By Geoffery Rowlands
Few music fans will know the name Adam Dyment. But clubbers will have often danced to the sound of Adam’s music either in the form of remixes for other artists or his own material released under the stage name of Duke Dumont.
“I started gaining recognition as a remixer in 2006,” he recalled. “I was lucky enough to be mentored by (British DJ, songwriter and producer) Switch. I learned so much from him. My first major remixes were for artists such as Mekon and Missy Elliott.”
It wasn’t long before the release of his first Duke Dumont record.
“I put out my Regality EP in the summer of 2007. That was on the Canadian label Turbo Recordings. It contained three techno tracks, When I Hear Mu’Sic, Lean & Bounce and Final Level.”
The success of this and his follow-up five-track EP, The Dominion Dubs, saw Duke rapidly ascend to major player status in dance music circles. Yet it was 2012 before the next Duke Dumont release.
“I had so much DJ and production work, plus all the remixes I was asked to do. Creating my own tracks got pushed on to the back burner. I also had a pretty massive change of lifestyle. I moved out of London to a house in the Hertfordshire countryside.”
A state-of-the-art recording studio formed part of his new home. He not only uses this to create remixes and Duke Dumont material but also to record the work of those artists signed to his own Blase Boys Club record label.
“Starting my own label seemed like the natural next step in my career. It gives me the opportunity to find and develop new talent. It’s very rewarding to work with up-and-coming artists.
“I don’t necessarily release everything on my own label. In fact, all my Duke Dumont stuff has been sub-licensed to bigger labels. They have the mechanics to promote the records far better than I could.”
He finally turned his attention back to Duke Dumont songs last year with the release of two highly acclaimed EPs. For Club Play Only Part 1 filled dance floors throughout the summer while Part 2 was released in September.
Although the EPs were massively popular with clubbers, they made little impression on the mainstream charts. But this has changed completely with Need U (100%), Duke’s first official single. The song has stormed straight to top spot in Britain.
“I licensed the track to Ministry of Sound, easily the biggest label to handle my music. It’s certainly paid dividends. I never imagined the tune would sell in such numbers.”
A departure from Duke’s normal practice was working with a vocalist, Sierra Leonean-born British singer/songwriter A*M*E.
“I usually rip acapellas to provide any vocals for my tunes but I thought a vocalist was the better option for Need U (100%). I really enjoyed working with A*M*E so I intend to use more guest vocalists in the future.”
Duke is ambiguous about the possibility of releasing an album. “I just create individual songs. If they eventually become an album then that would be fine. But my favourite albums tend to have a narrative or progression which make the songs fit together as a whole. That kind of thing is very hard to achieve with dance music so there may never be a Duke Dumont album.”
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ININ BRIEF New album from The Boxer Rebellion
London-based quartet The Boxer Rebellion release their fourth studio album, Promises, on May 13. But the video for lead single, Diamonds, can be seen now at www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKTAXkpGceQ.
Although the band’s previous albums have not proved massively successful, many of their songs have been used on film, television and video game soundtracks.
They also have influential friends securing a support act spot for The Rolling Stones’ concert in London’s Hyde Park on July 6.
Many more of the band’s videos can be accessed via www.youtube.com/user/theboxerrebellion while 15 of their songs are posted at (no www.) soundcloud.com/theboxerrebellion.
If you enjoy the music, free downloads of six songs taken from their first three albums are available in exchange for your email address at www.theboxerrebellion.com.
Tyrese documentary
Singer and actor Tyrese Gibson is giving fans the opportunity to learn more about him through a 45-minute documentary posted at www.tyreseonline.com.
A Black Rose That Grew Through Concrete chronicles Tyrese’s life from childhood to his most recent chart success with his fifth studio album, Open Invitation. All 15 songs on the Grammy nominated album are posted below the video player on Tyrese’s website.
If you enjoy his work, Tyrese’s previous two albums, I Wanna Go There and Alter Ego, can be heard in full at www.myspace.com/tyrese/music/albums.
For access to 17 song and live performance videos, visit www.youtube.com/user/TyreseVEVO.
Free download from Hillbilly Herald
Hillbilly Herald have been trumpeted as perhaps the next great Los Angeles rock band. Their latest five-song EP, Sunday’s Best, has just been released. The video for lead single, Shame On Me, is the first posting at www.youtube.com/hillbillyherald2.
Nine more of their songs can be heard at www.facebook.com/hillbillyheraldband. Click on ‘band profile’ to gain access to the music. Two videos are also posted here.
A free digital download of Greedy Me is available to those who sign up for the band’s e-mail newsletter. Submit your details at www.hillbillyherald.com.
Him Self Her rising in popularity
Him Self Her are beginning to make a serious name for themselves on the UK dance scene.
After 10 years working individually in their home city of Leicester. Leon Baggotts and Claire Spooner finally joined forces as a production duo. Their output has been released on a variety of labels while their popularity has increased with each new tune.
The duo’s latest work, the deep house Together EP, has just been released. It is available to hear at (no www.) soundcloud.com/him_self_her/sets/together-ep-eskimo-recordings.
Another 30 of Him Self Her’s own tracks and their remixes of songs by other artists can also be heard on Soundcloud. Links to these are posted on the Together EP webpage.
Four songs were originally available as free downloads though this has now been cut to two with the others reaching their download limit. However, Take It Slow can still be heard and downloaded for free from (no www.) searchfreemp3.com/download-mp3-him-self-her-take-it-slow.html while On My Mind is at (no www.) searchfreemp3.com/download-mp3-him-self-her—on-my-mind.html.
Device makes debut
Disturbed frontman David Draiman and former Filter guitarist Geno Lenardo got together last year to form the industrial metal duo Device. They have now released their eponymously titled debut album.
Recorded with the help of guest appearances by friends such as Serj Tankian, Geezer Butler, Glenn Hughes, Tom Morello, Lzzy Hale and M Shadows, the album has been almost universally acclaimed. Four tracks can be heard at (no www.) deviceband.com/.
The official video for lead single, “Vilify,” is available to view at www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K1q1pw04Bs. Audio postings for three more album tracks, Haze, Out of Line and Hunted, are also on YouTube.