GIORDANI, LAYTON / GREEN VELVET - WHEN IT KICKS - RED VINYL

A true artist in every sense of the word, Layton Giordani stands firmly as one of the most popular taste makers of techno’s new school, with his pioneering musical vision serving as a contemporary voice for the younger generation. Spending years acquiring knowledge from musical greats, the 28 year old possesses a wealth of experience far beyond his years and has now undeniably earned his rank in the upper echelon of techno. With a repertoire that knows no bounds, the dexterous New Yorker has explored a new dimension of scope with each passing year, nurturing a monumental discography that echoes staunch dedication to his craft. Giordani’s palpable successes can be largely credited to his extensive stock of knowledge, garnered through an insatiable work ethic and years spent earning his keep in the industry. Solely focused on his passion for music from the age of just 13, Giordani’s path forever changed at 19 years old after watching Danny Tenaglia perform live at Pacha NYC. Deeply inspired by the formative experience, Layton began to master his craft behind the decks, landing a pivotal residency at Brooklyn’s Output NY that would consequently steam-roll his career into quick maturity. Thanks to the faith they instilled in him, Layton turned heads and began making a name for himself through his deft touch and sharp ear. Seeking further guidance from another of the long-standing greats, Giordani spent countless hours under the mentorship of Adam Beyer, honing his composition talents and studying the cardinal cuts of techno’s rich history. The affiliation resulted in Giordani’s first releases under the Swedish maven’s storied imprints; an EP titled Unspoken on True soul followed shortly by Rivington, his input to Drumcode’s celebrated A-Sides series. News of the untapped star’s fresh sensibilities circulated and in 2017, Giordani erupted onto the scene with his aptly-named debut album contribution to Drum code in the form of Where It Begins. The 12-track LP served as the first seismic indication of his capabilities and subsequently received critical acclaim from artists, new fans and industry specialists alike. These nascent experiences take on greater meaning when you consider Giordani would collaborate with Tenaglia just a matter of months after the LP’s release, dropping the standout Live Again before 2017 would dawn. Today, the cut is still considered by many to be a modern-day Drum code classic. Just one short year later and the advancement of Giordani’s career showed no signs of slowing as he teamed up for a distinguished three-way collaboration alongside Beyer and Chicago legend Green Velvet for Space Date. The single was the sound of the summer and matched the prosper of his touring schedule, which now included main stage appearances at Drum code Festival, Melt! Festival, Warehouse Project, Motion Bristol, Resistance Ibiza, and the Gashouder for Awakenings x Adam Beyer presents Drum code, among many more. Another stellar solo EP titled Phase II soundtrack Ed the year and led to several more resume-building releases, such as his 2019 hit Chrome, which dominated Drumcode’s A-Sides Vol. 8 compilation, as well as another collaborative effort with Green Velvet on Fuzion; his inaugural release for Relief Records. Replete with creative aspiration and further seeking to express his unique perspective on the genre, 2020 saw the delivery of Giordani’s most complete and robust offering to date, with his sophomore album New Generation. Crafting a critically acclaimed sound through inspirations far removed from techno, the hyper- talented producer presented an opus that favoured ambiences and immersive city soundscapes. Giordani distilled the future into album form with these 11 tracks, citing a refined sound palette built on artistic vibrancy. The LP marked a decisive pivot in Drumcode’s production output, advocating Layton’s nouveau strain of modernized techno in its most tailored form. Diving headfirst into his career with unmatched tenacity, Layton Giordani has achieved more in a matter of years than most artists will in a lifetime and yet he’s still barely skimmed the surface of the possibilities that lie ahead. His unapologetic approach to composition and thirst for knowledge has ensured his seminal status as one of techno’s elite, as he continues to entrench himself as the industry’s new school luminary. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Using the Green Velvet moniker to make his singularly twisted, funk-flecked house and techno hybrid, it was as Cajmere that he made his first musical mark back in the early 90's after ditching school half way through a post-grad, chemical engineering degree at top-notch US college Berkeley. Up until then, music had been a hobby fueled by cobbling together tracks on a "sixty buck keyboard, a cheap four-track and a cheap drum machine" while still an undergraduate at the University of Illinois. In 1992, after surviving on cheese sandwiches and maximizing credit limits, Cajmere finally made an imprint on the dance community with his infectious experiment, "Coffee Pot" (It's Time for the Percolator) – Clubhouse Records. Then he moved on to more complex musical and lyrical arrangements with songs like Lidell Townsell's "Get With U" (Mercury Records). The Cajmere and Dajae collaboration resulted in a #2 Billboard Dance Chart and International dance hit - "Brighter Days". It was at this point that Cajmere decided to start Cajual Records. Having his own label gave Cajmere the autonomy to attain his goal of developing a sound that was representative of Chicago. Later that year, he formed the sub-label Relief Records, mostly for instrumental tracks by himself and others. The label gave birth to his first Green Velvet production 'Velvet Tracks'. When he emerged as the flamboyant, neon-haired Green Velvet to front mid-90's hits like 'Preacher Man', 'Answering Machine' and 'Flash', the shock-waves reverberated throughout house and techno scenes the world over. This elaborately garbed, lyrically wild creature scored a direct hit, putting his hometown back on house music's production map. Jones has since brought his DJ stylings around the globe, playing house and techno under his Cajmere and Green Velvet monikers. In addition to DJ sets, he hit the road with his live show, performing original tracks in front of crowds numbering in the tens of thousands. "I've always been quite shy and introverted in a way," says Jones. "So it was weird getting up on stage and doing the Velvet thing. It's just quite strange that I'm doing what I'm doing now." Recent stops have included Exit Festival (Serbia), Awakenings Festival (Netherlands) and T in the Park (Scotland). In 2009, Green Velvet’s production made waves in the dance music scene yet again with “Everybody Wants”, this time collaborating with rap-songstress and fellow Chicago native Kid Sister. The club hit was swiftly followed up with “Turn It UP”, which features powerhouse production duo Santiago & Bushido. 2010 will see the release of a new Green Velvet album with an exciting guest list that includes Afrojack, De La Soul, Diplo, Kid Sister, Santiago & Bushido, Tommie Sunshine and more. With a new Cajual Records residency in Chicago—‘Green Velvet & Friends’—also to launch this year, the imprint of this artist remains fresh with the help of his network of DJ buddies from around the world. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.