DJ Fresh

For the American producer of the same name, see The Worlds Freshest (Dj.Fresh)
DJ Fresh

DJ Fresh in 2011
Background information
Birth name Daniel Stein
Also known as
  • DJ Fresh
  • Fresh
  • Mosquito
  • Absolute Zero
Born (1977-04-11) 11 April 1977
Origin United Kingdom
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Record producer
  • DJ
  • musician
Instruments
  • Synthesizer
  • keyboards
Years active 1996–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website thedjfresh.com

Daniel Stein, best known as DJ Fresh, is an English record producer, DJ and musician known for making electronic music. He was one of the principal members of the drum and bass group, Bad Company,[1] alongside Darren White (dBridge), Jason Maldini, and Michael Wojcicki (Vegas). He also owns and runs the pioneering drum and bass label Breakbeat Kaos with Adam F.[2]

DJ Fresh released his third studio album, Nextlevelism in October 2012 on Ministry of Sound Recordings,[3] which includes the two No. 1 hits singles "Louder" and "Hot Right Now" – the UK's first dubstep and drum and bass No. 1's respectively[4] - "The Power", "The Feeling" and "Gold Dust".

Currently working on his fourth studio album – due for release at the end of 2014 – DJ Fresh recently scored two top five hit singles with “Earthquake”, a collaboration with Mad Decent label boss Diplo featuring Dominique Young Unique and “Dibby Dibby Sound” a collaboration with St Louis producer Jay Fay also featuring the legendary garage vocalist Ms. Dynamite.[5]

DJ Fresh has 2.5 million record sales, two number 1 singles and a further two top 6 singles to his name.[6] He also has over 132 million plays on his YouTube channel.[7]

Career

Early success and Escape from Planet Monday (1998–2008)

DJ Fresh performing at a rave in Springfield, Massachusetts in 2003.

Along with the three other members of Bad Company, Fresh founded the record label BC Recordings, as well as the website Dogs on Acid.[8] Bad Company's track "The Nine", was released in 1998 when Fresh was just 21 years old. "The Nine" was later voted the greatest drum & bass track of all time by readers of Knowledge Magazine[9]

Resuming his solo career in 2002, Fresh founded Breakbeat Punk, which merged with Adam F's Kaos Recordings to become Breakbeat Kaos in 2003.[10] In 2004 Dogs on Acid was given its own imprint.

In 2006, Fresh released his first studio album, Escape from Planet Monday, featuring "The Immortal", "X Project", "Nervous" and "All that Jazz" on Breakbeat Kaos.

Kryptonite and commercial success (2009–11)

In 2009 Fresh released a 12" of "Heavyweight" (with Fantasia on the B side) on the Digital Soundboy label. "Heavyweight" had a different style from Fresh's usual output, and gained positive reviews and a general positive response through the underground scene and within various radio stations.[11] Fresh subsequently released "Hypercaine" (including a remix from Nero in September 2009)[12] and made BBC Radio 1's daytime playlist.

On 1 August 2010, he re-released his song "Gold Dust" featuring vocals from Ce'Cile, where it peaked 24 in the UK and 39 in Ireland, it marked his first Top 40 hit in both countries. On 16 August, he released his second studio album, "Kryptonite" where it peaked 4 on the UK Dance Chart.

He then released his follow-up single called "Lassitude" with Sigma featuring vocals from Koko. It managed to peak 98 on the UK Singles Chart and 11 on the UK Dance Chart.

Nextlevelism and continued commercial success (2011–12)

"Louder", the first single from his third album Nextlevelism, was released on 3 July 2011. The song was used as part of a Lucozade Lite advertising campaign in the UK and Ireland. The song features vocals from Welsh singer Sian Evans from the band Kosheen and peaked number 4 on the Irish Singles Chart and was the first ever dubstep number one on the UK Singles Chart.

On 12 February 2012, the second single "Hot Right Now", featuring British singer Rita Ora, became his second number one in the UK, and the first drum and bass song to chart at number one in the UK. The third single from the album, "The Power", which features rapper Dizzee Rascal, was officially released on 3 June 2012.

Following the release of his fourth single, "The Feeling", which features rapper RaVaughn, on 23 September 2012, DJ Fresh released his new album Nextlevelism on 1 October 2012. "Nextlevelism" includes the songs "Hot Right Now", "Louder", "The Power", "Gold Dust", "The Feeling" and features Rita Ora, Dizzee Rascal, Rizzle Kicks, Professor Green, Ms Dynamite, The Fray and Liam Bailey.

Forthcoming fourth studio album (2012–present)

Stein started working in 2012 on his fourth studio album. The album's lead single, "Earthquake", is a collaboration with Diplo and Dominique Young Unique. The song was released on 18 August 2013 and managed to reach number four on the UK Singles Chart. An edited version titled "Motherquake" was produced and released specifically for the film Kick-Ass 2. The album's second single, "Dibby Dibby Sound", samples the song "Dibby Dibby" by moombahton producer Jay Fay and features additional vocals from Ms. Dynamite. The song is credited as DJ Fresh vs. Jay Fay. The song received the title of Zane Lowe's "Hottest Record in the World".[13] The third single from the album, "Make U Bounce", is credited as DJ Fresh vs. TC featuring Little Nikki. The song is a reworking of TC's previously unreleased 2012 song "Make You Bounce" and was released on 29 June 2014. The fourth single, "Flashlight", features Ellie Goulding and was released on 28 September 2014. It is a reworking of the original version that appears on Goulding's album Halcyon Days.[14]

Discography

Main article: DJ Fresh discography

Studio albums

See also

Awards and nominations

Year Organisation Award Work Result
2013 BRIT Awards British Single of the Year[16] "Hot Right Now" (featuring Rita Ora) Nominated

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to DJ Fresh.
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