Michael Woods: Electric Zoo Spotlight
Currently on a mega, Michael Woods is one progressive/tech house producer you need to listen to before his performance at Electric Zoo (Sunday, Red Bull Riverside 6:00 – 7:15) . Michael Woods happens to be of Argentinian and Guayanese decent and was born and raised in London with an extensive musical background. In an interview with DJ Mag (check it out here), he tells us how his father was a piano teacher and taught him around the age of four. Soon after, he learned the trumpet, drums and guitar. This childhood experience has helped him to conjure up amazing breakdowns and massive drops with the aid of Logic, Pro Tools and Access Virus.
His success can be dated back to 2000 when his track “Warrior”, released under his former stage name Warrior, achieved a #1 ranking in the UK Club Chart. His remix of Energy 52’s “Café Del Mar” achieved great success and is considered a classic today. Soon after, he would release a few ambient trance singles under the alias of Accadia. Under the alias of Out Of Office, he collaborated with his sister Marcella Woods (a singer) on tracks “So Special”, “Hands Up” and “Break of Dawn”. Perhaps his highest accolade is becoming a resident DJ for Ministry of Sound, dance music’s biggest superbrand world famous nightclub in London. To promote his achievement he released a compilation album ‘Ministry of Sound Club: Residents – Michael Woods’, which consists of his greatest remixes and original crushables. Although he considers himself a one-man band, he has collaborated with the likes of tech-house king Mark Knight, Funkagenda and Chris Lake. If you aren’t sold yet, artists like deadmau5, Martin Solveig, Calvin Harris and Moguai have asked Mr. Woods to fuse his sound to form fuego to the fourth degree. He has dabbled with mainstream artists Diddy, Estelle, Missy Elliot, Temper Trap, iiO and was nominated for “Best Remixer” at 2011’s IDMAs (International Dance Music Award). You can take a guess at who’s responsible for the production in Example‘s “Changed The Way You Kiss Me”, which debuted at #1 in the UK Singles Chart in June. Diffused Music is his highly selective record label that showcases nothing but dancefloor destroyers.
It’s everything about his crisp sound—the cascading synths, fluid club tempo and hypnotic progressions—that drives a sense of urgency into the listener’s eardrum, causing them to lose contact with external reality. This all culminates into an anesthetizing drop that induces surges of epinephrine throughout your core. Words can only do so much justice in describing Michael Woods’ signature sound, it’s like trance music except it’s Michael Woods music.
Personal favorites — Although many, his recent re-work to “VMS” is a rhythmic club smasher with relentless energy. His latest single, or bomb, “Bullet” is the epitome of his signature sound; with its sinister club progression and big room drop! The always inviting “Burned You Away” will definitely hit a soft spot and “Nitro” will put you in a serious zone. “First Aid” was a uplifting anthem that introduced a completely foreign sound (like most of his music) and style that is simply fuego. Prepare yourself for one giant electro eargasm! If you like what you hear, check out his artist page on Beatport where you can buy his tracks there.
Michael Woods – VMS (Diffused Re-Edit)
Michael Woods – Bullet (Original Mix)
Michael Woods – Burned You Away (Original Mix)
Michael Woods – Nitro (Original Mix)
Michael Woods – First Aid (Original Mix)
Notable remixes worth your summer crushing:
Deadmau5 – Strobe (Michael Woods Remix)
Martin Solveig & Dragonette – Hello (Michael Woods Remix)
Clashback – Outset (Michael Woods Remix)
Moguai – Oyster (Michael Woods Remix)
iiO – At The End feat. Nadia Ali (Michael Woods REMASTERED Club Remix)
Energy 52 – Cafe Del Mar (Michael Woods Out Of Office Remix)
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