Steve Bug
"Time Flies"
Location: Berlin
Website: http://myspace.com/buginmyspace
Bio: Germany‘s very own taste-maker, trend-setter, mover-shaker extraordinaire Steve Bug is a multi-faceted artist who refuses to back down from the limelight. A dedicated, energetic and ... (more)
constantly surprising talent, Steve is nothing less than an electronic music ambassador, a much-loved spokesman to thevpeople, and for good reason.
"Growing Up" in Germany‘s techno and acid-house heyday, Steve Bug‘s love for a perfect groove is as apparent now as it was back then. From the very early days DJjing in Bremen and Hamburg it was clear there was a strong talent waiting to be nurtured. With a bit of encouragement from Superstition‘s Tobias Lampe, Steve‘s very first productions were released in 1993 and his musical story began. Besides this his DJ skills and keen, innovative, ear led him not down the typical path of the early nineties trance and harder dance scene, but towards a fresher, hybrid sound merging stripped deep house, tweaked out acid and more minimal forms of techno.
The result was the first ‚wave‘ for Steve, as his Raw Elements label, debut album "Volksworld", and the classic compilation "Da Minimal Funk" lifted his sound and his name through the ranks. Further compilations and singles followed, as did the growth of the Raw Elements label alongside artists like Vincenzo, Märtini Brös and more, continually surprising and re-inventing the template for the genre.
In 1999 Steve broke yet more boundaries with the launch of Poker Flat Recordings, and his classic "Loverboy". Introducing a darker, yet totally funky and grooving sound, this minimal club hit opened Steve‘s eyes to new territories and new possibilities. Needless to say the Poker Flat imprint still runs strong today, over a decade since its inception, and Steve now stands as a figure head for the hugely popular "minimal-tech-house" sound that the label pioneered. His first album for Poker Flat, entitled "The Other Day", stands as a testament to this futuristic, melting pot of sounds and ideas, where musical diversity and experimentation meet soothing night-time dubs and dancefloor workouts!
As musical partners to the Poker Flat sound, his labels Dessous and later Audiomatique evolved - Dessous catering for more classic deep-house sounds fused with cutting edge production from top artists, while Audiomatique, standing for a very modern house and techno sound, allowed even crazier moments to be explored - and so all corners of his love for the 4/4 beat were expressed, presented in the upmost quality. Countless productions, remixes and one-off studio sessions with key producers ensued, all carrying the Bug‘s name further afield, and higher up the musical ladder. Notable offshoots from his main focus of work were the now classic "B-Series" and until-recently secret "Traffic Signs" projects, which explored different musical paths to great effect, yet still carried with it the unmistakable quality he‘s become known for.
The essential ‚Bugnology‘ mix series (now in its third installment), along with high profile mix cds for Cocoon, Fabric, Fuse and more, continued to rouse support for Bug‘s much in-demand DJ style, and propelled him further across the globe, touring far and wide. All the while his by now trademark studio sound continued to earn him credit, with his next album "Sensual" and singles like "The Smackman EP", "Wet‘n‘Dry", "A World WithoutCru Sauvage" and "Silicon Ballet" with Clé, all upping the ante.
The past season has also been a typically busy one, compiling the compilations "Dead Man‘s Hand", and the 10 year anniversary compilation "All In!" for Poker Flat, as well as an exclusive digital album celebrating "Time Flies -The Best of Steve Bug 1998-2008". Excitingly, his latest artist album "Collaboratory" is set to drop in June 09, featuring a beautiful mixture of original tracks, seeing Steve work with some of his favourite producers and closest friends, from Clé to Cassy, Donnacha Costello to Simon Flower and more! Watch out for news on this and Steve‘s other activities as we approach what‘s set to be another non-stop summer in Bug town!
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