Dâm-Funk

Damon Garrett Riddick (born June 15, 1971), better known by his stage name Dâm-Funk (often stylized as DāM-FunK, pronounced "Dame-Funk"), is an American modern-funk musician, vocalist and producer from Pasadena, California. In 2007, after years of struggling to begin a musical career and a brief apprenticeship under S.O.L.A.R. producer Leon Sylvers III,^[1] Dâm-Funk signed with the L.A.-based record label Stones Throw Records.

Career

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 its own, b/w James Pants' 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 remix "Burn Rubber" became an underground 'international' favorite. In 2008, he then recorded two 12" maxi singles for Stones Throw 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 five LPs (vinyl) of new material, which were then edited and released in CD format, both as Toeachizown. In 2010, Peanut Butter Wolf (Stones Throw Record's owner) compiled recordings from DāM's 'unreleased material' younger days (1988–1992) into Adolescent Funk.

At around 2009, his music began to be played by radio DJ's such as Benji B, Garth Trinidad, Mary Anne Hobbs, Gilles Peterson and many others on their respective broadcasts.

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 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 lifelong heroes, 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 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 was scheduled for an April 2012 release with a new tour and stage experience to coincide.

Critical reception

DāM-FunK has been reviewed in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, and SFWeekly.^[2][3][4]

Related facts

• DāM-FunK is also founder of Funkmosphere an internationally known 'weekly' Monday night party in the west Los Angeles area of Culver City, California (inside Carbon Bar & Lounge) that focuses on Funk music (and its associated subgenres: Boogie, Modern-Soul, Post-Disco, Deep-House and Modern-Funk) spun on vinyl, mainly from the era's of 1979–1987, to the present. 'Funkmosphere' was founded in July 2006.
• DāM-FunK has shared the stage/performed with and/or played on the same bill with many great artists, just over the past few years: Todd Rundgren, Ariel Pink, Steve Arrington, DJ QUIK, Nite Jewel, INC (formerly: Teen INC.), Animal Collective, Panda Bear, Jody Watley, Mayer Hawthorne, PBW, Snoop Dogg, Warren G., MC Eiht, De La Soul, Madlib, Flying Lotus, The Gaslamp Killer, J.Rocc, James Pants, Moodymann, Ron Trent, Taz Arnold (of SA-RA), Soopafly, DAZ & Kurupt, Terrace Martin, Etta James, Erykah Badu, The Egyptian Lover, Juan Atkins, P-Funk All Stars, The Stone City Band, and Funk legend Junie Morrison (formerly of Ohio Players & P-Funk).
• DāM-FunK is currently based in the community of Ladera Heights (West Los Angeles), California.
• DāM-FunK released two drum machines called Dam-Drum and Dam-Drum 2 built by Bleep Labs.^[5]
• DāM-FunK has hinted on social media that he may change his stage name to 'Damn Funk' as so many people mispronounce it.

Partial discography

Solo albums

• Rhythm Trax Vol. 4 (Stones Throw, 2009)^[6]
• Toeachizown (Stones Throw, 2009)
• Invite the Light (Stones Throw, 2015)^[7]

Collaborative albums

• Higher (with Steve Arrington) (Stones Throw, 2013)^[8]
• 7 Days of Funk (with Snoopzilla as 7 Days of Funk) (Stones Throw, 2013)

Extended plays

• LA Series #7 (with Computer Jay) (All City Dublin, 2010)^[9]
• InnaFocusedDaze (Scion/AV, 2011)^[10]
• I Don't Wanna Be A Star! (Stones Throw, 2012)^[11]
• STFU (Stones Throw, 2015)

Compilation albums

• Adolescent Funk (Stones Throw, 2010)^[12]
• California (Welcome to Los Santos, 2015)^[13]

Singles

• "Burgundy City" (Stones Throw, 2008)^[14]
• "Japan Groove" (Stones Throw, 2009)^[15]
• "It's My Life" (Circle Star, 2009)^[16]
• "Let's Take Off (Far Away)" (Stones Throw, 2009)^[17]
• "Hood Pass Intact" (Stones Throw, 2010)^[18]
• "What's on Your Mind" (Tony Cook featuring Dâm-Funk) (Stones Throw, 2010)^[19]
• "Faden Away" (Stones Throw, 2013) (with Snoopzilla as 7 Days of Funk)

References

External links

• DāM-FunK at Discogs
• Review, Allmusic
• Interview in The FADER Magazine :: DāM-FunK cover feature, circa. 2009
• Review, Dusted Magazine
• Review, Pitchfork Media
• Review, Prefix Magazine
• Review, XLR8R
• Concert Review, New York Times