| DāM-FunK | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Damon G. Riddick |
| Also known as | D-F, Gemini Twin ♊ |
| Origin | Pasadena, California |
| Genres | Modern Funk Electro Boogie |
| Occupations | Musician, Producer, DJ/Selector, Keyboardist, Drummer, Vocalist & Founder of: Funkmosphere |
| Years active | 1988-present |
| Labels | Stones Throw, Scion A/V, Glydezone Recordings, Funkmosphere Recordings |
| Associated acts | Master Blazter, Nite Jewel, Steve Arrington, Peanut Butter Wolf, Computer Jay, MC Eiht, Westside Connection, Leon Sylvers III |
| Website | Record Label: Stones Throw Records |
Contents |
DāM-FunK (born Damon G. Riddick) is an American Modern-Funk musician, DJ, keyboardist, vocalist and producer raised in Pasadena, California.
In 2007, Damon bka DāM-FunK was (after many years of private bedroom cassette tape recording, a brief apprenticeship under S.O.L.A.R. producer Leon Sylvers III, various 'west-coast rap' artist based keyboard session work and a number of character testing 'honest day jobs') signed to the L.A. based record label Stones Throw Records.
Signing to the respected label came upon DāM being provided a go (by label head Peanut Butter Wolf) at remixing fellow Stones Throw recording artist Baron Zen's: "Burn Rubber" (which appeared on his album "At The Mall: Remixes" and simultaneously released as a 12" on it's own, b/w James Pant's remix of Baron Zen's "Gotta Get Ridda Rick") after Wolf heard various compositions produced and created by DāM via MySpace.
In a short period of time, DāM-FunK's "Burn Rubber" (remix) became an underground 'international' club-circuit favorite among DJ's, tastemakers and progressive listeners, that provided a glimpse into the Modern-Funk style 'on the horizon' from DāM, which he had quietly been cultivating (without compromise) for many years beforehand.
In 2008, he then recorded two 12" maxi singles for the Stones Throw label titled: (1) "Burgundy City" b/w "Galactic Fun" & (2) "Let's Take Off (Far Away)" & "LAtrifying" b/w "KillDat" & "Hood Pass Intact" and an EP titled: Rhythm Trax Vol. IV.
In 2009, he debuted his five LPs (vinyl) of new material, which were then edited and released in CD format, both as Toeachizown late in the year on Stones Throw Records. In 2010, Peanut Butter Wolf (Stones Throw Record label owner and executive producer) compiled recordings from DāM's 'unreleased material' younger days (1988-1992) into 'Adolescent Funk'.
In and around his 2009 full length debut, DāM-FunK expanded his reach beyond the borders of the L.A. underground music scene by having his music played by worldwide known radio DJ's such as Benji B, Garth Trinidad, Mary Anne Hobbs, Gilles Peterson and many others on their respective broadcast.
In between his 'full length' 5 record box set/double CD debut "Toeachizown" and his 'early works' release of "Adolescent Funk" (after introductory 12" and EP releases for Stones Throw) DāM worked on many 'official remixes' by a variety of artist associated with many music genres: Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Nite Jewel (whom he works with collaboratively, on occasion, under the name: 'Nite-Funk'), Cubic Zirconia, RED aka 'The Man Without The Machine', Lil' Scrappy, Peaking Lights and Animal Collective, among others. DāM also, further, contributed vocals and/or vocoder to Manchester based artist: Trus'me and Glasgow based artist: Hudson Mohawke.
Within it all, he even managed to recorded a one off 'remake' of The Human League 1981 classic: "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of" with a coinciding video to match. Meanwhile, continuing to tour 'solo' via his unique DJ/selector 'live' sets.
Around this same time, DāM performed a record '15 shows' at the annual SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas.
Later in 2010, DāM recorded music with one of his life long heroes in Funk: Steve Arrington (formerly of the group: SLAVE). A maxi single titled "Goin' Hard" was released on Stones Throw Records and was produced by Steve (handling all vocals) and DāM (handling all music) collaboratively.
At the end of 2010, DāM went back into the studio and recorded another 'maxi single' on vinyl and digital formats that was released via Stones Throw, which featured 'new versions' of "Hood Pass Intact" (with DāM adding vocals to the existing instrumental and now, featuring MC Eiht guest MC'ing) and "KillDat", now dubbed "4 My Homies" (featuring Steve Arrington on vocals with alternate lyrics). This bonus single also featured the 'non-album' track "How Will It Be Between U & Me" (co-produced by: JT Donaldson & Tim K.) and an 'instrumental re-edit' of the "Toeachizown" album track: "Come On Outside" (re-worked by Devonwho).
In the fall of 2011 (while continuing to record free 'downloadable mixes' and dropping free 'demo tracks' via his Twitter and SoundCloud accounts) DāM-FunK released a limited 'free to the public' project (now available on iTunes and other digital outlets) on Scion/AV titled: "InnaFocusedDaze". It was an EP release, comprising of four compositions recorded at his home in the early summer months of 2011, which was pressed on CD as well as 10" vinyl.
Throughout 2010 and 2011 (coinciding with his 'official' music releases) DāM-FunK toured the world two times over with his then newly (formed at HVW8 Art Gallery in L.A.) band named: Master Blazter, which was composed of Computer Jay aka Jason Taylor on keyboards and (the late) J-1 aka Jovan Coleman on drums.
DāM's third 'official full length' release via Stones Throw Records is 'scheduled' for an April, 2012 release with a new tour and stage experience to coincide.
For more see: Complete DāM-FunK discography at Discogs
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