With the launch of DanceDanceRevolution® X! on the horizon, the DanceDanceRevolution® Community Website is proud to present New Artist Information! Below we have listed a handful of the top notch artists that have music featured in DDR X. We have also included some special information on each of these artists that should get you pumped for the game. We also have a Special Message from the DDR X MC's!
1.) DKC Crew - DKC Crew is a group of composers, producers and artists from around the world. Talent is scouted and picked through Adeline Studios in Oakland, CA. Some of the resident artists are:
Singjay/Songwriter: Binghi Ghost
Producer, Composer and Artist: Asa Taccone M.C. Taj He Spits
Singer/Songwriter: Nadine
Rap Group: The Yay Boyz
Producer, Composer and Artist: Drew Kimo Campbell (DKC)
2.) Akira Ishihara - Coming up through the Japan underground scene, at the age of 18 Akira Ishihara started DJ'ing and producing his own Techno tracks. It wasn`t long before his skills were noticed, and soon after was releasing 12 inches on Techno labels such as "kiddaz.fm", "kazumi", and "SUBmissions".
From 2003-2004, he went on tour in Germany, and performed at venues such as "Electric Ballroom" at SO36 and at the legendary Tresor club. He has since played in countries around the world, including Austria, Hong-Kong, Taiwan and China.
Having released many club-style tracks, he has become known for his heavy use of voice sampling along with a pumpin` beat. His songs have been championed by DJ`s in clubs around the world. Now appearing in DDR X, his hard-pounding skills are sure to get your floor movin'!
3.) Harmony Machine - The minds of mystery and mastery that make up Harmony Machine were born into bleeps, raised on rhythm, and live by Life Law #8: "Thou shalt suck up sounds and play around." Physical headquarters are in San Francisco, the virtual path is h-machine.com.
4.) Jena Rose - Jena Rose is in a league of her own. Born and raised in Sri Lanka by wild elephants, she has a deep and inseparable connection to the sounds and rhythm of nature.
At the ripe age of 12, she was found by a family of touring musicians who brought her back to Paris where she then studied at the conservatory and learned classical violin and cello.
Not content with the confined sounds of the Western world, she dove into world and electronic music where she found her passion. Gaining a degree in sound design and electronic composition, Jena's combo of strings and electronics are one of a kind.
5.) System 7 - Forming in 1989, System 7 began as a collective, also featuring The Orb's Alex Paterson and Youth. Providing the conscious link between the techno and house explosion of the 80's and it's European psychedelic antecedents of the 70's, they have had a strong influence on the birth of psychedelic dance music and it's journey up to the present.
Consistently progressive, System 7's central producers - guitarist Steve Hillage and keyboardist Miquette Giraudy - have now forged a unique and bang up-to-date identity on the dance music genre map, in a space where techno, progressive house and psy-trance meet - with a healthy side-element of unique quality ambient chill - also collaborating with many other dance music luminaries, notably Derrick May, Carl Craig, Laurent Garnier and Richie Hawtin.
Their most recent 12" single "Space Bird" features major remixes from Dubfire and Liquid Soul, and reached the coveted number 1 chart position on dance music's leading download site Beatport in January 2008. Also released in 2008, System 7's successful new album "Phoenix" and video project is inspired by the manga graphic novel series "Phoenix" by Osamu Tezuka - one of the founding fathers of Japanese manga culture.
6.) TAG - Sound creator, step designer, avid DDR player, TAG's talents are many. He specializes in keyed instruments, such as piano and synthesizer. His first encounter with DDR was many year's ago. He was so obsessed with DDR that it inspired him to become a sound creator.
Having many releases on other BEMANI music games, "Saber Wing" is his debut song for the DanceDanceRevolution series. We can't take our eyes (or ears) off this rising BEMANI star!
7.) Bill Hamel - For some divine reason, the stars aligned when Bill Hamel first stumbled upon the mind-blowing sounds of "progressive house" at Orlando's fabled Firestone club in the early 90s. It was America's epicenter of the most widespread youthquake to hit the globe since punk rock - the electronic dance music explosion. Orlando's progressive scene shook up e-music's global wavelength; it's records and DJs reaching clubs from New York to London and beyond. Hamel rapidly became a go-to tunesmith, with the likes of Danny Tenaglia and Dave Seaman choosing his remixes for their top-selling Global Underground mix-CDs. Now, having remixed everyone from Madonna to Paramore to Rihanna to Korn, he has had numerous #1 songs on the Billboard dance charts, including Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me A River", Seal's "Amazing", and Nellie Furtado's "Do It".
