Nick Warren
Encyclopedia
Nick Warren is an English
house
DJ and producer
. He is well-known for his eight albums released in the Global Underground
series and as a member of the duo Way Out West. He is head of A&R
for the progressive house and breaks record label Hope Recordings
.
, playing mainly reggae and indie music until house music
became more popular in the UK. By the early 1990s, Warren had become one of the more popular DJs in Bristol, performing regularly at the superclub
Vision and DJ-ing for Massive Attack
.
While working at a record store in 1994, Nick Warren met producer Jody Wisternoff
and the two decided to work together. Their first collaboration was on the track "Paradise is the Sound" which they released under the artist name Sub-Version 3. Warren describes Wisternoff as being the more technical of the two, while Warren states that he "bring[s] most of the sounds into our projects" and an understanding of what music needs to be successful at dance clubs. Their next two releases were issued under the name Echo, with Way Out West being the name of their remix project. The duo soon adopted the name for their act and signed a deal with Deconstruction Records
.
In the mid 1990s, Nick Warren began a residency at Liverpool
dance club Cream
. In 1997, Warren was given the opportunity to mix the second entry in the still young Global Underground
series. The album, Global Underground 003: Prague, is a live set of Warren's from Prague
. Although labelled as 003, this was actually only the second release on the Global Underground
label. This began a relationship with Global Underground which led to Warren creating seven additional mix albums for the series, including Global Underground 008: Brazil, Global Underground 011: Budapest, Global Underground 018: Amsterdam, Global Underground 024: Reykjavík, Global Underground 028: Shanghai, Global Underground 030: Paris, and Global Underground 035: Lima. Warren stated that he feels comfortable working with Global Underground due to an underlying trust between himself and the label.
In December 2000, Way Out West was dropped by Deconstruction, which had since been bought by BMG
, as the label felt that Way Out West's album would not do well commercially. Way Out West then signed a three-album contract with Distinct'ive Records
, turning down offers from other labels such as Bedrock
. Their first album on Distinct'ive was Intensify, which featured the singles "The Fall", "Intensify", and "Mindcircus". "The Fall" used lyrics taken from the Cole Porter
song "Autumn Leaves
" and "Mindcircus" features vocals written by Imogen Heap
. For the next Way Out West album, Don't Look Now (2004), Warren and Wisternoff brought in vocalist Omi and drummer Damon Reece. As of early 2007, Way Out West had begun work on new material. Warren made this possible because he is now head A&R
of Hope Recordings, the label in which their last single "Spaceman" was released in 2008. In 2008, Global Underground released Warren's next compilation, Global Underground 035: Lima. Before this album, Warren had sold over 110,000 compilations in the Global Underground series.
For in-studio mixing, Nick Warren uses Ableton Live
, ProTools, and some Logic Pro
on a Macintosh
.
Way Out West's fourth album, titled "We Love Machine," was released on October 6, 2009. The song "Only Love" featuring Jonathan Mendelsohn on vocals (the album marks their first collaboration with a male vocalist) was the first single off the album, released August 31, 2009. The deluxe edition of the album on Hope Recordings is available at their own website.
Nick's recent ventures have been a remix of Grafiti
's song Spooky Trains, out now on Hope Recordings
and a remix of General Midi's song 'Absinth'. Also in 2010, Nick released on Bedrock Recordings, with the track In Search Of Silver and he began his Soundgarden show on Frisky Radio, a bi-monthly venture in which Nick plays a wide range of different sets on this popular station.
2011 marked Hope Recordings' 100th release, taken on by none other than Nick Warren himself. The track was titled 'Buenos Aires' - as Nick feels a special connection with the city, having played there on several occasions.
“I am in love with the city of Buenos Aires and have the most amazing time, each and every time I go there to play. I started writing this tune after playing there last year".
Hope Recordings
' next release was by Tom Glass, titled 'Naive' for which Nick did his own 'Psycehdelic Wheel' Remix.
