DJ Fresh is a true pioneer of electronic music. At the top of his game and a global reputation built up across a career of almost a quarter of a century.
The British artist has been at the forefront of the mainstream resurgence of dance music and touring worldwide.
Selling millions of records, notching up a brace of number one singles – “Louder” and “Hot Right Now” – the UK’s first dubstep and drum n bass chart toppers – plus eight top ten singles.
His three hit albums are: Escape from Planet Monday (2006), Kryptonite (2010) and Nextlevelism (2012), and DJ Fresh has contributed to film scores too.
Stunning Stats…
The DJ Fresh YouTube channel has been viewed a stunning 157+ million times. His talents have attracted collaborations with stars such as Rita Ora, Dizzee Rascal, Ms. Dynamite, Sigala, Ella Eyre, Rizzle Kicks, Professor Green, Liam Bailey, Sigma, Diplo, The Fray, Ellie Goulding, Craig David and many more.
But it all came to a shuddering halt in 2016 when Daniel Edward Stein, aka DJ Fresh was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. But after intensive treatment and recovery, he had beaten the disease in 2017.
But his health shock had given him time to take stock of his life and career and to decide what was important to him, and how to stay healthy and get that work/life balance spot on.
So music went on the back burner and he trained in a new career, as a software developer – and he is now a Machine Learning Developer at a leading education research company in Oxford, where his work has helped to win innovation awards.
But music still in his blood, come 2019, 42-year-old Daniel was back in the studio to record a new single, “Drive” which has just dropped on the Ministry of Sound label.
The song was inspired by the time he spent undergoing radiotherapy sessions during his cancer treatment.
During these sessions he was held in isolation and felt an overwhelming feeling of being “trapped” behind lead doors due to radiation. This formed the idea of a song about wanting to escape from his environment and a yearning to feel a sense of freedom.
The uplifting drum n bass influenced track with a super duper cool vocal by Davo Olatunji (aka Dyo and formerly Ms. D) who co-wrote the track with Dan. She’s got chops!
Check out this sizzling 28-year-old London-based r&b singer, who has collaborated with Wiley, Chipmunk, Iggy Azalea, NEIKED and more, and is a hit songwriter. The track has a lovely hook and it feels like a celebration, even though its origins stem from a much darker place.
Back To The Top…
It is pretty much trademark DJ Fresh in sound, and a cracking commercial but credible cut – no valid reason why this should not propel DJ Fresh back to the top and in demand as a producer, songwriter and hot shot artist again, after his four year hiatus. Classy stuff.
A talent spotter too, Fresh signed acts such as Pendulum and Chase and Status to his own record label, Breakbeat Kaos.
On “Drive”, DJ Fresh is well and truly back and with his choice of vocalist and co-writer, it’s a dream team and we hope they do more together. Soon!
Listen to the track here, via the official lyric video………………and then scroll down to see DJ Fresh’s “Track Record” – the songs, albums and artists he chooses as his favourites and part of the soundtrack to his life… He reveals his “Guilty Secret” track too; you’ll never guess!
DJ FRESH “TRACK RECORD”:
1. First song you can remember hearing as a child?
Flight of the Bumblebee by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
2. First single that you owned?
Stone Roses: Waterfall.
3. First LP/album that you owned?
Jean Michelle Jarre: Equinox.
4. First CD that you owned?
An early jungle compilation called Darkness & Light.
5. Last music you bought and in what format (CD/vinyl/digital download)?
A track by Annix, if we are talking streams. Purchase-wise would probably have been one of my own singles!
6. Which album would be on your wish list as a birthday or Christmas gift?
I don’t really listen to albums anymore. I guess, the contents of my D&B 101 playlist!
7. Absolute favourite ever album?
The Cure: Mixed Up.
8. Best record ever made (can be single/album/EP)?
Led Zeppelin: (any).
9. Guilty secret in your music collection?
The Four Tops: Loco in Acapulco. Gets me through the darker days!
10. What does music mean to you and how does it make you feel?
Music means exploration, and for me it’s my emotional outlet. It is how I share my emotions with the world. Mostly, my happy emotions.
11. What one song or album is a guaranteed mood booster?
The Future Sound of London: Papua New Guinea.
12. Which song or album would be the soundtrack to a film about your life?
A song by Fleet Foxes called Helplessness Blues.
13. Your favourite driving track – or music to exercise-to?
Whatever track I’m working on that week!
14. Best song or album for a romantic moment?
No music at all!
15. What song was played for the “First Dance” at your wedding (if married) or which song would you choose if you did get married?
Louis Armstrong: Wonderful World.
16. Your choice of song to sing at karaoke?
Oasis: Wonderwall.
17. Which song takes you back to your childhood?
Top Buzz: Living in Darkness.
18. All-time favourite band?
The Prodigy.
A song called Champion, that’s never been released. I wrote it for a film score, but we ended up using a different track.
