Indian classical maestro Sunanda Sharma. Wind Horse will also be including remixes from highly regarded producers from the west like Presslaboys and Amit Shoham. In addition, Hamza has started working with labels outside of Wind Horse, contributing tracks and remixes for the likes of Kompakt, Open Bar, One Thirty, and Clubstar. To help people keep up with all this musical activity Hamza has launched the WHR Podcast Series which will feature a monthly mix from the headquarters of Wind Horse Records.

Hamza has established himself as one to keep a close eye on in the house music scene. With his impressive list of past and upcoming projects as well as fiery worldwide DJ performances Hamza is quickly becoming an important and influential talent in his own right. Through Wind Horse Records and his inventive east-west fusions Hamza is working to bring the world closer to his listeners, one beat at a time.

Vipul

http://soundcloud.com/vipul-angirish

In a movement that may surprise some, a fresh new wave of DJs and producers are bursting forth from the burgeoning house music scene in India and making an international impact. For a country well-known for its rich culture and unique musical forms, electronic music has not been seen to make much of an impact. This is about to change with the advent of a thriving electronic dance and house scene in India's major cities. A special part of this is a new DJ/producer named Vipul.

Vipul was set on a path familiar to many Indian students, with an intended future career working in computers. Vipul attended university to study computer science but his exposure to the diverse college community led him to house music. An intense passion for the style was born and Vipul switched his goal to becoming a house music DJ upon exiting college. Unfortunately, his traditional Indian family did not understand this new aspiration and were quite resistant. With Vipul in tow, his parents consulted an Indian astrologer for guidance. Much to the astonishment of Vipul and his family the astrologer advised Vipul to pursue his DJ passion and predicted that it would lead him to much success. Thus the family gave their blessing and Vipul's new career in house music was launched.

Vipul was heavily influenced by DJs and artists such as Darin Epsilon , Audiofly , Lutzenkirchen ,Chris Micali, and Tim Davison. Though Vipul's sets are open to many different styles and genres he has found himself working mostly in a very funky, tech-house sound that also draws on jackin' and minimal elements. His prowess behind the decks quickly earned Vipul a residency at one of the major clubs in Delhi where he was able to play across the entire range of house music. At this residency Vipul found himself booked with more well-known DJs like Tim Davison, Norman Doray , Inland Knights and Hamza. It was this acquaintance with Hamza, the founder of India's premier house music label Wind Horse Records, that proved most consequential.

Like many enthusiastic DJs, Vipul had recently turned to producing his own tracks. Befriending Hamza not only opened Vipul to different sounds and styles in DJ'ing, but Hamza's critique and encouragement greatly influenced the growth of Vipul's studio output. Soon Vipul was creating tracks that impressed Hamza enough to welcome the young producer to the Wind Horse family.

Now Vipul plays an essential part in Wind Horse Records, helping Hamza keep an eye out for new talent in India and elsewhere, assisting with label management and A&R, and significantly assisting the development of the label.

Vinayak

http://soundcloud.com/vinayaka/tracks

Born in the ancient town of Patli Putra the land of Lord Buddha, Vinayak Karthikayan’s ("Aka’’ Vinayak^A Producer/Dj (India)) musical journey began at a young age, learning the Tabla, Guitar and Harmonium. Raised in an entirely Indian classical atmosphere gave him a rooted knowledge of rhythm and melody. As years passed, and technology paved the way for electronic music, Vinayak^A decided to study Dj’ing in Bangalore. He then moved to Mumbai to pursue his dream and became an assistant DJ at a Pub where he worked for one and half years. He later got a job at The LeeLa Palace in Bangalore for 6 months. While he worked long hours, he felt the need for more knowledge in sound, and decided to move to Chennai to pursue his audio engineering at (SAE) After he completed the course he was pretty unsure of which direction he wanted to go. He felt that DJ’ing wouldn’t do well for him, as there were already a large number of Djs playing popular music.

A few years passed by, and Vinayak^A keenly observed and absorbed as much of his environment as he could. And he learnt one important thing. He says, “It was all about earning respect and being the best in what you do. With this as his motto, Vinayak^A was determined to harness all his skill and study. And make it. He bought some equipment and locked himself in his studio for 6 Years. His aim was to experiment with various waves in music and sounds from day and night life atmospheres. He recorded all his sounds and designed them to fit in as a story. He tried to record as many abstract elements as possible to create his grooves and fillers. His love for Progressive House music became more interesting and complex he was and still is at ease experimenting on a daily basis. He eventually completed a track but somehow it didn’t sound real enough for his liking. He felt the need for a tighter production and a stronger emotional connection, which was lacking. So he then started to create a new vibe with abstract melodies, heavy strings, deep bass lines and funky tight grooves with a pinch of experimental atmospheric sounds. In November 2008 he produced a track called "What’s Stopping You" which was signed onto "BAROQUE RECORDS UK".

