Mark Rae

Mark Rae, born in Ashington, Northumberland, England, is the head of the independent production label Grand Central Music and one half of DJ and production duo Rae & Christian.

History

Grand Central and Rae & Christian

In 1987, he moved to Manchester and became manager and co-owner of Manchester's celebrated music store Fat City Records, before releasing an E.P. for Tony D on Grand Central music label, which held a place at the top of the UK’s independent music scene until 2006. During this time, Rae stacked up releases with Steve Christian under the ‘Rae & Christian’ guise, and worked with artists like the Pharcyde, Jungle Brothers, Bobby Womack and The Congos. He also co-wrote with Mr Scruff of Ninja Tune fame, and produced hundreds of remixes of artists including Jay-Z and Bob Marley. His music has been featured on TV shows that include So You Think You Can Dance (US), Sex and the City, Six Feet Under and Come Dine With Me, as well as various films.

Rae released two studio albums with Steve Christian as Rae & Christian. He also performed producing, remixing and DJing duties for a number of other artists, and occasionally co-wrote tracks with Mr. Scruff. Rae & Christian hit the festival circuit with full force and performed at some of the most prestigious events in the world such as Glastonbury, Roskilde, V Festival and Rae opened for Madonna with Texas at the Brixton Music Academy.

Rae and Christian are currently completing their 3rd studio album after a considerable hiatus. The album has contributions from Masta Ace, Jazzy Jeff and Jake Emlyn on the Hiphop side. The songs are shared with Ed Harcourt, Gita Langley, Diagrams, Kate Rogers and Mark Foster. It is scheduled for release in the first half of 2013.

Yes King Records and solo projects

Rae recorded his first proper solo record, Rae Road, in 2002. The advent of Rae's (DJ mix album) Ode To A Dying DJ (part of the Trustthedj series) saw the first music released by Rae's new partnership with Rhys Adams, under the band name ARP (standing for Adams.Rae.Productions).

Rae and Adams teamed up again for a new project - the record label, Yes King Records, and the band Yes King. The first Yes King album, Rock This World, was released in March 2008. The music blends hip hop, dancehall, ragga and skank–ska. Guest vocalists include Dawn Penn, Prezident Brown, Veba, Pete Simpson, Sweetie Irie, Kenny Knotts, Ayak Thiik, Babychan and Mystro.

In 2009, a remix album of Rae & Christian tracks Raiding the Vaults was released exclusively on iTunes. The album was noted on Rae's MySpace page as a "collaboration" between Yes King and Rae & Christian.

Currently, Rae is working on another Rae & Christian album, Yes King album and solo projects that include a book on his experience within the music industry.

Discography

Rae & Christian

• Northern Sulphuric Soul (5 October 1998)
• Blazing The Crop (DJ mix album) (20 September 1999)
• Sleepwalking (26 February 2001)
• Another Late Night: Rae & Christian (DJ mix album) (24 September 2001)
• Nocturnal Activity (Sleepwalking Remixed) (25 March 2002)
• Raiding the Vaults (remix album) (2009)

Solo

• Ordered From The Catalogue (DJ mix album composed of tracks from the Grand Central back catalogue) (7 May 2001)
• Rae Road (2 September 2002)
• Into The Depths (23 August 2004)
• Ode to a Dying DJ (DJ mix album) (4 July 2005)

Yes King

• Rock This World (5 March 2008)

External links

• Yes King Records
• Radio interview with Mark Rae, February 2009