Disk Jockeys - Gerald Belanger |
Gerald Belanger |
| Location: | Canada, Ontario, Toronto |
| Genre: | Electronic |
| Description: | Producer, DJ, label-owner and mad scientist Gerald Belanger has been active in the electronic music scene since 1990, fusing his love for experimental sounds with his passion for dance music. DJ'ing through 100's of North American and central European clubs and festivals, Belanger has been infecting audiences with a highly charged blend of futuristic drum 'n' bass and eclectic freestyle grooves, focusing heavily on exclusive Canadian vinyl + dubplates. Through his various labels and associations around the world, Belanger has been responsible for the release of over 90 records and CD's. The label he founded in 1991, DEATH OF VINYL eNTERTAINMENT (DOVe), was one of the most influential Canadian labels of the time, serving up compact discs and records of obscure musical genres such as 'Techno' and 'Ambient-Dub' to an appreciative world. DOVe released 37 titles between 91-95, providing an outlet for many international groups at the beginnings of their careers. On the international level he started 2 overseas divisions, DOV Germany (with Oli Roesch's HYPERIUM - 6 releases from 92-93) and DOV UK (with Coldcut's NINJA TUNE - 9 releases from 93-94). As 1994 rolled around Belanger began to phase out the record labels, and began focusing on nurturing and developing the local Toronto scene. He opened the city's first all electronic music shop MODULATIONS on Queen Street, and created a true alternative to the bootleg mix-tape/drug fueled rave culture dominating at the time. By 1996 he had passed the torch for the shop and his enthusiasm returned for the label. Along with close friends Christopher Drost and Heiki Sillaste, they opened up a recording facility in 1997, and Belanger has been producing albums with the KINDER ATOM crew at their NICE+SMOOTH studios in Toronto ever since. He signed a worldwide deal for 16 cd's and records through giant American label HYPNOTIC RECORDS/CAROLINE DISTRIBTUION (home to Kraftwerk, Future Sound Of London, etc..), a relationship which ended in 2001. Now completely independant, nice+Smooth ultramedia has morphed into it's own label, studio, commercial production agency, clothing line and design house, with plans in the works for an upcoming DVD series. Kinder Atom's biggest hit to date was with Grammy award winning reggae vocalist Michael Rose on the worldwide smash single "Illegal". A remix of the track which was released on Cologne label Basswerk became a massive dancefloor and radio hit in Germany, reaching number 4 on the influential Deutsche Club Charts and was deemed Single Of The Month in the popular German magazine Raveline. Kinder Atom have also worked with UK singer Musical Sniper (Oracabessa Records/UB40), as well as with Canadian rap icon Snow for the hit "Boom Boom Boogie" on Warner Brothers in Japan. On the ambient/chillout front, they have co-produced very well received albums with Vancouver's DEAD VOICES ON AIR, as well as England's RAPOON. An on-going project of Belanger's has been curating the METRO BREAKS/OSCILLATE compilations, critically acclaimed collections of Toronto produced drum'n'bass tracks. The first 2 volumes (1998,1999) went to the top of the national college radio charts and were rotated by DJ's around the globe. The high profile of these releases brought Belanger out to perform a live DJ set on international television program 'EC' 'EC' on MUCHMUSIC, which set in motion the first METRO BREAKS tours. These groundbreaking events saw Gerald and label mate DJ FREEDOM spin in over 40 clubs in six different countries, solidifying the international reputation of Toronto as a drum 'n'bass hotspot. In the summers of 2000 and 2001, DJ Gerald was performing with German freestyler MC MARVELLOUS MARVIN through Holland, Switzerland, Austria and Germany promoting the label and headlining at large clubs and street festivals such as the Basel STREET PARADE, Berlin's FUCKPARADE, and events such as POPKOMM and MIDEM. He has shared headlining spots alongside the likes of THE ORB, UNDERWORLD, BAD COMPANY, DJ KRUST and many more. 2002 saw the d&b side of his world expanding with the creation of a new label,OSCILLATE RECORDINGS, releasing 3 stellar singles as well as Belanger's 4th mix-cd. 2003 saw Belanger tour Europe again in the summer and recently performed for the first time in Japan. The nice+smooth imprint goes into overdrive beginning in 2004 with recent signing ROY DAVIS JR., and a string of new releases on the way. His weekly radio mix-show, Unfortunate Sonic Casualties on Toronto station CKLN-FM has been on the air and at the forefront of the electronic music scene since 1990, providing an outlet for the underground community to network and communicate through music and action. |
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