
No matter what alias - Jakatta, Joey Negro, Avalanche, Jupiter Beyond or one of the Hedboys - Dave Lee is undisputedly one of the roots of the British garage and house scene. And he's scheduled to charm the Bangkok crowd tonight at Q Bar.
He's one of those DJs and producers that never cease to evolve, explore and create, and enjoy working under many different names.
Lee, to date, has used many aliases that some of the fans might not recognise, including Doug Willis, Mistura, Prospect Park, Sessomatto, Akabu, when collaborating with other talents in special projects.
"To be honest with you, I'd play the same sort of steam whatever or wherever I play," Lee once revealed in an interview with About.com.
"Obviously you adjust your set slightly for different places, but I normally get billed as Joey Negro because that's the name that people have heard the most. It doesn't really matter if it's a small place - I still try. I only play records I like, but there are different records for different situations."
Since his breakthrough in 1988, with the timeless classic house track "Together Forever", a cover of Exodus' track combining disco samples with acid house.
And we started calling this hybrid disco house. This phenomenon led him to become one of the most sought-after producers and remixers at the time. In 1991 he released his first record as Joey Negro - a name which is recognised wide and large.
The first song under his most known alter ego was "Do it believe it" and was released on the US House label Nu Groove. Lee made up the name to sound like a New York Hispanic, because he thought it sounded more exotic to the English audience. And from then on, Joey Negro was born.
In 1998, Joey Negro created his first session band, known as the Sunburst Band, with Michele Chiavarini, Julian Crampton, Thomas Dyani-Akuru and Tony Remy, as well as his regular vocalist Taka Boom, sister of Chaka Khan. He recorded his first real album, "Here Comes the Sunburst Band".
With countless productions and remixes, he manages to find the best music for his compilations and DJ sets while exploring the diverse musicality and soul-satisfying projects. His notable hits include "Can't Get High Without U" which debuted at No 1 on US Dance Hits, "Saturday" with Taka Boom that reached No 41 on the UK chart, "My Vision" with Seal, "Sunburn EP" with Jessica Lauren and various compilations.
QUEUED UP
- Dave Lee, this time as Joey Negro, performs tonight at Q Bar. Entry with two drinks is Bt800.
- Q Bar is on Sukhumvit Soi 11 near BTS Nana. Call (02) 252 3274; www.QBarBangkok.com.