Gridlok
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gridlok | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Origin | San Francisco, USA |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Genres | Drum and bass Neurofunk |
| Labels | Gain Project 51 Audio Blueprint Violence Recordings Technorganic Recordings Virus Recordings |
Contents |
[edit] Music career
Ryan Powell, also known as Gridlok, is a drum and bass producer and DJ who got his start in Central Florida's Tampa Bay area, USA where he grew up. Currently Based in San Francisco, USA
His tracks have been played live and on the radio from DJ's like Andy C and Bailey. He has had the opportunity to play his music as a DJ on many stages world wide. Raised in The sunshine state of Florida and trained as a classical violinist, Gridlok soon found himself edging away from the constraints of a traditional musical education. He began picking up other instruments, familiarizing himself with methods and techniques outside of the cloistered world of classical music. In his early teens, he began his first experiments with primitive recording gear, using a four track tape recorder, a drum machine and a Radio Shack microphone. Taken in by the possibility of being able to theoretically translate any musical idea into a recording, he found himself drifting further away from traditional music and further into the seemingly limitless possibilities of electronic music production.
[edit] The only constant is change
Its no accident then that after his early musical training and experimentation with electronic-influenced rock projects, Gridlok would find himself drawn toward dance musics most dynamic and diverse element: D&B. Inspired to to take action, Gridlok would help to create the record label Technorganic Recordings that would host his first twelve inch releases; This is also where he met DJ Dread,Mr. Mendez,and DJ Element & DJ Redcoat (DJ Element, DJ Redcoat and Gridlok were the original members of a group called Project 51) After a string of singles on his own imprint, other labels including Zero-G, Audio Blueprint, and Sudden Def began to feature his music. It was during this first creative push that he founded his new label, Project Fifty-One, that would go on to play a major role in his future.
One of Gridlok's notable tracks was "Heatwave" on Violence Recordings. This single was only the first of many critical and commercial releases on a string of respected labels. Remixing artists such as Josh Wink for Dieselboy's Project Human release and The Usual Suspects for Renegade Hardware focused his skills for what would be his most important project to date, reworking Ed Rush & Optical's Compound. Being the first and only US artist on Virus Recordings carries great responsibility. Gridlok's remix went on to be well received by the Drum and Bass community.
2005 marked another important step in Gridloks growth as an artist as he released his first album along with Hive, Keaton & Echo entitled Welcome To Violence. Showcasing diverse influences.After this well-publicized release, Gridlok got back to the studio to work on his first double pack release on P51(The 5 On 1 EP) which included his second collaboration with Dom that year and work with Silver, Optiv, Rymetyme & Echo. Around that same time, Gridlok released a single on Hive's Violence Recordings, "Hard As Fuck/5th Dimension" and also remixing Mampi Swifts Trippin for charge recordings, and teaming up with Hive to rework Calyx Are You Ready for Moving Shadow were other notable points in an already highly productive year.
[edit] Present and Future
Catching up to the recent past, 2006 shaped up to be a massive year for Gridlok. For Dieselboy's latest CD project, "The Human Resource", Gridlok was enlisted to rework Tech Itch & DSL's "Atlantic State" and the massive "Fundamental" by electronic music pioneer DJ Sasha. Also making a monumental impact was Gridlok's collaboration with Hive, D-Bridge, Break, and Silent Witness on Violence Recordings. "Standing Room Only" is featured on Andy C's latest mix CD, "Nightlife 3", and continues to be one of the most popular songs of the year. Other successful projects including a remix of the anthem "Squash" by Total Science and his music being licensed to Konami's smash hit video game "Dance Dance Revolution" have paved the way for his future projects.
In September 2006, Gridlok released his first artist album, entitled "Break The System". This effort was released via 3 piece vinyl and double CD on his own Project Fifty-One label, and features original music spanning the breadth of his vision for Drum & Bass.[1]
