Tweet
Ray Okpara
1978 born in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, he spent his childhood in his father’s homeland
Nigeria, in order to return to Germany in the age of nine years due to the at that time
dramatic economic and political situation in the west African state. Hope for imminent return
was not confirmed, but him and his family got rapid entrance to the local society.
He sees his musical roots in the underground Hip Hop of the west coast. That’s how he got
to know his partner since many years Johnny D.. Impressed by the different (electronic)
music styles, which came along on their journeys in night life, the first UK Garage records of
his co-inhabitant at that time got him to get interested in djing.
The fascination and variety which House music gave him led to a style change early in his
career. At first very vocal-loaded, as it was the case for the “RAJO” events, organised by
him, Johnny D. and Nick Curly, which pulled on itself the enthusiasm of the local public;
later he focused more on the deep, soulful but at the same time pushing beat. Following the
Chicago-House legend Derrick Carter, the expression-strong DJ is considered as a further
hopeful talent of the Mannheim club scene.
Influenced by the electronic movement in the Jungbusch (the part of Mannheim he lives in),
he also brought the technoid side of House music into his sets without leaving his musical
origin.
Ray works alot whith (some his oun) Loops, Loopplayer and Samples. His sound is straight
to the front. He himself says to his stlye deep-bumpin, tech-house – what is about the fact.
After the first Heimspiel party(25 djs on 5 floors) on witch the biggest and famous djs from
the Rhein-Neckar scene played.
Ray Okpara decided with Nekes Danias, Johnny Debese and Federico Molinari to open the
Zoo Club on the 1.October 2004 in the walls of the MS Connexion in Mannheim. Where they
stayed for one season. They had bookings like Steve Bug, Luciano, Cassy, Eloi Brunelle,
Pheek, Amir Javasoul, Losoul, Sean Dimitrie, Gabriel Ananda, Losoul...
March 2005 Ray Okpara moved to Berlin to get new impressions in life and music. Travelling
thru the Berlin nightlife, which started playing on the Pentagonik Release Party.
You just let yourself drag gladly by that musical product, which he creates!
Still travelling and still moving...
DJ W!LD
Labels:
Catwash Records , RAL , MOTIVBANK , Get Physical , Supplement facts , Brique Rouge , Crack & Speed , Adult Only , Detour , Visitor , Block , Twisted , Groovilicious , Positiva
Its not easy task following DJ W!LD..s path all across the planet ! Behind the decks for 12 years now, his career cannot be described in a few lines anymore … W !LD plays from one continent to another, as a tireless traveller, spreading hot underground music to all people with his technical mixes.
Dj Wild was born in Dijon and now lives in Paris. He was first seduced by the hip hop culture, which, at the end of 80’s, united dancers, mc's, singers and dj’s around music, in a festive spirit which is difficult to recreate. His artistic life started as a graffiti artist in the suburbs of Dijon. His stage name is an allusion to the cult movie of the 80’s "Wild Style," which captures the spirit of the pioneers of hip-hop in New York in the late 70’s.
In the early 90's, in France, techno music was considered a marginal movement only played in a small number of Parisian clubs such as the Boy or Luna. Having returned from England, after the explosion of "Summer of Love" in 1989, the Parisian Dj Laurent Garnier had his first residence in Dijon, at l’Enfer, which is now closed. In this quiet little town, opportunities to party were scarce and DJ Wild was immediately seduced by Laurent Garnier’s Dj sets at the Wake Up parties. This was a crucial revelation for the continuation of his artistic adventure.
In 1996, DJ Wild had his first opportunity to take possession of the turntables and started playing in Clubs in Paris (Fumoir at at the legendary club le Palace, Queen, Rex…). The same year, he met Peter Rauhofer and produced an ep, “Magic Orgasm”, N°1 in the charts in several countries. From that moment, he became internationally known. In 1999, he began again to produce music when he met Chris Carrier and Guillaume la Tortue (French Dj and producer in the 90’s). He signed 6 ep’s with them on Combustible and Adult Only. In 2003, Wild and Chris Carrier created the band Catwash, tribute to the famous 70’s movie “Car Wash” (cult musical known for its soundtrack written by Norman Whitfield, father of the Motown in the 60’s). First, Catwash is the fusion of two creative entities which prioritises the dance floor music and electronic influences. Their first ep’s were released on famous labels known for the quality of their productions (Detour, Visitor, Brique Rouge, Crack & Speed, Adult Only and Get Physical,Supplement facts ). Right from the start, their releases received critical acclaim from luminaries such as ANDREW WEATHEHALL, JOSH WINK, RICHIE HAWTIN, ,RICARDO VILLALOBOS ,JOHN DIGWEED, M.A.N.D.Y, LUCIANO and many others. Working the field between acid, minimal, chicago and sheer madness, the reputation of CATWASH is steadly growing. W !LD also released tracks on GET PHYSICAL or CRACK&SPEED, ADULT ONLY ,BRIQUE ROUGE among others under his CATWASH guise.
This electro music french ..JACK-OF-ALL –TRADES,.... despite his discretion, wich is often mistaken as shyness , has succeded in placing his mark on the club scene. Label Manager of CATWASH RECORDS, he..s tirelessly on the hunt for fresh new beats, and up and coming producers, Including REKLEINER, CATWASH ( DJ W!LD & CHRIS CARRIER) and TOMMY FOUR SEVEN, MONOMACHINE,DAVID K ,MIRCO VIOLI , FABIO GIANNELLI, ILARIO ALICANTE , !!!!!!.
Today, DJ W!LD, 33, is more than present on the electronic music scene and signs numerous tracks and remix with Catwash or under his name supported already by LUCIANO , RARESH, RICARDO VILLALOBOS, GUIDO SCHNEIDER,ANJA SCHNEIDER.He ‘s back with his first love deep house and just signed on MOTIVBANK(sub label cadenza ) and RAL the famous bootleg label from Ricardo villalobos ,an & Luciano after artist like rhadoo, pedro ,luciano. He also wants to write a new page of his musical history by collaborating with other musicians (a collaboration with Kova Rea is announced on his next ep), launch the expected Catwash album FUMAR on the label Adult Only with remix from Ilario alicante ,Boris Werner & kouam djoko, Lemos, Kreon, Phil Weeks,David k, San proper !!! The bass line will not stop