In November 2011, Nick is set to release another new single, Rumbletump, on Hernan Cattaneo
's Sudbeat label.
Singles
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...
house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
DJ and producer
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...
. He is well-known for his eight albums released in the Global Underground
Global Underground
Global Underground is a music label founded in 1996 by Andy Horsfield and James Todd. The label symbolizes the international explosion of dance music during the 1990s and first manifesto for high-end DJs such as Sasha, Paul Oakenfold, John Digweed, Danny Tenaglia, Nick Warren, Dave Seaman, Darren...
series and as a member of the duo Way Out West. He is head of A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
for the progressive house and breaks record label Hope Recordings
Hope Recordings
Hope Recordings, established in 1998 by Leon Alexander and Steve Satterthwaite, is a Bristol, UK based record label.The label is run by Leon Alexander, with English house music DJ and record producer Nick Warren in control of its A&R. It is home to progressive house and breaks artists such as...
.
Biography
In 1988, Nick Warren began DJ-ing in BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, playing mainly reggae and indie music until house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
became more popular in the UK. By the early 1990s, Warren had become one of the more popular DJs in Bristol, performing regularly at the superclub
Superclub
Superclub is a term used to refer to a nightclub owned and managed by a dance music record label, such as The Haçienda club, which was owned by Factory Records...
Vision and DJ-ing for Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
.
While working at a record store in 1994, Nick Warren met producer Jody Wisternoff
Jody Wisternoff
Jody Wisternoff is best known as one half of the Bristol progressive house duo Way Out West and as a producer of dance music spanning early 90s hardcore to electro house....
and the two decided to work together. Their first collaboration was on the track "Paradise is the Sound" which they released under the artist name Sub-Version 3. Warren describes Wisternoff as being the more technical of the two, while Warren states that he "bring[s] most of the sounds into our projects" and an understanding of what music needs to be successful at dance clubs. Their next two releases were issued under the name Echo, with Way Out West being the name of their remix project. The duo soon adopted the name for their act and signed a deal with Deconstruction Records
Deconstruction Records
Deconstruction Records is a record label founded in 1987 by Pete Hadfield and Keith Blackhurst in the United Kingdom. Distribution was via label deals with Parlophone Records, for acts such as K-Klass and Bassheads), and RCA Records for everybody else....
.
In the mid 1990s, Nick Warren began a residency at Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
dance club Cream
Cream (nightclub)
Cream, based at the Nation nightclub in Liverpool, is one of the best-known night clubs in the UK. Cream began life as a weekly house music night at Nation, and ran in this format for 10 years, from October 1992 to June 2002...
. In 1997, Warren was given the opportunity to mix the second entry in the still young Global Underground
Global Underground
Global Underground is a music label founded in 1996 by Andy Horsfield and James Todd. The label symbolizes the international explosion of dance music during the 1990s and first manifesto for high-end DJs such as Sasha, Paul Oakenfold, John Digweed, Danny Tenaglia, Nick Warren, Dave Seaman, Darren...
series. The album, Global Underground 003: Prague, is a live set of Warren's from Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. Although labelled as 003, this was actually only the second release on the Global Underground
Global Underground
Global Underground is a music label founded in 1996 by Andy Horsfield and James Todd. The label symbolizes the international explosion of dance music during the 1990s and first manifesto for high-end DJs such as Sasha, Paul Oakenfold, John Digweed, Danny Tenaglia, Nick Warren, Dave Seaman, Darren...
label. This began a relationship with Global Underground which led to Warren creating seven additional mix albums for the series, including Global Underground 008: Brazil, Global Underground 011: Budapest, Global Underground 018: Amsterdam, Global Underground 024: Reykjavík, Global Underground 028: Shanghai, Global Underground 030: Paris, and Global Underground 035: Lima. Warren stated that he feels comfortable working with Global Underground due to an underlying trust between himself and the label.