It was released on January 2009 and was a major release for Vinayak^A as he got massive support from the greats like "Eric Prydz, Daniel Portman, Solarity", etc,. “What’s Stopping You” was in the top 100 for 3 weeks on the Beat Port Progressive House Chart's. After this release he had finally come into a style of his own and knew exactly what he wanted to produce and look forward to. He released a few more original EPs and did some remixes for artist like Joel Armstrong, Larry powers, Evren Ulusoy and Solarity. His mix for Solarity was supported by Tiesto, Above and Beyond, Gareth Emery, Andy Moor etc. His recent mixes have received support from John Digweed, Robert Babicz, Andy Newland, Herman Cattaneo, Rafael Noronha, Oliver Klein, Cid Inc etc. 2009 was a special year as Vinayak^A got the honor and opportunity to do a track for "Kamal Hassan’s" Tamil Movie "ONAI POL ORRUVAN" alongside his daughter, Shruti Hassan. It gave him a further sense of confidence and helped him move forward. Lately Vinayak^A has been working on his new album and several remix projects. And in typical Vinayak^A fashion, he says “I have no idea what 2010 and the following years have in store for me. My experiments & journey continues… My music should say & "do it all....” .......

Kartech

http://soundcloud.com/kartik-thakur

Genre:	Minimalist / Progressive / Techno
Location	New Delhi, In
Profile Views:	4672
Last Login:	21/06/2011
Member Since	16/09/2006
Website	www.soundcloud.com/kartik-thakur
Record Label	Wind Horse Records
Type of Label	Indie

Bio

From The Electronic Music Sence in New Delhi, Kartik Was Destined To Do Music In His Life And He Started His Musical Journey At The Early Age Of 15 Learning Keyboard From Mr. Satish Khurana, A Well Known Piano Player Of New Delhi. Coming From A Musical Background Since His Father Is An Accomplished Tabla/Pakhawaj Player, A Disciple Of "Ustad Sheikh Dawood Of Hyderabad". Soon He Started Composing His Own Instrumental Melodies And Rhythm Patterns At Home On His Computer. Kartik Started Out As A Bedroom Producer And Eventually Became A Bedroom DJ. In 2009 Kartik Got His First Residency At F-Bar & Lounge (@ The Ashok, New Delhi). Since Then There Was No Looking Back.

Members

Kartik Thakur

Influences

Sounds Like

www.soundcloud.com/kartik-thakur

Amit Shoham

http://www.myspace.com/amitshoham

I've been making music for as long as I can remember. I took organ lessons when I was six. I wanted to play guitar and my parents wanted me to play piano. They said "you're going to take piano lessons, and when you're old enough we'll get you a synthesizer. It'll sound just like a guitar." I could tell that this wasn't quite what I had bargained for, but at the age of six I didn't know how to formulate a counter argument. We settled on the electric organ, which was as close to a synthesizer as I was going to get in Haifa, Israel in 1976.

Somewhere along the way I picked up guitar, bass, and percussion. I played in a few bands (progressive rock, jazz, reggae, funk), did a bit of studio work and some live sound work. I'm an electrical engineer (yes, a geek!) by training so I had dabbled in all sorts of music-related technology, from designing studio components to computer-based composition and synthesis (which was still cutting-edge when I played around with this stuff in the late '80s).

For a very long time I hated dance music. That's because I didn't bother to seek out the good stuff until I was introduced to the San Francisco rave scene in 1993. Oh, the good old days! All the geeks and the freaks seemed to be going to the raves. It was a good time for exploration, both musical and otherwise. So I decided I'd try making this thing called house music. I was introduced to DJ Blackstone in 1995 by a mutual friend (Jackie-O of the Big Love Show on KZSU) and we started working on music together, and eventually started our label, Tarantic Records. (You can find most of Tarantic's catalog on Beatport, and select releases are also available on iTunes, among many other digital download sites.)

I've been refining my production skills ever since, and started DJing along the way. I'd like to think that I'd hold the title of "world's quietest DJ," if there were such a thing. Those who know me will get what I mean...

Music flows in my veins, so when my nose bleeds grooves emanate forth into the cosmos, and when I cut myself a song is born. Ouch! ...here comes another one.

Check out some of my DJ mixes:
Proton Mix Feb. 2008
Vibrant
Impact

Free track download: Beautiful
This is my remix of Yello's "Oh Yeah," originally released on vinyl and now remastered for CD.

