@ Vessel 85 Campton Plc Union Square, SF
Deep Blue, BASE Italy Underground, and Christian join forces to bring you two huge DJs together in one roof. Dont take Satoshi Tomiie lightly, this guy has three Renaissance and one Global Underground compilations under his belt.
** RSVP for FREE b4 10:30pm and $10 after guestlist rooz (at) djrooz (dot) com
** OPEN VODKA BAR 9:30-10:30, basically any drink with Vodka in it is free till 10:30pm!
Satoshi Tomiie:
It all started when a Japanese cosmetic company asked Satoshi to produce a track for their forthcoming promo parties where the legendary DJ Frankie Knuckles was performing. Knuckles saw the potential in Satoshi's music and asked if he was interested in collaborating. The final result of their partnership was "Tears", a defining moment in vocal house and a song now commonly regarded as an all time classic. Satoshi soon took the leap and moved to New York. Since his seminal hit "Tears" back in 1989, he has gone on to become a major part of the acclaimed Def Mix crew. Satoshi also has remixed and worked with the likes of Photek, Kosheen, Simply Red, David Bowie, U2 and Mariah Carey, just to name a few. Receiving the highest honor as a DJ, in 2001 Satoshi Tomiie was voted by the public into the #30 spot of the World's Top 100 DJ List and Best Tech House DJ Ibiza DJ Award. Satoshi is also finding International recognition now as a label owner besides his proven talents as a DJ and producer.
Satoshi soon took the leap and moved to New York. Since his seminal hit "Tears" back in 1989, he has gone on to become a major part of the acclaimed Def Mix crew. Although Satoshi's beginnings were based on his musicianship as a classically trained musician, he used his talents in the early years of his career to write, program and produce some of the biggest classic house records of our time. Satoshi also has remixed and worked with the likes of Photek, Kosheen, Simply Red, David Bowie, U2 and Mariah Carey, just to name a few. Satoshi's debut solo album was 2000s massive Full Lick. The album featured the outstanding Satoshi anthem 'Love In Traffic' with Kelli Ali (ex-Sneaker Pimps) on vocals. The track was picked up by John Digweed for his Global Underground mix and remains a progressive classic to this day. The album also included 'Darkness' featuring veteran house vocalist Robert Owens, and 'Inspired' featuring Diane Charlamagne. In 2001, Satoshi Tomiie launched his own label "SAW.RECORDINGS". It was Satoshi's desire to create a platform from which he would be able to showcase ideas and creativity that are more experimental. SAW's first single release "Paranoize" by Bipath (A collaboration work with Stephane K.) caused major excitement from DJ's worldwide. If SAW.RECORDINGS is an example of the direction that Satoshi is heading in, he is acknowledging the changes in the dance music scene, thus shifting what House music is. House music never stops evolving and expanding its borders and Satoshi Tomiie is in the forefront of this movement. Satoshi's Saw Recordings label has carved out a niche and has earned a formidable reputation for credible club grooves. Taking its name from a sound wave, the company has to date unleashed over 60 singles along with 4 albums including Chab's sublime variety of rock, electro and house tracks, SLOK, Guy Gerber, Audiofly X, Jim Rivers, Nick Chacona, Nathan Fake, Lexicon Avenue and Satoshi's own mix compilations ES and ES-B. When Satoshi was invited by compilation kings Global Underground to contribute a mix to their NuBreed series, it was a great honor.
