Nightmares on Wax

Nightmares on Wax
Nightmares on Wax
Background information
Birth name George Evelyn
Also known as DJ EASE
Origin Yorkshire, England
Genres Electronic, acid house, trip hop, downtempo, chill-out music
Occupations Musician
Years active 1988 to present
Labels Warp Records, WAX ON Records
Website www.nightmaresonwax.com
Members
George Evelyn, Robin Taylor-Firth, Chris Dawkins
Past members
Kevin Harper
Notable instruments
Keyboard

George Evelyn, better known as Nightmares on Wax and also known as DJ EASE (Experimental Sample Expert), is a DJ from Leeds, UK. His music is released on Warp Records and was one of the first releases on the label. Evelyn got his start in the music industry through an interest in hip hop and on joining a local breakdancing crew. He met Kevin Harper and together they released their first album in 1991, a techno-edged record entitled "A Word Of Science: The First And Final Chapter". This was the beginning of NoW's career. Today, Harper is a solo DJ and Evelyn is accompanied by Robin Taylor-Firth and has created a sound that is not classifiable, a "sound of the beats is what makes nightmares."[1]

It is not a coincidence that the name Nightmares on Wax is an acronym for NOW, as they describe their music as "the sound of N.O.W." to exemplify the raw honesty and artistic freedom. George elaborates, "Today’s music is inspired by whatever has gone on before. That’s what fascinates me. Soul music is the earliest form of hip hop. That’s why I want to create it. It might seem like recreating what was done in the past, but what I want to do is merge soul and hip hop together. That’s why I’ll bring in the live aspect of what happened back then into current hip hop trends. That’s the angle I’m arriving at."[2]

Contents

Early career

Before the popularity of Nightmares on Wax, George Evelyn was raised listening to soul music. His father and sister specifically led him to be influenced by Quincy Jones and Curtis Mayfield. Later, as rap music became more popular, he was fascinated by the likes of Rappers Delight and Buffalo Gals. Due to this wave of hip-hop in the 1988, DJ EASE was inspired to join a breakdance crew where he grew close to Kevin Harper, a fellow b-boy who had a similar background. They created a team today known as Nightmares on Wax. This alliance stemmed to their earliest stages of popularity, releasing their single “Dextrous” in 1990. This was the beginning of their career but what really made Wax a noteworthy presence in the musical arena was their No. 38 hit, "Aftermath." The track was an important part of the new wave of music that incorporated hip-hop with a digital break down, creating “something that identified with the b-boys. We wanted to do tracks that had hip hop beats but experimented with ideas”. This was an innovative musical sensation known as the "Northern Bleep", which combines the bleep of techno over of a hip-hop based track. This was done by many other artists, for example, The Forgemasters, LFO, and Unique 3.

In 1991, NoW released "A Word Of Science: The First And Final Chapter" in the same experimental fashion, but that was the end. The album was built in Leeds, where Evelyn complied the samples that were recorded on two sets of tapes while co-running the Headz Club. Poverty Records recorded on one set of tapes self-titled the Poverty tapes that contained the finished tracks. The other set was a record of prototype ideas titled EASE tapes. To explain his process, Evelyn described NoW’s composition strategies stating, “I just built the tracks around these ideas that I’ve had for the last four years. The only think that changed was bringing in live musicians and editing.”[1]