Free track download: White Lines remix
This is my remix of the Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel classic "White Lines," remastered for CD. Download the 320kbps MP3 file FREE! ..

Member Since:

February 07, 2006

Influences:

Jay-J, Miguel Migs, H-Foundation, Garth, Jeno, DJ Blackstone, DJ Adnan, Dubtribe, Doc Martin, Theloneous Monk, Miles Davis, Eric Clapton, Van Halen, Yes, Rush, Phish, The Pretenders, Les Nubians, Talvin Singh, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Talking Heads, Prince, Genesis, Yello, Yothu Yindi, U2, Burning Spear, James Brown, Brand New Heavies, St. Germain, Sting, Paul Simon, The Beatles, Tiga, Rick Preston, Joey Negro, Masters at Work, Dirty Vegas, Dennis Ferrer, Fred Everything ...to name a few...

Sounds Like:

http://www.myspace.com/amitshoham

Presslaboys

http://www.myspace.com/presslaboys

Presslaboys are Luigi Gori & Omar J Neri. They live in Arezzo, here because they have a study immersed in green and quietness, essential requirement to compose music; even if geographically they are far away from the large musical business centres. In1996 instead, while they were in his basement during a storm, the study got flooded and they looked like homeless people holding all them instruments. Here born Presslab Records & two Years later Presslaboys Team, after various names used before.

Their sounds followed a path determined by the blending of their different experiences as DJs: Luigi with electro 80', Acid House hints, old school beats, progressive & first house music, Omar, instead, more techno Detroit, First German Minimal Techno and 90’ Progressive Sound, in the past they were strongly attracted by the Eighties dark sound, in all its expressions: Cure, Depeche mode, Bauhaus, 4AD Artists, Kraftwerk, Einesturzende de Nuebaten, a real passion for committed music. All of this of course within those musical expressions that characterised all last decade trail: dance, dub, trip hop and electronics in general. In addition to their passion for music they care also of anything around it; they like minimal design, Bauhaus style, and any graphic art that looks forward. Other things that influenced them came from life events they have experienced and the need to express them and express theirselves at the same time. On 2007 After important releases in famous Labels as Crosstownrebels, SAW Recordings Baroque Records, Viva Music, Harthouse, Yellow Tail, Armada Music and remixes as important Artists they decide to compose their first Album, bring the same name of their most representative productions and sum their concept of music style “Electric Generation”. “The Presslaboys Style” recognized by the most illustrious Djs of the world, is ever composed with a electronic component, also when the electro not was so famous, infact many old releases are actually today and good for the actual music market. Never too much minimal always consistent in their roots, Presslaboys bring from this period important signals and sounds, and try to mix with more varieties of vocal expressions and style. After 2008, 2 years of hiatus, due to the organization of Big events, Presslaboys are back with a series of new productions which will not go undetected. On April 2001 come out an interesting remix on 19 Box Recordings of our Friend Hiro, big talent of Japanese scene, Connected to Eight Tracks and on June 2011 will release a new version of Innocent in two Version with a Magnificent voice of Lisa Shaw, Jeff Bennett’s remix of Reconz on Regular, Remix on Wind Horse Records, Indian new House-Deep House Label.

Other great Works coming out from Presslab Studio Soon.

Gianluca Peruzzi

http://www.myspace.com/amitshoham

Gianluca Peruzzi, was born in Arezzo in 1989. From an early age developed a great interest in house music and the desire to know the origins inspired by the best American dj ... The passion for music and djing for him to have the His first production. first time of 2009 apart from his collaboration with PRESSLABOYS (veterans of electronic music), creating his music at the Presslab Records Studio. it is in its "Arezzo" Gianluca together with other DJ form the SOCIAL-KIDS group-... a name that today is bringing in many young people want to listen to good music, ranging from electronics to house quality.

Gianluca Peruzzi nasce ad Arezzo nel 1989 .Sin dalla giovane età sviluppa un notevole interesse per l'HOUSE MUSIC e la voglia di conoscerne le origini ispirato dai migliori dj americani...la passione per la musica e per il djing lo porta ad avere le sue prime produzioni.Inizio 2009 parte la sua collaborazione con i PRESSLABOYS(veterani della musica elettronica) creando la sua musica presso il Presslab Records Studio. è proprio nella sua "arezzo"che Gianluca insieme ad altri dj forma il gruppo SOCIAL-KIDS...un nome che ad oggi sta portando la voglia in tanti giovani di ascoltare della buona musica,spaziando dall'elettronica all'house di qualità.