In December 2000, Way Out West was dropped by Deconstruction, which had since been bought by BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
, as the label felt that Way Out West's album would not do well commercially. Way Out West then signed a three-album contract with Distinct'ive Records
Distinct'ive Records
Distinct'ive Records is a record label which has hundreds of releases from artists such as Way Out West. It is also the parent label to Distinct'ive Breaks Records. Distinct'ive Records is a sublabel of Avex Trax...
, turning down offers from other labels such as Bedrock
Bedrock Records
thumb|200px|Bedrock RecordsBedrock Records is an English record label for trance, house and techno started by Nick Muir and John Digweed.Its name comes from a nightclub in London that is also called Bedrock. Bedrock Records has released many singles from artists such as Astro & Glyde, Brancaccio &...
. Their first album on Distinct'ive was Intensify, which featured the singles "The Fall", "Intensify", and "Mindcircus". "The Fall" used lyrics taken from the Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
song "Autumn Leaves
Autumn Leaves (song)
"Autumn Leaves" is a much-recorded popular song. Originally it was a 1945 French song "Les Feuilles mortes" with music by Joseph Kosma and lyrics by poet Jacques Prévert. Yves Montand introduced "Les feuilles mortes" in 1946 in the film Les Portes de la Nuit...
" and "Mindcircus" features vocals written by Imogen Heap
Imogen Heap
Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap is a Grammy Award-winning English singer, composer and songwriter from Havering, Essex. She is known for her work as part of the musical duo Frou Frou and her solo albums, which she writes, produces, and mixes...
. For the next Way Out West album, Don't Look Now (2004), Warren and Wisternoff brought in vocalist Omi and drummer Damon Reece. As of early 2007, Way Out West had begun work on new material. Warren made this possible because he is now head A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
of Hope Recordings, the label in which their last single "Spaceman" was released in 2008. In 2008, Global Underground released Warren's next compilation, Global Underground 035: Lima. Before this album, Warren had sold over 110,000 compilations in the Global Underground series.
For in-studio mixing, Nick Warren uses Ableton Live
Ableton Live
Ableton Live is a loop-based software music sequencer and DAW for Mac OS and Windows by Ableton. The latest major release of Live, Version 8, was released in April 2009. In contrast to many other software sequencers, Live is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool for...
, ProTools, and some Logic Pro
Logic Pro
Logic Pro is a hybrid 32 / 64 bit digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer software application for the Mac OS X platform. Originally created by German software developer Emagic, Logic Pro became an Apple product when Apple bought Emagic in 2002...
on a Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
.
Way Out West's fourth album, titled "We Love Machine," was released on October 6, 2009. The song "Only Love" featuring Jonathan Mendelsohn on vocals (the album marks their first collaboration with a male vocalist) was the first single off the album, released August 31, 2009. The deluxe edition of the album on Hope Recordings is available at their own website.
Nick's recent ventures have been a remix of Grafiti
Grafiti
Grafiti is an electronic music group formed in 2007 by Leama and James Davis and known for its progressive house and Techno productions. Its tracks are regularly played by well-known DJs, such as Sasha, John Digweed, Nick Warren and Sander Kleinenberg, and have been included on electronic music...
's song Spooky Trains, out now on Hope Recordings
Hope Recordings
Hope Recordings, established in 1998 by Leon Alexander and Steve Satterthwaite, is a Bristol, UK based record label.The label is run by Leon Alexander, with English house music DJ and record producer Nick Warren in control of its A&R. It is home to progressive house and breaks artists such as...
and a remix of General Midi's song 'Absinth'. Also in 2010, Nick released on Bedrock Recordings, with the track In Search Of Silver and he began his Soundgarden show on Frisky Radio, a bi-monthly venture in which Nick plays a wide range of different sets on this popular station.
2011 marked Hope Recordings' 100th release, taken on by none other than Nick Warren himself. The track was titled 'Buenos Aires' - as Nick feels a special connection with the city, having played there on several occasions.
“I am in love with the city of Buenos Aires and have the most amazing time, each and every time I go there to play. I started writing this tune after playing there last year".
