In this world of ever-evolving genres, sounds and trends, the word phenomenon is rarely if ever used, unless of course you are the hottest talent in the world of electronic music and your name is deadmau5.
His sound transcends various genres of music, flirting with techno and minimal whilst hinting at tech house, trance and electro, and a glance at the names supporting his unique sound testifies to this fact. Sasha, John Digweed, Tiesto, Carl Cox, Dubfire, Eric Prydz, David Guetta, Sander Kleinenberg, Erick Morillo, Laurent Garnier — the list goes on and on.
There is now the concept of his new live show. Operating off Ableton Live, and incorporating hi-tech controllers like Lemur, Monome, and visual effects, this full live stage show is changing the face of live DJ performance as we know it. And there is the tailor made giant Mau5head complete with powerful strobe-lighting eyes that get his fans in a frenzy during his spellbinding sets.
The current world tour — sponsored by Beatport and Puma — is already becoming one of the year’s biggest success stories.
And then, of course, there is the music. In less than 16 months, the Canada-based whiz kid has gone from near obscurity to becoming the number-one selling artist on Beatport and the most in demand producer on the face of the planet.
His Mau5trap label has sold over 72,000 units on Beatport since its inception in July 2007, with over 110 licenses, three computer game syncs and 12 exclusives, and vinyl sales that have topped 22,000. Not Exactly hit the Beatport top spot for six weeks, and still retains its status at the biggest ever-selling release on the site, while his productions have hit the Beatport No. 1 slot on no less than 13 occasions.
His productions are a regular feature with Pete Tong on the Essential Selection show with Hi Friend, Brazil and I Remember going on to become huge hits, while his remix of Energy 52’s Café Del Mar on AATW has become one of the biggest remixes of the year.
He is no stranger to awards, either. He received the accolade of Producer Of The Year, with record votes by the top 100 DJs at the DJ Mag Awards, beating various deck supremos to the top spot. This was followed by no less than four category wins at the Beatport 2008 Awards, a Canadian Juno Award, and Best Electro DJ at the Ibiza 2008 awards.
His recent “Radio 1 Essential Mix” release was one of the most popular in its history, whilst his debut artist album on Ministry Of Sound is fast becoming one of their biggest-selling albums to date.
In every sense of the word, the past year has been nothing short of phenomenal for deadmau5, and yet impossible as it may seem, things are set to be even bigger.
You will definitely recognize him from his famous tracks: Catbread, Brazil, Xmas Biiyaattchh, Creep, Slip, Senses and the Mind, Raw Chicken, Complications, Some Kind of Blue, Sometimes Things Get, Whatever… and on and on.
Deadmau5 is the hottest kid in electronica music right now, and this is one DJ to watch for as he is still up and coming.
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