Satoshi is the first American based DJ to be asked to record a NuBreed album which is known for only working with the leading cutting edge DJ's. Satoshi's album remains the fastest and highest selling NuBreed to date. Receiving the highest honor as a DJ, in 2001 Satoshi Tomiie was voted by the public into the 30 spot of the World's Top 100 DJ List and Best Tech House DJ Ibiza DJ Award. Satoshi is also finding International recognition now as a Label owner besides his proven talents as a DJ, Producer / Artist and Musician. The last few years have been all about DJing for Satoshi. This Japanese New Yorker has been virtually everywhere you can think of in recent years, in March 05 Tomiie was also voted Americas ..15 favorite DJ in the world by the premier Electronic magazine BPM. He only spins in his home city (Tokyo) every six months or so; the rest of the time he's traveling, using the Big Apple as a second home which also serves as a handy midpoint between Asia, South America and Europe - where a lot of his gigs are. In 2006, Satoshi was chosen to mix the first album of Renaissance's new series 3D. The 3 CD series will include the following discs: Club, Home, and Studio. This is a step above any ordinary compilation as it will offer a 3-dimensional view into Satoshi's musical life spread across the three discs. The 'Club' disc will be a straight-up reflection of the sets he is currently playing in clubs. Disc 2 'Studio' disc will feature a selection of his original productions and remixes. Disc 3 will be 'Home', a selection of tracks; mixed or unmixed that Satoshi listens to in his downtime and tracks that has influenced him over the years. Following up with the releasing of successful 'Masters' series on Renaissance and releasing of his own singles 'Glow' in 2007 as well as 'Solar Wind' in 2008 on SAW.RECORDINGS, Satoshi is now preparing another album planned to be released late 2008 for Renaissance. The collaboration with Audiofly, Opus Ink's 2nd single is also in the pipeline. Although Satoshi is quiet and unassuming; he gets on with the job of playing and producing quality underground dance music.
HECTOR ROMERO:
When I asked him the perennial question journalists ask DJ’s about
their style, Hector Romero replied: “I play the best of all genres of
dance music.” Quite the dibs, but Hector’s got the credentials to back
it up.
2006 begins with Hector Romero’s first international mix CD release, “Pacha Winter Sessions”. The double CD hits the streets Jan ’06 in many countries around the world. It includes Hector Romero on Disc one and Spain’s Juan Diaz on Disc two. "When I was originally asked by Danny Whittle at Pacha Ibiza to mix Disc one of the Pacha Winter album I felt flattered and honored.” An honor that is helping to solidify, Romero’s international persona, and opening doors into new countries like Morocco and Switzerland with a full world tour in the stars for this year.
In 2000, Romero became the fourth wheel to the Def Mix triumvirate; alluding to the completion of a set for one of the most acclaimed DJ rosters in existence. Being the youngest of the crew, Hector brings a fresh take on house music to the company. Romero elaborates: “They respect me for my energy and for being different from everyone else. I bring a different flavor to the company.
Since his beginnings as thirteen-year-old DJ wunderkind “Baby Hec” Romero back in 1983, a growing reputation landed him at La Mirage, the hottest uptown Latin club at the time. As the New York City house music renaissance ensued, Hector found himself at the helm of legendary dance floors Save the Robots, The Red Zone (where he met David Morales), Palladium and Roxy. Hector admits “I have not stopped DJ’ing once in my career.”
Hector has worked as an employee for Def Mix for ten years. He has proven to be quite the workhorse, keeping his finger quick on the pulse of the company’s daily business operations. Known for their house clout, Def Mix broadened their horizons with SAW Recordings, the brainchild co-run by owner Satoshi Tomiie and partner Label Manager Hector Romero.
Known first and foremost for an innovative approach to the house sound, SAW’s output have all the crucial elements to them. Hector explains: “Everything’s got to be funky with your baseline, good vocals, catchy hooks, very important stuff that’s going to stand the test of time.” The highly touted compilation, Undulation 1 (mixed by Satoshi & Hector) saw a highly touted 2003-4 world tour.
As a crucial member of the Def Mix camp, Hector’s plan for the future is to grow as an executive for the SAW label. “Since I don’t remix or produce, being a business person Monday through Friday is my love and passion,” he expounds. Romero distinguishes the weekend as a time to take his A&R duties abroad: “I take everything we’ve signed, the music that I’ve been sent, on the road and have a good time. Just stepping it up another level and continuing to influence people.”
Whether he’s rocking it out at Pacha, Ibiza or in Greece, UK, France, Spain, Italy, USA or Canada, Hector works hard at his craft, making sure clubbers have a good time. What sets Romero apart from the rest, his ability to reach out to the masses, makes him a favorite with promoters and clubbers alike: “[Promoters] love it when people go to the gigs and smile, and have a good time with their customers. I love it. It’s work, but it’s also good fun.”
By pushing the boundaries of dance music, Hector is quickly becoming the face of the future: “Dance music is huge in Europe because that’s their culture. They grew up on dance music. But hip-hop and R&B is something they learned from us. So here in America, I’ll be fighting for it and I hope for it to grow and get bigger.”