Hope Recordings
Hope Recordings
Hope Recordings, established in 1998 by Leon Alexander and Steve Satterthwaite, is a Bristol, UK based record label.The label is run by Leon Alexander, with English house music DJ and record producer Nick Warren in control of its A&R. It is home to progressive house and breaks artists such as...
' next release was by Tom Glass, titled 'Naive' for which Nick did his own 'Psycehdelic Wheel' Remix.
In November 2011, Nick is set to release another new single, Rumbletump, on Hernan Cattaneo
Hernán Cattáneo
- Biography :Hernán Cattáneo was born in Buenos Aires, where he grew up listening to bands like Simply Red, Level 42, Depeche Mode and New Order while carefully studying Billboard magazine, the only source of information that was readily available at the time. In 1987, one of his friends visited...
's Sudbeat label.
Selected discography
Albums- 1997: Way Out West - Way Out West (DeconstructionDeconstruction RecordsDeconstruction Records is a record label founded in 1987 by Pete Hadfield and Keith Blackhurst in the United Kingdom. Distribution was via label deals with Parlophone Records, for acts such as K-Klass and Bassheads), and RCA Records for everybody else....
) - 1997: Global Underground 003: Prague (BoxedBoxedBoxed was a record label which has released around forty mix albums from DJs such as John Digweed, Nick Warren, and Danny Howells. They are most known for their Global Underground series. After stopping releases due to financial difficulties in 2003, Global Underground Ltd...
) - 1998: Global Underground 008: Brazil (Boxed)
- 1999: Back to Mine: Nick WarrenBack to Mine: Nick WarrenBack to Mine: Nick Warren is a DJ mix album in the Back to Mine series, compiled and mixed by Nick Warren.-Track listing:...
(DMC Publishing) - 1999: Global Underground 011: Budapest (Boxed)
- 2000: Global Underground 018: Amsterdam (Boxed)
- 2001: Way Out West - Intensify (Distinct'ive Breaks Records, NettwerkNettwerkThe Nettwerk Music Group is the umbrella company for Nettwerk Management, Nettwerk Records, Nettwerk One Publishing, Nutone Records, and Artwerk. With over 150 employees, the Vancouver-based company has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Nashville, and Hamburg...
) - 2001: Renaissance: Revelation (Ultra RecordsUltra RecordsUltra Records is an American independent electronic dance music record label. Ultra was formed in New York City in 1995 by former Polygram and Virgin Records executive Patrick Moxey, who is still currently the owner...
) - 2003: Global Underground 024: Reykjavík (Global Underground Ltd.) (BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Top Electronic AlbumsTop Electronic AlbumsDance/Electronic Albums is a music chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the top-selling electronic music albums in the United States. The chart debuted on the issue dated June 30, 2001. It originally began as a fifteen-position chart and has since expanded to twenty-five...
#25) - 2004: Way Out West - Don't Look Now (Distinct'ive Records)
- 2005: Global Underground 028: Shanghai (Global Underground Ltd.) (Billboard Top Electronic Albums #14)
- 2007: Global Underground 030: Paris (Global Underground Ltd.) (Billboard Top Electronic Albums #20)
- 2008: Global Underground 035: LimaGlobal Underground 035: LimaGlobal Underground 035: Lima is a DJ mix album in the Global Underground series, compiled and mixed by DJ and producer Nick Warren, who claims that the mix is made up entirely of 'exclusive' tracks purportedly inspired by the Peruvian capital Lima....
(Global Underground Ltd.) - 2009: Way Out West - We Love Machine (Hope RecordingsHope RecordingsHope Recordings, established in 1998 by Leon Alexander and Steve Satterthwaite, is a Bristol, UK based record label.The label is run by Leon Alexander, with English house music DJ and record producer Nick Warren in control of its A&R. It is home to progressive house and breaks artists such as...
) - 2010: Way Out West - We Love Machine remixes (Hope RecordingsHope RecordingsHope Recordings, established in 1998 by Leon Alexander and Steve Satterthwaite, is a Bristol, UK based record label.The label is run by Leon Alexander, with English house music DJ and record producer Nick Warren in control of its A&R. It is home to progressive house and breaks artists such as...
