Russ Chimes

Russ Chimes has got the whole package. Witness the amazing three-part video for his Midnight Club EP by award-winning director Saman Keshavarz. See the cool design and fontage of his imagery. Hear the potent, bold melodies of his ‘80s-influenced electro-pop-house hybrids and his stunning remixes for the likes of Mark Ronson & The Business ITNL. In this day and age where there’s so much more to getting yourself known than just putting out some good tracks, his multi-pronged attack his ensured ‘nuff coverage – although of course the music is still the most important thing really, isn’t it?
 
Poised to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Mylo and Grum in bridging the gap between dancefloor and commercial appeal in the electro-pop milieu, he’s one of those highly in demand remixers to the pop and indie elite – like Marina & The Diamonds, Frankmusik, Ellie Goulding and Chromeo. Music to make you feel alive and a bit triumphant. 
 
How and when were you first infected by dance music?
I suppose it was trance/prog house of the late Nineties that first got me hooked, In the following years it would be when I first started going to clubs, so my interest broadened.  I went on to get heavily into French House, drum & bass and UK garage and breaks scenes around this time.
 
When did you start making music / producing, and how long was it before you started making tracks that you were really happy with?
I’d been doing it as a hobby – just delving into it now and again from when I was 18, but I first got a copy of Logic and made something I was happy with in summer 2007. It was an unofficial remix of Nightcrawlers – Push The Feeling.
 
What have been your personal favourite tracks / productions so far?
I’ve always been really happy with how my Frankmusik remix came out. I’m also really excited about my new original material too.
 
Where does your name come from?
My parents!
 
Who would you most like to work with?
Some of the French scene pioneers would be amazing. I love to get in the studio with Eric Prydz too in a dream world too!
 
What have you got in store for the coming months?
Hopefully another 1 or 2 EPs of original material and eventually a full album next year.
 
What can we expect from one of your DJ sets or live sets?
My DJ sets aren’t really genre specific, but tend to rise and fall in pace and take you on a little journey. Always fun to drop something that the audience are least expecting. I’m currently about to start work on a new live show, so can’t give to much away – hopefully just big riffs, big sound and big visuals to match!
 
If you weren’t a DJ/producer/artists, what would you be?
I was a graphic designer before I made the change to music, so I guess I’d be doing that, although really frustrated.
 
Which other producers and DJs and artists do you really rate?
There’s so many great artist around that inspire me all the time, In the UK I love what Alex Metric and Grum are doing, Also really respect L-Vis 1990 for the fresh sound he’s bringing through. Reset! In Milan, Moonchild and Bag Raiders over in Oz, and my friends over at Discotexas in Portugal are doing some great stuff as always - definitely a label to watch.
 
I guess I also look up to the big guys like Deadmau5 or Prydz for managing to produce consistently solid stuff while also managing to successfully appeal to the mainstream whilst keeping a foot in the underground too.