Kingkade, head honcho of well respected prog/tech label Minimal Records and all round good geezer, started his DJing career in his early twenties at Spice @ Le Bateau in Liverpool where he held his first residency. His tribally, techy, prog house sets quickly won him favour with punters and promoters alike and since then Kingkade has gone on to play regularly at a whole heap of clubnights across the UK and Ireland, including Bubble, Life, Best of British, Slackers, State, Monaco, Peruvia and (the hilariously named) Boom Boom Rooms in Belfast, Ireland. 1996 also saw Kingkade front his own specialist weekly radio show on Liverpool’s Phuture FM where he played American house to the masses. Alex’s profile as a dj has risen rapidly over the last 12 months, with resent request for Dj mixes form Si Gordon (Malibu FM), Troy Roberts (Spundae, Proton Radio), Brian Stillwater (Proton Radio), Chloe Harris (Groovetech.com), Artist profile of the month for Release Records, And an interview with dj’s in box. With future gigs lined up over the U.K and the U.S things are sure to take of for Kingkade.

On the production front, Kingkade’s first record, Kingkade - ‘Kalcutter’, was released in October last year on Dorigen Music, And got confirmed plays from the likes of Seb Fontaine (Played it twice on radio 1), Satoshi Tommie, Nick warren, X-press 2, Jerry Bonham, and many more.

In August 2001 Kingkade launched his own label Minimal Records, a vehicle to get the music that he believed in out there and also to showcase his own productions. The label’s discography includes Kingkade - ‘Sicopath’, Jackson Q - ‘X-Factor’, Little Bossa - ‘Twister/The Message’ and the brilliant ‘Tempted’ by Tiny Elvis. Plus many more, Minimal Records has become regarded as a label that is consistently releasing quality records, a reputation that has only been reinforced with each release. Support coming from every corner from the likes of Sander Kleinenberg, Xpress 2, Steve Lawler, James Zabiela, Red Jerry, Nick Warren, Clive Henry, Satoshi Tommie, Sasha, and countless others! Minimal records are thought of in high regard amongst other labels and the press. With reviews coming thick and fast as the label grows from strength to strength. Artists involved in future projects are as follows Saeed & Palash, Pako & Frederik, Pilivin & Zimbardo, Fred Numf, Inkfish, plus many more. As if running one label wasn’t enough, Alex is due to launch his second label in August, Dirty Blue records which is a division of Minimal Records. The First release has come courtesy from Casa Del Soul Records over in the U.S. Ty Tek - Midnight Express / Feel It. Dirty Blue’s sound will be more on the house vibe, From Deep through to funky. Alex Has also licensed a track to Play recordings, Kingkade & Airey - Digital Blue due to be released in July, Already getting great support from the usual suspects.

Kingkade’s has done many remix’s over the last year for the likes of Pako & Frederik due to be released later this year on minimal, Chris Lake for Pengea Recordings, 3 remixes for Addictive records and many others form his home grown artists for minimal. Minimal records has managed to get on 6 compilations in 2002, Including Global underground - After-hours, Pako & Frederik’s debut mix on Majestic Music, James Zabiela‘s new mix for the new groovetech series, Dj Gogo mix for Q –club series in Switzerland, Directions on underground records and Decks and the city from take out records compilation from New York.

2002 was a good year for Alex raising the profile of the two labels, which has led to him signing a 2-year deal with 3-beat label management, to start at the beginning of 2003. Also Alex has just been put on the dj roster for a51 management agency up in bonnie Scotland, www.a51djs.com Also Dubcoast dj agency in the states www.dubcoast.com

He has also collaborated on studio projects with Steve Gerrard, Chris Lake and makes up one half of production duo Little Bossa (Kingkade and Jackson Q).

With more productions and more gigs to come in 2003, Kingkade’s profile will undoubtedly escalate to greater heights and you’re going to find it harder and harder to escape the sound of Kingkade… Watch this space!


Productions

Kingkade - Sicopath May 2001 (Minimal)
Kingkade - Kalcutter November 2001 (Dorigen Music)
Kingkade - Toxik Solution December 2001 (Minimal)
Kingkade - Burning Man September 2002 (Minimal)
Kingkade & Airey - Digital Blue July 2002 (Play)
Kingkade vs. Filta - Nature of the beast (Inkfish)
Kingkade vs. Chris Lake - Cruel intensions (unsigned)
Kingkade - Fools Gold March 2003 (Minimal)
Kingkade - Magic Circle March 2003 (Dirty Blue)
Kingkade vs. P&Z - Can’t stop e.p (Unsigned) 2003
Kingkade - Virgin Maze (Unsigned) 2003

Remixes

Jackson Q - X-Factor (Minimal)
Tiny Elvis - So Long (Minimal) got on dj Gogo comp last summer.
Tiny Elvis - Tempted (Minimal) James Zabilea comp last summer.
Little Bossa - Nightbreed (Minimal)
Filta - Abuse (Minimal)
F.C.L.S - Truncate (Minimal)
Chris Lake - Little African (pengea recordings)
Revolt - The drop (Addictive)
Revolt - Genelec (Addictive)
Stereomovers - Skydivers (Addictive)
Ictus - The Look (Minimal)
Panoptic - Surface (Minimal)
Rhythm Code Meltz (Minimal)
Tiny Elvis - Casino (Dirty Blue)
Tony Estrada - Close (Distraekt)
Paris & Sharp - Do anything (orient recordings)
Bill payer & Fat Hippy - Moon music (Chome records)

For all licensing/booking/remix enquiries please contact:

Alex - +44 (0) 151 708 0564
alex@minimalrecords.com


Interview

What was the first experience you had with underground dance music that made you say “This is what I want to do”?