Not confined to remixing, Bill Hamel's original tracks have been released on heavy-hitting global labels like Bedrock, Ministry of Sound and Perfecto. Paul Oakenfold, John Digweed, and Sander Kleinenberg are just a few of the DJs who have featured his tracks on their mix CDs. He is currently producing three songs for BT's forthcoming album, and his Orlando-based band, Spacebar, has just released their debut full-length, Our Fight, on iTunes.
From the underground to center stage, Bill Hamel is a dance music standout whose club know-how, studio experience, and tireless work ethic have forged permanent footholds in an extremely competitive arena.
"Bill Hamel has the extraordinary rare gift of balancing the deep and subtle with the melodic. A shining star in a sea of faceless DJs and producers."
- Brian "BT" Transeau
8.) wolli - wolli is a keyboard virtuoso residing in Tokyo, Japan. Beginning his musical journey at the age of 5, his specialties include electronic synthesizer, piano, and the pipe organ. Having a background in classical music and in opera, he performs both as keyboardist and singer. He has performed his original works at such events as the Aichi World Exposition and Okayama International Music Festival. He has often been hand chosen to accompany many international acts as they tour Japan, from string quartets to German choir groups, and his music and arrangements have been showcased throughout Japan and Europe.
With his debut song in Dance Dance Revolution, "Lift You Up", wolli brings his talent to the American audience.
9.) OR-IF-IS - Atmosphere, stratosphere, here, there, and everywhere fuel fanciful flights of mutation and transportation. It began when OR-IF-IS escaped evil captors - a tribe from Mashmello, an invisible moon of Mars - who forced OR-IF-IS to create alien pop schlop in exchange for rotten milk, dry bread, and an unlit air chamber.
10.) Ruffage & Size - Ruffage & Size hail from the frozen north of Canada. Rather than hide away indoors during the long, cold winter they both enjoy the outdoors - Ruffage blazing around the many frozen ponds and lakes on hockey skates, and Size catching big air on the ski slopes. The duo try to capture this sense of adventure in their music, creating excitement and energy to induce a real musical rush.
Having known each other for over 12 years, over half of which they have been producing music, Ruffage & Size have developed a mutual sarcasm towards life which also shines through in their creations. Thanks to teaming up with DJ Silver from Reload they now have a consistent outlet for having their music heard by the world.
11.) Darwin - UK based Darwin was first thrust upon the dance music community via the Gammer remix of "Take A Ride", done with Ant Johnson, and hasn't stopped gaining momentum since. With the massive "Pulse Attack", done in collaboration with Cube::Hard, played by DJ's all across the hardcore spectrum and featured on "Hardcore Heaven 2" the public were first treated to a clear sign that a notable talent was emerging. The underground anthem "Magical Rainbow" showed a fondness for "happy" hardcore, whilst always being counterbalanced with epic and darker material such as "Save Our Souls".
Having already mixed a commercially released album with "WOW What a Rush 10" Darwin also turned in a mix on the critically acclaimed "Hardcore Underground" with "WOW 11" released at the same time.
A "core" RFU Recordingz and Notorious Vinyl artist, with forthcoming releases on Kaotik (sharkeys label), Nu Energy (kevin energy), Thin 'n' Crispy (Robbie long), and many others, Darwin is pushing through into the wider dance mainstream conciousness without in any way compromising his underground sensibilities and range. Now a DDR artist, you will start to hear Darwin in a whole new light.
12.) DDT - DDT, from the UK, has been producing for 17 years. Being a long term retro computer game fan has led him to writing computer game music for the like's of Konami and more. His numerous drum & bass and breakbeat release's in the UK show his underground edge as well.
13.) Tommie Sunshine - Influenced by equal parts of New Wave, Rock&Roll, and House music, American rave legend and Brooklyn, NY resident Tommie Sunshine is raising the bar. Covering ground as artist, remixer, producer, taste-maker, DJ, and songwriter and traveling the globe with his legendary DJ sets it won't be long before there will be, at least a little, Tommie Sunshine in your life.
