Felix da Housecat

Felix da Housecat

Felix da Housecat performing in 2007
Background information
Birth name Felix Stallings, Jr.
Also known as Aphrohead
Electrikboy
Sharkimaxx
Thee Jamie Starr Scenario
Thee Maddkatt Chronicles
Thee Maddkatt Courtship
Titchmarsh
Virgo Blaktro
Born (1971-08-25) August 25, 1971
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres Electronica, house, techno, big beat, alternative dance, synthpop
Occupation(s) DJ
producer
Labels Emperor Norton
Rykodisc
Rude Photo
No Shame
Associated acts Kris Menace, Miss Kittin, P. Diddy, Tommie Sunshine

Felix da Housecat (born Felix Stallings Jr., August 25, 1971, Chicago, Illinois) is an American DJ and record producer, mostly known for house music and electroclash.

Felix is regarded as a member of the second wave of Chicago house[1] and has produced an eclectic mic of sound since from resolute acid and techno warrior to avant-garde nu-skool electro-disco.[2] He gained fame not only via his recordings (under a number of aliases), including Mezcalateer, Thee Maddkatt Courtship, Aphrohead and Sharkimaxx, but also for his ownership of Radikal Fear Records.

Life

Beginnings

Stallings developed an interest in the emergent Chicago house music scene at a young age. While a student at Rich East High School in Park Forest, Illinois in the mid-1980s, a chance introduction to acid house pioneer DJ Pierre gave the then 15-year-old Stallings his break, and under the patronage and guidance of Pierre, he released his first single, "Phantasy Girl," in 1987.

Also in 1987, Felix went to Alabama State University to study media and communication. There he studied different musicians of the era, including Prince, A Tribe Called Quest, and Gang Starr, as well as developing an interest in hip hop and R&B tracks.

1990s

After graduating, he released "Thee Dawn" on Guerilla Records. He became popular in Europe, and in the following year, "By Dawn's Early Light" and "Thee Industry Made Me Do It" followed. A further single, "In The Dark We Live (Thee Lite)", appeared under his pseudonym, Aphrohead. Originally released on the UK label, Bush, "In The DaAlbum", followed in 1998. In 1999, he released "In The Dark We Live".

Shortly afterwards, Stallings formed Radikal Fear Records. It released material from Mike Dunn, DJ Sneak, and Armando as well as Felix himself. During 1995, he released his debut album Alone in the Dark (as Thee Maddkatt Courtship) on Deep Distraxion, followed by the Radikal Fear compilation album, The Chicago All Stars and a remix album entitled Clashbackk Compilation Mix. The album I Know Electrikboy was never officially released in either the US or UK, although promotional copies are in circulation.

2000s

In 2001, Kittenz and Thee Glitz, written and produced alongside Tommie Sunshine, Miss Kittin, Dave The Hustler, Harrison Crump, Junior Sanchez, Junior Jack and Melistar, was released which gained Felix mainstream exposure. At the end of that year, Felix won Best Album at the now-defunct Muzik Awards. The ensuing fame brought Felix remix work for Madonna, Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue. The proper follow-up, Devin Dazzle & the Neon Fever, was released in 2004, though Felix released a pair of mix albums, 2002's Excursions and 2003's A Bugged Out Mix, in between.

Felix also collaborated with P Diddy on the pair's "Jack U" single. The pair remain friends, with Diddy performing alongside Felix at Space in Ibiza in 2005, and Felix performing at Diddy's after-party for The Main Event at the Winter Music Conference.

2007 in Baltimore

Various remixes of "Silver Screen (Shower Scene)" were used in video games such as Midnight Club 2, and SSX 3, and films including Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. The Soulwax Remix of his song "Rocket Ride" was featured in the game Need for Speed: Underground 2. "Everyone Is Someone in LA" was featured in Tony Hawk's American Wasteland. His songs have also featured in television programs such as The Sopranos and "Silver Screen" featured in the party scene in Robert Downey, Jr's 2005 film, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Felix's album, Virgo Blaktro and the Movie Disco, was released on October 2, 2007 in the US on Nettwerk Records. Production was overseen by Dallas Austin.

"Future Calls The Dawn" was released on July 9, 2007 on Wall of Sound/PIAS with "Sweetfrosti" featured as the B-side. "Sweetfrosti" contained a sample of Devo's "Snowball", originally released in 1981.

"Like Something 4 Porno!" was released as the album's lead single on September 24, 2007 with remixes from Kris Menace, Teenage Bad Girl and Armand Van Helden, while a third single, "Radio", was released digitally in April 2008. Since then, Felix has released his first Global Underground compilation, for the Newcastle-upon-Tyne compilation and club label. Felix also teamed up with Kris Menace to release "Artificial" in June 2008.

In 2009, Felix released He Was King, via Nettwerk Records.

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Chart peaks
Top 200 US Dance US Indie UK
[3]
1995 Metropolis Present Day? Thee Album!
1999 I Know Electrikboy (as Maddkatt Courtship III)
2001 Kittenz and Thee Glitz
2002 Rocketmann! (as Rocketmann!)
2004 Devin Dazzle & the Neon Fever 8 41 97
2007 Virgo Blaktro and the Movie Disco
2009 He Was King
2011 Son of Analogue[4]
2013 Sinner Winner / Give Me Body
I Just Want To Be A Lesbian
2015 Narrative Of Thee Blast Illusion

Mix albums

Year Title Chart peaks
Top 200 US Dance US Indie
1997 Clashbackk Compilation Mix
Transmissions, Vol. 2
2002 Excursions
2003 A Bugged Out Mix 19
2005 Playboy: The Mansion Soundtrack
Past, Present and Future House and Electro
2008 Global Underground 034: Milan
2012 Various Artists - Pete Tong & Felix Da Housecat - All Gone Ibiza 11

Singles

Year Title Chart peaks Album
U.S. Dance Play
[5]
U.S. Dance Sales
[5]
CAN
[5]
UK
[3][6]
2001 "Silver Screen Shower Scene" 39 Kittenz and Thee Glitz
"Harlot" 79
"What Does It Feel Like?" 66
2002 "Madame Hollywood" 11 19
2003 "Cyberwhore" 103
2004 "Watching Cars Go By" 39 6 49 Devin Dazzle & the Neon Fever
2005 "Ready 2 Wear" 62
"Rocket Ride" 24 55
2008 "Like Something 4 Porno!" 13 Virgo Blaktro and the Movie Disco
2009 "We All Wanna Be Prince" 26 He Was King
2013 "Sinner Winner" Sinner Winner / Give Me Body
"I Just Want To Be A Lesbian" I Just Want To Be A Lesbian

Remixes

References

  1. Bush, John. "Biography: Felix da Housecat". AMG. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  2. "Felix Da Housecat :: Beatport Pro". Beatport.com. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  3. 1 2 "UK Chartlog – Adam F – FYA". zobbel.de. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  4. Monypenny, Mike (March 25, 2011). "Felix Da Housecat releases 'Son of Analogue' album exclusively on the cover of Mixmag". Mixmag. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  5. 1 2 3 "Felix da Housecat | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  6. Archived April 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. "Pompeya, Felix Da Housecat — YAHTBMF(Felix Da Housecat Heavenly House Mix) [No Shame]". Beatport.com. Retrieved 2015-07-27.

External links

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