JAKAZiD
Encyclopedia
Joshua James McInnes, or alternatively Josh McInnes (born May 7, 1988), better known by his artist name JAKAZiD is a record producer
from Portsmouth
, England
. He is currently signed to the UK hard dance
label Nukleuz
. He is usually associated with writing happy hardcore
music and remix
ing other well-known songs in this style.
remix
of the Esure
car insurance television adverts broadcasted
in the UK starring television personality Michael Winner
. The remix received praise from the company itself, one spokesman for esure saying: "We were flattered that someone enjoyed our ad enough to spend the time to do this.". Some months after the remix was made, a link to the video on JAKAZiD's ISP
webspace found its way onto the weekly newsletter of B3ta.com
, attracting the attention of many more internet users. This led to the video being granted more permanent hosting at Luckykazoo.com (a sister site of B3ta) following an agreement between JAKAZiD and B3ta's co-founder Rob Manuel
.
Due to popular demand, JAKAZiD made a follow-up video in the form of "Hardcore Cleaning Sensation" (later renamed to "Cillit Bang"), another popular viral video remix focused around the advert of the cleaning product of the same name
. Also appearing on the Luckykazoo website, this video achieved higher popularity than its predecessor due to the Cillit Bang advertisements being a popular talking point
at the time for their garish visuals and their loud-speaking presenter Barry Scott. Cillit Bang was later signed by UK hard dance
record label Nukleuz for commercial release, and achieved moderate chart success, placing #3 in the BBC
Indie chart and #8 in the BBC Dance chart.
cover of the theme from 1980s kids television show The Raccoons
, "Run With Us
", as well as a remix of veteran Japanese hardcore DJ Evil's underground
happy hardcore
hit "Sweet"http://www.discogs.com/release/156545 under Luna-C
's Kniteforce Again label (co-produced with DJ Friez).
Unusually for an artist, JAKAZiD is an active user and moderator on the online music database Discogs
. He actively maintains his own artist page and discography on the site. His remix work includes remixes of well known dance artists such as BK
and Guru Josh
in addition to a variety of Japanese artists such as Lia
and Beatmania IIDX
artist kors k
. He has also contributed original tracks for various compilations both in the United Kingdom and Japan, most notably to doujin hardcore techno collective Hardcore Tano*C. http://www.discogs.com/artist/JAKAZiD
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
from Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He is currently signed to the UK hard dance
Hard dance
Hard Dance is an umbrella term that refers to a group of Hard electronic dance genres which aren't hard enough to be classified as hardcore. The term usually includes genres such as Hard House, Hard NRG, Hard Trance, and Hardstyle...
label Nukleuz
Nukleuz
Nukleuz is a dance record label based in the Clapham area of London, UK. Nukleuz is the home to many artists and compilation series in various genres including trance, UK hardcore, tech house and hard house....
. He is usually associated with writing happy hardcore
Happy hardcore
Happy hardcore, also known as happycore, is a genre of music typified by a very fast tempo , often coupled with solo vocals and sentimental lyrics. Its characteristically 4/4 beat "happy" sound distinguishes it from most other forms of hardcore techno, which tend to be "darker". It is typically in...
music and remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ing other well-known songs in this style.
History
JAKAZiD first gained worldwide notoriety as the creator of Calm Down Dear, a viral videoViral video
A viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email...
remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of the Esure
Esure
Esure is an internet and telephone based insurance company based in Reigate, Surrey, England. It also has offices in Manchester and Glasgow...
car insurance television adverts broadcasted
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
in the UK starring television personality Michael Winner
Michael Winner
Michael Robert Winner is a British film director and producer, active in both Europe and the United States, also known as a food critic for the Sunday Times.-Early life and early career :...
. The remix received praise from the company itself, one spokesman for esure saying: "We were flattered that someone enjoyed our ad enough to spend the time to do this.". Some months after the remix was made, a link to the video on JAKAZiD's ISP
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
webspace found its way onto the weekly newsletter of B3ta.com
B3ta
B3ta is a high-profile British website, described as a "puerile digital arts community" by The Guardian. It was founded in 2001 by Rob Manuel, Denise Wilton and Cal Henderson....
, attracting the attention of many more internet users. This led to the video being granted more permanent hosting at Luckykazoo.com (a sister site of B3ta) following an agreement between JAKAZiD and B3ta's co-founder Rob Manuel
Rob Manuel
Rob Manuel is the co-founder of B3ta . He is responsible for numerous quizzes and Flash animations. He also works with Joel Veitch animating videos for Tomboy Virals...
.
