Known
as one of the most well respected and liked members
of the DJ circuit, Chris Fortier started his career
as resident at the infamous Aahz club nights
in Orlando, Florida during the early nineties. These
visionary nights served as a platform to not only bring
such international talent as Sasha, John Digweed and
Dave Seaman to America for the first time, but to establish
an Orlando sound that would become synonymous
with clubbers and DJs alike for years to come.
Almost
a decade on, Chris¹ career has seen him achieve
world-wide chart success with his Sanctuary remix of
Delirium¹s Silence and a DJ career
that has seen him play the world¹s finest venues
alongside his peers. In addition, Chris has also been
instrumental in developing the progressive sound
in America through his very successful promotional record
service as well as starting and developing numerous
careers of many established US and UK artists.
In
the early days of a very young American scene, Chris
surrounded by other US pioneers, such as DJ Icey, Rabbit
in the Moon and Jimmy Van M, Chris quickly established
himself in the studio alongside one-time surf competitor
Neil Kolo. On their own imprint, Fade became the leading
force in Orlando¹s critically acclaimed movement
with a number of singles, including the much sought
after Heaven to Heaven. The Pair were signed
up to a UK imprint for a multi-single deal and remixes
followed; firstly for other Florida favourites, Kimball
and Dekkard, and then for the likes of BT, Sam Mollison,
Space Brothers, Sounds of Blackness, Heliotropic, not
forgetting the classical reworking of Future Force¹s
What You Want. More recently, they have
been featured twiddling the knobs on Highland, Mara,
and Angel, Along with forthcoming Sarah Mclachlan and
Bedrock mixes, the pair are currently finishing demos
for a proposed as yet unsigned album and a pending EP
for Perfecto.
As
Chris productions gained notoriety across the pond,
so did his Djing with regular tours around the UK alongside
long-time friend John Digweed, Tours for Northern Exposure,
and Bedrock helped develop Chris¹ name as a credible
force in Europe, where he is still currently found playing
the continent's top venues at least one weekend a month.
In
the US, after a recent move to New York, he has joined
Twilo as one of their new residents, joining Dave Seaman
for the clubs successful bi-monthly Saturday events.
Aware from the glare of New York, Chris remains one
of the hardest working DJs across America with a genuine
love for his craft. He has held residencies up and down
the US, notably at Icon in Orlando and at Avant Guarde
in Mexico City. Chris was one of the first to release
a compilation CD in the States, a typically original
move at the time and has realised four more in the space
of the last three years.
Away
from the studio and the decks, Chris takes great pride
in his role at Balance Promote Group. While Jimmy Van
M established the touring side of the organisation,
Chris has developed the record service as America¹s
premier choice for labels to promote their product in
the States. As a perennial driving force within the
U.S industry it has been a powerful vehicle to kick
start the U.S scene into the ever growing healthy state
it is currently in.
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