Darren Emerson

ARTIST

10/14(土) LUNAR STAGE 1NIGHT

Electronic Musicの隆盛の頂点を極めたUnderworldの “Born Slippy” や “REZ” 等を生み出したのが「Darren Emerson」、その張本人によるパフォーマンスは最高のロケーションとの相乗効果も相俟って、更なる高い次元に誘ってくれるはず。
METAMORPHOSEには、2007年、2010年、2012年以来の出演となる。

There are DJs we are introduced to via friends, ones we stumble upon ourselves and ones who are so talented, so ahead of the game, it’s almost impossible to miss them. Darren Emerson is all of those and so much more. Spending any length of time with him, you quickly realise just how focused he is. A self-confessed trainspotter, he’ll lament the time he first heard ‘Strings of Life’ as vividly as how he made his own last tune. A true pioneer, he’s as in love with the music now as much as he ever was.
In the beginning, a curious Essex lad who loved music started out as a Hip Hop DJ playing in local clubs by the age of 16, but soon a new musical mistress seduced him completely: Acid House. Very quickly he became fully immersed in this new scene and rose through the ranks to be considered one of the top DJs in London spinning a tough, raw Techno House hybrid sound. He became part of the Boys Own collective in the early 90s, fatefully filling in for Andrew Weatherall at a party in Bangor where he introduced Housemartin band member, Norman Cook to House music for the first time.
As his tastes changed, Emerson’s musical direction matured away from the song-based New York Garage and Chicago House towards the dubbier, bass-driven British sound of Progressive House releasing his first production (with Rick Smith) under their Lemon Interupt alias on Junior Boys Own. Darren had met Rick through his brother in law in 1990. A seasoned studio engineer himself, Rick and Darren bounded over music with Rick offering insight into studiocraft, while the younger scenester would open the lid on the burgeoning world of dance music.
The pair were joined shortly after by singer Karl Hyde and they became Underworld. In 1993, Underworld released their breakthrough album ‘dubnobasswithmyheadman’ proclaimed by Muzik Magazine’s Ben Turner as the most important album since The Stone Roses debut and the best album since Primal Scream’s ‘Screamadelica’. Follow up albums ‘Second Toughest in the Infants’ (1996) and ‘Beaucoup Fish’ (1999) where met with critical acclaim further cementing the bands place in dance music history.
Leaving the band in 2000 allowed Darren to explore his DJ roots on a global scale. Already regarded as an in-demand remixer, he worked with The Chemical Brothers, Bjork and more. Keen to push the boundaries of his career through reinvention, he teamed up with good friend, Sasha for the Ibiza anthem, Scorchio; a departure from his recent sound, which was a massive hit for both artists. During this busy creative period, Darren set up Underwater, his first label and began a fruitful relationship with UK superbrand Global Underground culminating in three genre-defying mixes for the ‘City Series’ compilations: Uruguay (2000), Singapore (2001) and Bogota (2009).
Alongside this, the seminal Underwater picked up many plaudits from the dance music press as well as an Ibiza residency at the world-renowned Pacha Nightclub, winning ‘House Event of the Summer’ and ‘Label of the Year’ in 2003. Following the success of Underwater, Darren set up a new imprint in 2012 – Detone – looking to nurture new talent in the ever changing landscape of the music business. Ever-popular, Darren is one of the few artists Carl Cox naturally adds to his massive Intec parties. Then there’s his work as The White Lamp, an alternative dance act and 3D with Dave Seaman and Danny Howells, reigniting his passions for quality House and Techno. Fair to say after 30 years at the top of his profession, Darren Emerson shows no signs of slowing down!