::dj profiles::

[Max Graham]

“His music is the hottest sound in the UK right now. I believe he’ll be a world wide success within 2 years.”    Nick Warren

He may be the biggest DJ in Canada. He may have been asked personally by Oakenfold to open for him in New York and Ibiza (although he’s not a trance DJ).  But what’s really interesting about Max Graham is his quest to push back boundaries, shatter your preconceptions and, like label mate Timo Maas, develop a genre-defying new sound.

Which conveniently brings us to the phenomenal ‘Airtight’, released last September on Hope, a record so large that to gush in traditional record company superlatives is to make a mockery of its innate brilliance. All I’ll say is that the initial galloping minimalism of this slab of visceral tech-house blossoms into a dark, slowly draining euphoria that may hint at hope, but offers little respite.  And if you want more, check his forthcoming 4 track EP, released at the end of March 2001.

You’d think that with music like this, Max may have some demons to exorcise. And you’d be right (well, kind of.) Born in Spain, his family left for LA when he was twelve, where he went on to do the angry-hip-hop-graffiti-kid thing. Moving to Ottawa at the age of 19 in search of a “safer life”, he soon blagged his way into Dj-ing at a weekly turntablist session at his local niterie.

It was only after attending his first rave in 1995 (at the grand old age of twenty four!) that Max realised his true vocation. And he knew it wasn’t in the cheesy clubs at which he was then resident. Starting the hugely successful Saturday nighter ‘Sweet’ which grew from a 300 to 1500-strong crowd, Max then built and opened what was to become the first internationally famous progressive house club in Ottawa, ‘Atomic’.  In the last three years, the club has seen an average of 1000 punters a night, as well as attracting DJs as diverse as the Luvdup boys and Derrick Carter.

Max delayed his foray into production until this year, because he was scared he’d “get the bug.” He says, “I knew I’d get hooked on this. I want my music to reflect the trials and tribulations not just of my life, but life generally. This, to me, is my healthiest form of self expression.” 

• [Sander Kleinenberg]

• [DJ Damier]

• [Dave Seaman]

• [Steve Lawler]

• [DJ Warren]

• [Justin Robertson]

• [Tayo]

• [Mistress Barbara]

• [Simon Digby]

• [Christian Smith]

• [Danny Howell]

• [Keith McDonnell]

• [Max Graham]

[press releases] [corporate data]  [dj profiles] [media] [wares] [euphoria] [e-gallery] [your say] [links] [site outlook] [wayne's diary]  [features]