Due to popular demand, JAKAZiD made a follow-up video in the form of "Hardcore Cleaning Sensation" (later renamed to "Cillit Bang"), another popular viral video remix focused around the advert of the cleaning product of the same name
Cillit Bang
Cillit Bang is the brand name of a range of cleaning products sold by the consumer products manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser. The products marketed under the brand name include a degreaser, cleaning crystals, and a grime, rust, mould and limescale remover....
. Also appearing on the Luckykazoo website, this video achieved higher popularity than its predecessor due to the Cillit Bang advertisements being a popular talking point
Talking point
A talking point in debate or discourse is a succinct statement designed to persuasively support one side taken on an issue. Such statements can either be free standing or created as retorts to the opposition's talking points and are frequently used in public relations, particularly in areas heavy...
at the time for their garish visuals and their loud-speaking presenter Barry Scott. Cillit Bang was later signed by UK hard dance
Hard dance
Hard Dance is an umbrella term that refers to a group of Hard electronic dance genres which aren't hard enough to be classified as hardcore. The term usually includes genres such as Hard House, Hard NRG, Hard Trance, and Hardstyle...
record label Nukleuz for commercial release, and achieved moderate chart success, placing #3 in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Indie chart and #8 in the BBC Dance chart.
Other works
In addition to his singles, JAKAZiD has remixed tracks by a number of artists, including a SpraySpray (band)
Spray is a 21st century synthpop duo from England, consisting of Jenny McLaren and Ricardo Autobahn. Following the demise of their previous band, the Cuban Boys , McLaren and Autobahn released the album Living In Neon on Ninthwave Records in the USA. This was followed in 2003 by the extended single...
cover of the theme from 1980s kids television show The Raccoons
The Raccoons
The Raccoons is a Canadian animated television series which was originally broadcast from 1985 to 1991 with four preceding television specials beginning in 1980. The series was created by Kevin Gillis, and produced at Atkinson Film-Arts first-hand from 1984 to 1985, then at Hinton Animation Studios...
, "Run With Us
Evergreen Nights
Evergreen Nights is the first album by Canadian singer, Lisa Lougheed. It is also the soundtrack to the animated television series, The Raccoons. Other musical artists on this album include Curtis King Jr...
", as well as a remix of veteran Japanese hardcore DJ Evil's underground
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
happy hardcore
Happy hardcore
Happy hardcore, also known as happycore, is a genre of music typified by a very fast tempo , often coupled with solo vocals and sentimental lyrics. Its characteristically 4/4 beat "happy" sound distinguishes it from most other forms of hardcore techno, which tend to be "darker". It is typically in...
hit "Sweet"http://www.discogs.com/release/156545 under Luna-C
Luna-C
Luna-C is a British DJ and record producer, known for his work in breakbeat hardcore music. He made up a third of the rave group Smart E's in 1992, which had a number 2 hit in the UK with a remix of the Sesame Street theme song .Luna-C founded the Kniteforce Records label in 1992, which has...
's Kniteforce Again label (co-produced with DJ Friez).
Unusually for an artist, JAKAZiD is an active user and moderator on the online music database Discogs
Discogs
Discogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
. He actively maintains his own artist page and discography on the site. His remix work includes remixes of well known dance artists such as BK
BK (musician)
BK is the working name of the English hard house producer Ben Keen .His "Revolution" single became one of the few hard house records to receive regular airplay on daytime BBC Radio 1, and between 1995 and 2005, he produced over one hundred 12” singles. He was the last artist to reach the UK Singles...
and Guru Josh
Guru Josh
Paul Walden , commonly known as Guru Josh, is an English musician currently performing under his own stage name as Guru Josh. Guru Josh was an original music icon of the British post-acid house music scene in 1990, most recognised for his debut single "Infinity," initially released in 1989 on...
in addition to a variety of Japanese artists such as Lia
Lia (singer)
Lia is a female Japanese singer-songwriter who is a former member of I've Sound. Lia has also participated in happy hardcore singing, producing four such albums with this style of singing; these albums have her name in all capital letters. She is notable as the singer for the opening and ending...
and Beatmania IIDX
Beatmania IIDX
is a series of rhythm video games and the sequel to Beatmania that was first introduced by Konami in Japan on February 26, 1999. IIDX has since spawned over 19 arcade releases and over 13 console releases on the Sony PlayStation 2...
artist kors k
Kosuke Saito
' , is a DJ and music game composer. He is best known for his work in the Konami Bemani series. He has produced music under a number of different aliases, such as kors k, StripE, and teranoid.- Career :...
. He has also contributed original tracks for various compilations both in the United Kingdom and Japan, most notably to doujin hardcore techno collective Hardcore Tano*C. http://www.discogs.com/artist/JAKAZiD