STEVE PAYNE
Steve is co-owner of TCP Recordings, the well-respected new label from Bristol. Steve and label partner Thomas Christopher have been producing electronic music together for over two years. Early 2005 they decided it was time to start-up a label together as an outlet for their many high quality productions.
Steve has been producing and experimenting with many different dance music genres for seven years. His love for music became apparent when he started to learn how to play the guitar at the age of thirteen. He soon joined a local grunge band and helped write much of their material. Steve then enrolled at Music College, where it all started to fit into place and the beats began rolling off his fingers. Experimenting with everything from Hip Hop, Breaks and House he developed a love for many styles of dance music.
Having collaborated with many DJs and producers in the southwest, Steve had become recognised as a talented engineer. Techno in Bristol was given a huge boost with the launch of Vagisness (run by Steves college friend Thomas Christopher). Steve was engrossed by the European sound being championed by DJs like Valentino Kanzyani, Marco Bailey, Umek, Beyer, Ben Sims, etc... Payne and TC decided to start producing their own brand of this funky hi energy dance music.
People have obviously been taken with Steves sound Most notably is his The Pressure which was used to re-launch the legendary Primevil Label. His releases on TCP both solo and in collaboration with TC have been featured in iDJ, Mixmag and many other dance music publications. His work has also received lots of airplay on many radio stations around the world inc. BBC Radio1, Samurai FM and XM Satellite Radio.
Steves genius is most apparent when fusing different music genres to create amazing new sounds. Although varied, he manages to maintain originality in his work; whether it be writing or producing, his distinct style is always prevalent.
Following the success of his exclusive CDJ sets (only playing his own material) Steve is currently working on a live set, which should see fruition in the not to distant future!THOMAS CHRISTOPHERThomas Christopher began DJ’ing at the age of 13, drawn to techno, he began to build a collection from labels such as; DJAX, Bush, Axis and R&S.After Uni, bored and frustrated with the music and scene in Bristol, he found himself getting more and more involved with various promoters in and around Bristol. Having played at most of the clubs, he decided to set up Vagisness to bring some quality underground techno to a city dominated by dnb and breaks.Vagisness is now regarded as the West’s premier techno night. Green Velvet, Dave Clarke, Umek, Valentino Kanzyani, Justin Robertson, Marco Bailey, Phil Kieran, DJ Misjah and Trevor Rockliffe, (to name but a few) have joined Thomas Christopher behind the decks at Vagisness and sister night Vayge.TC’s consistently solid performances are ensuring that his is one of the emergent names to watch. He has rapidly gained a reputation as one of the UK techno scene's brightest new stars, encompassing technical ability with impeccable taste and programming. Holding residencies at Vagisness and Vayge he has been honing his skills alongside some of the worlds biggest and best DJ's.Like many of his guests, TC now plays on three decks and his versatility and experience are apparent whether playing early, late or peak time slots - either way it's always a solid performance that will leave a lasting impression on any dance floor.Not content with DJ’ing, promoting and working in a record shop TC has been hard at work in the studio developing his own distinctive sound, which he describes as “dark and twisted but always full of energyâ€. Earlier this year he launched tcp recordings, with studio partner Steve Payne, to showcase their own material along with that of other already established European artists. The first release “challenged†(featuring a Patrik Skoog remix) achieved No.3 in Mixmag, 4 /5 in iDJ, and 6/8 in M8 Magazines. It was also by Fergie on BBC Radio 1. The second release on tcp will come complete with a remix from one of the world’s hottest producers/DJ’s - Valentino Kanzyani.Other studio efforts are being snapped-up quickly by some well-established labels. Add this to the demand for his and Payne’s remix treatment and it’s safe to say we’ll be hearing a lot more from him in future. Talking to TC his passion for music shines through, whether he’s telling tales of the past or looking to the future, his enthusiasm is infectious.
