トランスシーンのライジングスターJames Dymondが初来日する。今回は大阪だけのエクスクルーシブな公演となり、関西圏外からも多くのファンが遠征してくるほどの海外の人気DJの来阪公演は見逃せない。
トランス界の大御所Armin van Buurenに見出され、デビュー直後にArminのコンピレーションに収録および看板レーベルArmadaからリリースをするだけでなく、デビューから1.5年後にはArminのA State of Trance 650エピサリーパーティーで5,000人を前にパフォーマンスをするなど、Arminが絶大な信頼をよせるアーティストだ。James DymondはトランスクラシックのRemixに定評があり"Armin van Buuren - Communication", "DJ Tiesto - Adagio For Strings", "Above & Beyond Presents Oceanlab - Satellite", "DJ Tiesto & Ferry Corsten Presents Gouryella - Gouryella", "Darrent Tate Presents DT8 Project - Destination", "Vincent De Moor - Fly Away", "Binary Finary - 1998"といった一度は耳にしたことがあるであろうCyber TRANCE全盛期のReimixを多く手掛けている。きっと何曲かは大阪でもプレイされるはずだ。プロデューサーとして成功しながら、DJの才能もあるタレントはなかなかいないが、Jamesは"Tomorrowland", "Electric Daisy Carnival", "Creamfields"といった世界的なメガフェスや、"A State of Trance", "Luminosity", "Dreamstate", "Electronic Family", "Future Sound of Egypt"といったトランスシーンを牽引するフェスにもlineupされ世界の各大陸で絶賛されている。
そんなJames Dymondの楽曲を少し紹介させていただきたい。
Aly & Fila feat. Ever Burn – Is It Love (James Dymond Remix) [FSOE](2015)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3vI6lpCgSA
言わずとしれたトランス界大御所のAly & FilaのマスターピースのJames Dymond Remix!! 主宰パーティーのCastorでは定番チューンと化しており、James Dymond初来日時にも一番期待のかかるトラックと言える。James Dymondの作品群の中でも最もキラキラとしたUplifting tune!
DJ Tiesto – Adagio For Strings (James Dymond Rework) [promo](2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PMBVngWMv0
Jamesはアイコニックなサウンドで知られるが、リリースされるかわからないトラックを作るほど彼のトランス愛は果てしない。毎年新しいリワークの出るAdagio For Stringsだが、近年のリワークでは圧倒的な人気を誇り、4年経った今でもArmin van Buurenが今年の夏何度もヨーロッパのフェスで投下しているほどである。説明不要の名曲中の名曲、Castorでもかかることを期待したい。
James Dymond & Chris Schweizer – Spectrum [FSOE] (2017)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFvLz7y4jXc
Jamesのようにまた旬のアーティストChris Schweizer。そんな旬の二人の作品がやばくないわけがない。Aly & Filaが半年以上にわたりヘビープレイ、Beatportで2週弱一位に輝き続けただけでなく、Armin van Buuren、Paul van Dyk、John O’Callaghanと大御所からもサポートを受け2017年Jamesの一番の大ヒットとなった。疾走感Maxの立ち上がり、美しいブレイクの前半、トラックだけでなくセットのクライマックスにもなりえるサビ、そしてテッキーな展開を見せるサビ後のヘビーなシンセのリフと、どこをとっても完璧だ。
JAMES DYMOND BIO
Grabbing the attention of the Trance World and quickly climbing the ladder of success in the cut-throat world of music, James Dymond has captured the adoration of fans and co-artists alike with his spellbinding sounds. James Dymond has taken the term, “grand entrance”, to a whole new level..
Hailing from training in classical music, James Dymond entered the Trance scene in September 2011 in a blaze of light of musical glory. His captivating sound brought him quickly to the attention of many established artists but most notably Armin van Buuren who featured James' track 'Gundam' on his 'Universal Religion Chapter 6' CD compilation, which was later released under Armin's legendary label, Armind Recordings. Armin has also rewarded James’ musical prowess by labeling multiple tracks of his as, 'Tune of the Week' on his weekly “A State of Trance” radio show where he has stated - “If you were to look up ‘uplifting’ in a dictionary, I’m sure you’ll find James Dymond in there somewhere!”
Throughout James' music career he has had a string of hit releases, both in originals, collaborations and remixes. 2015 seen James team up with “Future Sound of Egypt” the label of trance icons “Aly & Fila”. This relationship gave James multiple Top 5s with his hits, “Renegade”, “Echoes”, “Push”, “It Ain’t Over” and “Deep Down Below” and a chart topping Number 1 with “Spectrum” that also climbed inside the Beatport overall Top 30. This success has set set up opportunities for James to remix for artists such as Aly & Fila, Craig Connelly, M.I.K.E Push and more. Aside from James’ FSOE released he’s had success with a collaboration with Ben Nicky, titled 'Refresh', the hugely supported original 'Siren's Song' released on Armada's exclusive 'Who's Afraid Of 138 Recordings' and tracks such as ‘Slingshot’, ‘Millenium’, ‘Solidus’, ‘Carbon’, ‘Just Let Me Be’ and ‘Samples of Silk’ on labels including, “Perfecto”, “Mental Asylum”, “Monster Tunes” and more. Equally on form with his remixes James has put his slant on classic Trance tracks such as, “Armin van Buuren – Communication”, “Binary Finary – 1998” and “Ralphie B – Massive” (which immediately gained a spot in Black Hole Recordings’ “In Trance We Trust Records” and then topped the Trackitdown Trance download charts) as well as a string of remixes for industry heavy weights Indecent Noise, Jordan Suckley and Mark Sherry.
James has regularly found support from almost every notable DJ in the scene, whether this is live at worldwide performances or on countless digital radio stations, as well as 2 plays on BBC Radio 1 ‘In New DJs We Trust’ show. Hailed by Armada as someone who, “…could very well be the answer to a promising future of trance,” James Dymond continues to prove his admirers true. His stunning rise has left a wake of successful gigs. He opened at the “Who's Afraid Of 138” stage at ASOT 600, the first time the arena was created in front of crowd that topped 5,000 people. He has headlined at the world famous Ministry of Sound in London, been booked for gigs in almost every continent of the world including sold out shows in London, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Madrid, Prague,Warsaw, Belarus, Bangkok, Borneo, Dubai, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Auckland and Argentina to name just a few. Add to that festivals such as “Dreamstate”, ‘Nature One’ (Frankfurt), ‘420 Festival’ (LA), ‘Volksfest’ (Plymouth), Grotesque (Amsterdam), Luminosity three times (Amsterdam) and ‘Amsterdam Music Festival’ (Amsterdam), James is no stranger to performing in front of some of the biggest crowds in the scene.
James continues to impress with his emotionally-charged performances that fill the dance floor with energy. A Dymond set is not just another trance set but a deep and passionate journey into emotion and sentiment while riding the waves of electronic music.