The first time I heard one of my tracks getting played on Radio One by Seb Fontaine was what did it for me.

Did you have a musical background prior to picking up DJing?

No.

Was there a major force behind taking the jump from DJing into production, or was it just normal artistic progression?

I have been DJing now for 8 years and always wanted to do it at top level, and I thought the only way to get really noticed was to produce your own sound and hopefully get noticed this way.

The majority of your production/remix work has been released under the Minimal imprint, and all have been extremely well received by the industry. Did you ever even entertain the thought of releasing some of the tracks on other labels, or did you just go full steam ahead with Minimal?

I started out by trying to release tracks on other labels and I received feedback from them that they thought I needed to develop as an artist, I obviously disagreed and decided to come up with Minimal Records which then acted as a platform for my sound. However, I did release a track on Dorigen called “Kalcutter”

Just recently, you started a sister label to Minimal, the interestingly titled Dirty Blue. How was the reaction to this label been so far, and what are your future intentions for this label, as opposed to Minimal?

The reactions for Dirty Blue so far have been fantastic with support coming from the likes of James Zabelia, Tom Stephan, Danny Tanaglia, Saeed & Palash and too many to mention, not bad due to the fact we have only had 3 releases.

How about that logo for Dirty Blue! (We dig it!) …. How did that come about?

With me being an Evertonian blue had to come into it some where and dirty came from the style of music that would be released on the label (Dirty House). I wanted the designer of the logo to produce something that was eye catching and also sexy…… I think he came up with both quite nicely!!!

You’re recently finished an original track titled “Infectious” with remix work supplied by Pilivin & Zimbardo. A dynamic team-up to be sure... How did this come about?

At the time we were both getting distribution through Unique and the label manager from Unique Jim Ross hooked us up as we were both fans of each other music. I had just finished Infectious and sent to P&Z to see if they were up for doing a remix. We decided to do a Mix Swap so they sent me a track by Tony Estrade called Close which I have now completed and will be out on Distrackt in April. Since then P&Z have travelled to Liverpool to do a couple of tracks with me which are now completed and are under the name of K Z & P. We haven’t found the right home for them yet but we are thinking about putting them on our own labels. I can confirm that there will be more to come after the Miami Music Conference.

Word has it that there are two other remixes for the same track by Ink fish, and Saeed and Palash. A stellar group of artists combining on this one! Will it be a double pack release?

Inkfish have nearly finished their mix which I am really looking forward to. I’m sad to say at this moment Saeed and Palash will not be able to commit to any remixes at the moment as their album has had to be put back until the fall. Be rest assured that they will be doing something next year on Minimal. To fill in this void we are happy to announce that Paris & Sharp will be taking the reigns on this one.

Your remix work has been just as stellar as your original tracks. What key elements do you look for in a track when deciding what to use from the original song?

I have just got to like the overall feel for the tune.

All of the tracks you produce seem to have that “jackin” style that really makes dance floors really move! What would you attribute as the influence for this style?

House Music (its all about House Music)

Any plans for an artist album in the future, or is the focus on singles?

I think about this quite a lot and I really would love to do an artist album and I already have some good ideas down for it. Being honest I don’t see anything coming out until next year. I would like to get involved with some good vocalists and the album would have a mixed flavour of all styles of music I am into.

Lest take a moment to talk about some of your studio set-up. What sequencing software do you currently use?

I have always used Cubase as it is what I learnt my trade on and will probably always use it (well until I can afford Pro Tools) ha ha

Some artists are moving more of the gear inside their computers these days. Which are more prevalent in your studio….soft-synths or hardware synths?

I generally use both but with software getting better and better I tend to be using it more and more. It is good to experiment and learn new tools.

Any pieces of gear that have taken your creativity to another level?

My new Novation K-Station it’s the business

How about your favourite piece of hardware/software. The one item that you just couldn’t live without?

My favourite hardware has to be my Yamaha TG 500. Synth and software I couldn’t live without my delays especially the Ohmboyz delays.

How about new gear…. Are you planning on buying anything new to add into your studio soon?

Not at the moment.

Lets talks some more about your labels. With the recent slump in the music industry, some larger labels are feeling the pinch, yet there are labels like yours which are sprouting sister labels. What do you think is the key to developing an independent label in the somewhat unstable market right now?

Due to my labels being relatively new I haven’t really felt the pinch as I can’t compare it anything else as yet. My key to develop a label in the current market is to take chances, have good quality music to put out and to have the backing of a good distributor or management company.

Have you experienced any growing pains in establishing the label(s)?

I have been quite lucky and haven’t had many problems so far, but as you know over here the UK scene has slowed down quite a bit and only the strongest survive.

You recently moved your labels to 3 Beat Label Management with distribution now going through Amato. What was the reason for the change?

No comment on this one mate….

How do you manage to balance your time while running and maintaining two labels, a DJing schedule and a wealth of extremely well produced and remixed tracks?

It’s a busy time here at Minimal so I have to put a lot of hours in. I mainly write throughout the night as I find that at this time I get no distractions, so when people are out partying I have been spending most of my time in the studio, I eat sleep and shit music!!!!

As a DJ what artists consistently deliver the tunes that rock your dance floors?

Peace Division, X-press 2 and not forgetting Piliavin & Zimbardo and many others.

How about these days or nights when you want to listen to something a bit different… who do you listen to when stepping a bit outside the dance realm?

I like more chilled out bands such as Morchebba and The Streets.

Time for our parting shot. Anything special up your sleeve from Kingkade, Minimal or Dirty Blue in 2003 that you’d like to clue our viewers in on?

You’ll just have to wait and see......