Kaz James

Kaz James
Background information
Born 1982
Origin Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres Electronica, alternative dance, house
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, DJ
Years active 2004 - present
Labels Sony BMG
Website www.kazjames.com

Kaz James[1] (born in 1982), is an Australian singer-songwriter and DJ. He was raised in Melbourne and is of Italian and Greek origin. He released his first solo album, If They Knew, in 2008. In the past 12 months he's played an eight-hour back 2 back set at Coachella with Seth Troxler and Skream, opened Ushuaïa’s hot underground spot "After Dark", with Black Coffee, and played an exclusive set at Nic Fanciulli’s Social Festival. He DJ’s at Café Mambo Ibiza whenever he is on the island… Not to mention a brand new weekly residency at new bohemian Mykonos hotspot Scorpios.

Kaz James was a co-founder in 2004 of the group BodyRockers, a British/Australian electronic music duo collaboration, consisting of Kaz James and Dylan Burns. BodyRockers released a self-titled album BodyRockers in 2005 and had a big international hit with the single "I Like the Way" also in 2005 before disbanding in 2007.

Early life

James was raised in suburban Melbourne.[2] He received his education at Marcellin College in Bulleen, where he was active in music, playing trumpet as well as singing with the choir.[3] Forgoing university, James became a DJ at OneLove, a popular Melbourne nightclub that has also helped launch the careers of Grant Smillie and Dirty South.[4] He saved money that he earned mixing songs in Melbourne to travel the world and perform sets in other countries, "kind of like a backpacking DJ."[3]

BodyRockers

Main article: BodyRockers

Before he started his career as a soloist, James was one half of BodyRockers, who rose to prominence in 2005 with their first release, "I Like the Way (You Move)".[4] This guitar-laden dance track reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart in April 2005[5] and achieved popularity in other regions of the world as well. A self-titled album was released, as was the group's follow-up single, "Round and Round". The duo, James and British guitarist Dylan Burns, toured extensively in 2005 and 2006 and recorded a second album, but according to James, "we just didn't get around to releasing it".[6] BodyRockers then parted ways in 2006.

Solo career

On the ones and twos since high school, Greek-Italian-Aussie Kaz was signed by Universal Records at 21 and moved to London from Melbourne. 

Since then, Kaz has been globetrotting as a DJ and producer. Holding a residency at Pacha Ibiza for over a decade, from Holy Ship to Stereosonic, Tommorowland to HARD Summer, he’s done them all. 

But big gigs have never been all it’s been about for Kaz. Known equally for his off-the-cuff performances as for his main stages, he’s always been in it for the love of house music. A three deck specialist influenced by house great Frankie Knuckles who got Kaz his first gig in Ibiza at 19, as well as the artists he plays alongside—from the ever-knowledgeable Pete Tong to the up-and-coming Mambo Brothers.

Starting the year big Kaz worked on music for the blockbuster soundtrack (Fast And The Furious 7) which peaked at Number 1 in the U.S. Recent months have also seen him collaborating with NY house legend Junior Sanchez, and his own hit single ‘Show Me All Your Love’ released by iconic FFRR label. 

Premiered by Pete Tong on his BBC Radio 1 show - soundcloud.com/kazjames/insideyourarmsr1play - and before that, live at Café Mambo during radio 1 weekend, ‘Inside Your Arms’ is the first of two new Balearic house cuts by Kaz James and Ivan Gough (half of L’Tric), a stunning piece of electronica which will leave you lost in its feel good piano vibes and haunting vocals, a perfect sunset track to launch you into the night.

Never one to rest on his laurels, it’s safe to say music isn’t his only success. Kaz is also moving with similar speed in the coffee business, having launched Shoreditch Grind on London’s hip Old Street four years ago with longtime mate David Abrahamovitch; they now have four additional locations with more in the pipeline. His DNA in all the locations runs clear: from the upstairs recording studio at the original Grind to the rock ‘n’ roll vibe throughout the others, the spirit of ‘Kaz James’ has definitely contributed to the brand’s success in a saturated coffee market.

Discography

Albums

as BodyRockers

(for details, refer to BodyRockers discography section)

Solo
Year Album Peak positions
AUS
[7]
2008 If They Knew  –

Singles / EPs

Year Single Peak positions Album
AUS
[7]		 BEL
(Vl)
[8]		 BEL
(Wa)
[9]		 FRA
[10]
2008 "Breathe"
(feat. Stu Stone)		 57  –  –  – If They Knew
2008 "We Hold On" 81  –  –  –
2009 "Can't Hold Back"
(feat. Macy Gray)		 42  –  –  –
2014 "Show Me All Your Love"  –  –  –
2014 "Blast Off"
(with David Guetta)		  – 49*
(Ultratip)		 14*
(Ultratip)		 33

*Did not appear in the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but rather in the bubbling under Ultratip charts.

Other releases

Remixes

References

  1. ↑ "Various Artists - Pacha, Mixed by Kaz James, Dirty Laundry & Sarah Main" inthemix.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  2. ↑ "Kaz James: Stereosonic soldier" inthemix.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  3. 1 2 "Kaz James keeps it real" Brisbane Times, 11 September 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  4. 1 2 "Kaz James: He's still only got Onelove" inthemix.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  5. ↑ UK Singles Chart info Chartstats.com. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  6. ↑ "Kaz James: Biography" 3DWorld.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  7. 1 2 "Kaz James discography". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "Kaz James discography". ultratop.be/fr/. Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  9. ↑ "Kaz James discography". ultratop.be/fr/. Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  10. ↑ "Kaz James discography". lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  11. ↑ http://www.beatport.com/track/gecko-overdrive-kaz-james-remix/5604710
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