craigmassiv

CRAIG MASSIVMassiv started out behind the decks, although at the time it was an old belt drive and a tape player, at 14 years old (1992) playing house music in the townships, socials and school garage parties. After leaving school he studied contemporary music and sound engineering after which he was asked to join leading dance music store and label House Afrika Records where he connected with S.A dance pioneers Graeme Hector (G Force) and Tim White and set up first studio. By now playing in clubs in and around Pretoria and Johannesburg he served up super funk fare as a resident at legendary spots like Foundation, Krypton, DNA and Pearl Garden and at every local venue and party including Pacha, Voyage and Space. Really influenced by Detroit music he loves playing anything filled with mood, feeling, funk and soul.Representing South Africa at the RedBull Music Academy in Ireland, where 30 DJ’s from around the world were chosen to attend a two-week seminar, he met with and played alongside the likes of Herbert, Christian Vogel, Bob Jones, Chris Rae, Roger Lynn, John Aquaviva, Midfiled General, Static Avenger and David Rodigan. On return and full of inspiration he set up production collective Jazzworx where he contributed his deeply deft touch in the studio to many a project, including international remixes for Les Nubians, Beverly Night, Clara Hill, Deyambert, Rithma and Jon Cutler and has garnered three SAMA nominations for the debut Jazzworx album for best new comers, best dance album and single. The album was on the Metro top twenty for a staggering seven months, the track "Arrival" reaching no.1 for a month! Their innovative funk/soul/house hybrid has won them international critical acclaim and slammed dance floors across the country. Their uniquely indigenous blend of soulful house tracks, with soaring vocals and funkadelic grooves made this performance unmissable for a fan of quality beats.It is this fresh fusion of sounds that landed the Jazzworx Collective a spot at the North Sea Jazz Festival alongside over 30 international artists ranging from Eryka Badu, Common, and Tower of Power through to Spyra Gyra! Massiv has also been responsible for producing and remixing some of S.A' top artists and to date have produced, remixed and licensed projects to Gallo Africa, Sony BMG, EMI, Sheer House, Sheer Sound, Ready Rolled, Higher Ground, CCP, Richie S. Records and Sting Music.Alongside G Force, Massiv produced a radio show on Kaya Fm 95.9 called "The Jazzworx Lounge" playing Motown Jazz, Funk and Soul every Saturday evening. This ran in conjunction with a once a month event at the Blues Room where they fused South Africa’s finest Jazz, Funk and soul artists with Dj’s and house music.Together with Troye Lilley Massiv formed the soulful deep house outfit, Soul Khula. The first single was released through U.K. deep house label Inspirit Music. Soul Khula has received great reviews from M8, Seven Update, American Billboard and DJ magazine and were play listed on many international radio shows including BBC's Radio1 and Kiss FM. They have been released on Fresh House Flava ("Saturday Night"), and House of T-Bose compilation for Metro FM alongside the like of Fresh 'n Low and Mr Scruff. The next Soul Khula single "Fire" aswell as "Saturday Night" features Tamara Dey and were released on Gossip Records subsidiary UNDO (NYC). Soul Khula have also done a remix for Jovonn (MAW, Track Mode) "Jurassic House" and the track has been released internationally through Phezulu Records. The remix was signed to a Fistaz compilation.Massiv recently teamed up with house hold Dj Ryan Dent and front lady Tamara Dey to form the Electro pop live dance act, Flash Republic. Flash have already enjoyed much success with their first single "Emergency" hitting no1 on the Top 40 chart on Christmas day. They've toured the Netherlands performing next to the likes of Fats and Small, Freestylers, Green Velvet and Tiefshwartz and opened for Audio Bully's, Stereo Mc's, Fat Boy slim in South Africa.Today his expertise have been acknowledged by London label Inspirit, Foundation Records (UK) Gossip records (NYC) and Extrema music. (Netherlands) with releases under Flash Republic and Soul Khula alias (with remixes from Andy Caldwell, Native New Yorkers, Phat Jack, Hot22 and Envotion) and seen Massiv play at legendary clubs like "The Kitchen" (Dublin) and "Bar Rhumba" (London) and alongside Dj's Richard Dorfmeister, Jazzanova, Deep Dish, Dennis Ferrer, Swirl People, Drop Music, Norman Jay, Amp Fiddler, Gene Farris, Cyril K, Ame, Dixon, Aaron Jerome and Jeff K.He has now joined forces with "Platform music" and alongside Dent have set up new studio "The Sound System” with the main focus on exposing South African dance music to the rest of the world.Massiv delivers a combination full of fat beats, booming house bottom end, soul-full vox and sexy electro tinged riffs!