A change in direction

After A Word of Silence, Nightmares disappeared from the music scene for a four-year hiatus as promised in the sub title "The First and Final Chapter." Evelyn went on to run The Headz Club in Leeds. At this time, he also developed their record label, Poverty Records. He returned to the artistic side of the music industry with a track on the Mo' Wax Headz compilation.[3] The next Nightmares on Wax album release was not until Smokers Delight in 1995, by which time Harper had left to pursue a career in DJing. This is the album that truly gave token to DJ EASE's soul background, with tones similar to that of Barry White evident in the slo'mo, soulistic roots of the music. Evelyn was joined on keyboards and programming by Robin Taylor-Firth with whom he began to record more of his trademark chill-out tracks, and brought in a variety of musicians, writers, vocalists, and rappers, giving the music a greater variety as well as allowing him to take the band out on tour. This album was also known as the break through into the American market. Some critics described the album as an anthem to the use of Marijuana. "Carboot Soul" was another break though album as well as the first album to be domestically distributed through US label, Matador Records.[3] The album featured underground soul singer Sara Winton, Hamlet Luton on Bass, Chris Dawkins on guitar, and Robin Taylor-Firth on keyboards with the Pure Strings Orchestra harmonizing on strings. EASE is credited for his role in the mixing of the music as well as producer along with Glyn Poole. Bruce Wood is credited as the engineer of the album. The culmination of these musicians became known as the band called Nightmares on Wax and defined their live sound on their 1999 tour.[4]

This was a change for NoW, as they began as a DJ based group. Their new found contribution of live musicians allowed for a the group to operate more like a band than a studio act. The drum machine however, was not replaced with a live musician, remaining true to its original technology based tracks. No longer in partnership with Kevin Harper, Evelyn had the opportunity to expand and better that which he and Kevin Harper started. His strategy to do so was clear as he added the live artists, adding authenticity and validity to his work. He explains that “Doing the live side proves there is more to the music. People have something more tangible to relate the music to and it gives us the chance to connect with the audience. Also I’ve always had this idea of creating a big band – which is what we call our sound. The main priority for NOW is to prove that we can perform music. But we’re not ignoring the fact that we come from a studio, technical background. We just want to mix the old with the new. That’s why, at the moment, I don’t have a live drummer. The sound of the beats is what makes Nightmares.”

Music business

After "Carboot Soul," NoW did not release another album until 2002. In the meantime, Evelyn exchanged his artistic license for a business one and spent the next several years concentrating on establishing himself as a producer and musical consultant before returning to the creative side of the industry.

In 2000, Evelyn assisted in the comeback of hip hop pioneers De La Soul, when they appeared on the EP The Sound of N.O.W.. Although De La Soul have maintained a steady, loyal and strong fanbase since the beginning of their career some music critics have suggested that Evelyn's EP helped push them back into the public eye. That same year, Evelyn produced a Studio: K7 mixtape called DJ Kicks.

In 2005, Evelyn started his own independent record label, "WAX ON Records". Taylor-Firth followed in his fellow band mate's footsteps and also started his own label named BlancoMusic.

Return to music composition and mixing

In 2002, Evelyn reclaimed his artistic license with the release of his 4th LP under Warp Records, Mind Elevation, and came back with an even more innovative creative helmet and several years of business experience under his belt. Despite his return to the creative side of the industry, he has held a firm grasp on foundations of a business he is perpetually expanding. He continued to evolve his new label and build a network of little known artists searching for their musical identity, honesty, and freedom.

Four years later in March 2006, NoW released their 5th LP, In a Space Outta Sound again under Warp Records.[3] When addressed about the amount of time between the records, Evelyn expressed his distaste for schedules, joking that they made him break out in a rash. To keep in the spirit of network's mantra, Evelyn explains that NoW is very focused on allowing things to happen and not forcing albums into production.[5]

In 2008, NoW released their final LP under Warp titled thought so.... Shortly after in 2009, another record named Coming Home was released, this time under WAX ON Records.

Recent activity

In 2009, Nightmares on Wax toured the United States stopping in eleven cities in January and February including Boston, MA; New York, NY; Brooklyn, NY; Washington, DC; Cleveland, OH; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Portland, OR; and Seattle, WA.

DJ Ease was then nominated for DJ of the year 2010[citation needed].

Today, George Evelyn continues to expand his musical empire including both his business endeavors.

Discography

See also

References

External links


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  • Nightmares on wax — en 2006 Nightmares on Wax est le disc jockey et musicien George Evelyn, également connu sous le nom de DJ Ease, originaire de Leeds. Sa musique est une combinaison de sons électroniques et de rythmes …   Wikipédia en Français

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