As an established remixer, Tommie has been requested to retouch work from a diverse list that includes the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, Good Charlotte, Scissor Sisters, The Gossip, Fallout Boy, The Killers, Yoko Ono, Junkie XL, Panic! At The Disco, Shiny Toy Guns and Avril Lavigne. In 2006, Tommie released 'Systematic Sessions Vol. 2 - Tommie Sunshine & Marc Romboy' in Germany, followed in 2007 by the Australian gold selling 'One Love Vol. 5: Your Disco Will Eat You' and the American release of 'Tommie Sunshine presents Ultra Rock Remixed' his double CD chock full of his remix and original production work, past and present.
14.) Justin - One half of our MC team, Justin's style and flow help create DDR X's unique atmosphere! Here's what his fellow band-mates have to say about him:
Aquarius - Was found by other future Ozo members playing djembe in Disneyland's Lion King Parade. We realized his many handed styles were just too mucho good for Mickey Mouse. Has the uncanny ability to excel in whatever he does (except skateboarding!)
Did you know:
1. Justin's father was the musical director for
the Sonny and Cher television show.
2. His aunt Anita co-wrote the hit R&B songs,
"You Got Me Going in Circles" and "Keep on
Truckin'"
3. He injured his Achilles tendon trying to ollie
off the stage at Pomona's Glasshouse Club.
First Performance:
6th Grade flute interpretation of "Mary Had a
Little Lamb". Lucky for us he got bored and decided
to beat skins and hit things with sticks.
Career Highlight:
Summer camp in 1984 at Pan-Pacific Park.
Expertly assumed the role of the Kangol Kid in
a re-creation of the body rock classic, "The Real
Roxanne".
15.) Wil-Dog - One half of our MC team, Wil-Dog brings his humor and groove to the DDR dance floor. We think he's the tops, but don't take our word for it. Here's what his fellow band-mates have to say about him:
Pisces - Wanted to be in Ozomatli since the day he was born. Had to play in a number of sub par and just straight corny groups before he realized it.
Did You Know:
1. He played with Macy Gray right up until the
time she became famous. Coincidence? We
think not!
2. He attended Hamilton High School's prestigious
music academy with current and past Ozo
members Asdru Sierra, founding drummer Anton
Morales, and one time John Coltrane prodigy
and uniquely energetic saxophonist Jose
"crunchy" Espinoza.
First Performance:
Occurred at USC's world famous Bovard Theatre
at the ripe age of 10. He performed master
interpretations of numerous ethnic dances from
Africa, the Ukraine, Mexico's traditional hat dance
and los machetes. His specialty: the Hungarian
Boot Dance.
Career Highlight:
Break dancing at LA's Hip Hop mecca Radiotron
to Ice-T's live interpretation of Reckless. Ice was
wearing the requisite MC apparel of the pre-gangster
rap era. Creepers, fitted MC Hammer style balloon
pants with a mustard tint, rayon buttoned shirt, all
the while rockin' a flat top with mullet greased
down with TCB for a little extra flare.
A Special Message from the DDR X MC's
Being the voice of the brand new DanceDance Revolution game has been a dream come true for us.
We remember the very first time we traveled to Tokyo 8 years ago. We set foot in Shibuya and saw tons of kids in the arcade, dancing their hearts out on the DDR video game. We were totally floored and the one thing more memorable than the actual dancing and dedication of the kids was the voice- over in the game. You could hear the game down the street because there were about 10 kids playing at the same time. We thought it was the coolest invention in the world! Where else could you get your cardio workout in, get toned, have fun, listen to some sweet tunes, and have somebody encourage you to dance harder? Every home should come standard with a DanceDanceRevolution video game. Move over Richard Simmons!
Being voice announcers for the game is a lot harder than it looks. We thought we could walk in, do a couple takes and jam right out of there. Wronggg!!! It's like acting without a camera. You have to make each line have it's own unique character and make sure you don't blow out your voice. There are hundreds of lines to say over and over and you must stay well hydrated, focused and energetic. It was a lot of work but it was so much fun and hopefully we will be able to announce for another game someday. Hmmmmmm???
Now that we got the hang of it, maybe we can be like the guy that does the movie trailer voice- overs? He's our idol!
- Wil-Dog and Justin from Ozomatli
Here is your chance to discuss this artist information before the game comes out!