) - 2011: Balance 018 (Balance Music)
Singles
- 1994: Way Out West - "Ajare" (Deconstruction) (UK Singles ChartUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#52 peak) - 1996: Way Out West feat. Miss Joanna Law - "The Gift" (UK #15) (Deconstruction)
- 1996: Way Out West - "Domination" (Deconstruction) (UK #38)
- 1997: Way Out West - "Blue" (Deconstruction) (UK #41)
- 1997: Way Out West - "Ajare" (re-release) (Deconstruction) (UK #36)
- 2000: Way Out West - "The Fall" (Deconstruction) (UK #67)
- 2001: Way Out West - "Intensify" (Distinct'ive Breaks Records) (UK #46)
- 2002: Way Out West feat. Tricia Lee - "Mindcircus" (Distinct'ive Breaks Records) (UK #39, Billboard Hot Dance Club PlayHot Dance Club PlayThe Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
#6) - 2002: Way Out West feat. Kirsty HawkshawKirsty HawkshawKirsty Hawkshaw is a British dance/electronica/house/trance musician and songwriter. She is known for her participation as lead vocalist for the group Opus III, and her collaborative work with other musicians and producers....
- "Stealth" (Distinct'ive Breaks Records) (UK #67) - 2004: Way Out West - "Anything But You" (Distinct'ive Records)
- 2005: Way Out West - "Don't Forget Me" (Distinct'ive Records)
- 2007: "One & Only" (Hope RecordingsHope RecordingsHope Recordings, established in 1998 by Leon Alexander and Steve Satterthwaite, is a Bristol, UK based record label.The label is run by Leon Alexander, with English house music DJ and record producer Nick Warren in control of its A&R. It is home to progressive house and breaks artists such as...
) - 2008: Way Out West - "Spaceman" (Hope RecordingsHope RecordingsHope Recordings, established in 1998 by Leon Alexander and Steve Satterthwaite, is a Bristol, UK based record label.The label is run by Leon Alexander, with English house music DJ and record producer Nick Warren in control of its A&R. It is home to progressive house and breaks artists such as...
) - 2009: Way Out West - Only Love (Hope RecordingsHope RecordingsHope Recordings, established in 1998 by Leon Alexander and Steve Satterthwaite, is a Bristol, UK based record label.The label is run by Leon Alexander, with English house music DJ and record producer Nick Warren in control of its A&R. It is home to progressive house and breaks artists such as...
) - 2010: Way Out West - Future Perfect (Hope RecordingsHope RecordingsHope Recordings, established in 1998 by Leon Alexander and Steve Satterthwaite, is a Bristol, UK based record label.The label is run by Leon Alexander, with English house music DJ and record producer Nick Warren in control of its A&R. It is home to progressive house and breaks artists such as...
) - 2010: Nick Warren - In Search Of Silver (Bedrock RecordsBedrock Recordsthumb|200px|Bedrock RecordsBedrock Records is an English record label for trance, house and techno started by Nick Muir and John Digweed.Its name comes from a nightclub in London that is also called Bedrock. Bedrock Records has released many singles from artists such as Astro & Glyde, Brancaccio &...
) - 2011: Nick Warren - Buenos Aires (Hope RecordingsHope RecordingsHope Recordings, established in 1998 by Leon Alexander and Steve Satterthwaite, is a Bristol, UK based record label.The label is run by Leon Alexander, with English house music DJ and record producer Nick Warren in control of its A&R. It is home to progressive house and breaks artists such as...
) - 2011: Nick Warren - Rumbletump - Sudbeat
External links
- Nick Warren's website
- Nick Warren Facebook
- Nick Warren Twitter
- Nick Warren Soundcloud
- Nick Warren official MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page - Nick Warren iPhone App
- Nick Warren Android App
- Nick Warren's Tracklisting archive