Max Graham

Max Graham (/ˈɡreɪəm/;[1] born April 17, 1971) is a British-Canadian DJ, composer, and producer of dance music. Known for fusing progressive house, trance, and techno, he is most famous for his open-to-close DJ Sets (where he typically plays 6 to 8 hours),[2][3] his Cycles CD series/radio show, and his remix of the classic song "Owner of a Lonely Heart" (by Yes) in 2005. He is also the founder of record labels Re*Brand and Cycles.[4]

This article is about the Canadian musician. For the Australian footballer, see Max Graham (footballer). For the American actor, see T. Max Graham.
Maximilian Graham
Max Graham
Background information
Birth nameMax Graham
Also known asShelter
Born (1971-04-17) April 17, 1971
London, England
OriginOttawa, Ontario, Canada
GenresProgressive house, house, techno, trance
Occupation(s)Disc jockey, Record producer, Remixer
InstrumentsTurntables, keyboards, programming, piano, drums
Years active1984–1985 (turntablist), 1993–present (DJ), 2000–present (Producer)
LabelsRe*brand Records, Cycles

Biography

Graham was born in London, England, and lived in Spain, New York City and Los Angeles before settling in Ottawa, Canada, in 1989. At age 15, in 1986, he began as a hip-hop DJ before discovering dance music in the 1990s.[5] He was a resident DJ at the famed Atomic Nightclub in Ottawa from 1997–2001. He has been touring globally as a DJ and producing melodic dance music since 2000.

Career

1997–2001: Atomic Nightclub, Hope Recordings

During his residency at Atomic Nightclub, Graham was discovered by label executives and signed to Hope Recordings;[6] one of his first productions, “Airtight”, was noticed by Nick Warren and Paul Oakenfold in 2000. Oakenfold subsequently put two of Graham's tracks on his album Another World.[7] Tiesto also put “Airtight” on his In Search of Sunrise 2 album. That same year, “Airtight” was nominated for a Juno Award.[8] He gained immediate acclaim and was voted #23 in the DJMag top 100 DJs for 2001[9] and was chosen to mix the famous Tranceport CD Series (Tranceport 4) that year.[10]

2002–04: ShineMusic and the "sidechain" mixes

Graham created the "Shine" concept in 2002, which included a mix CD,[11] a label (Shinemusic),[12] and club nights. In 2004, Graham signed two singles to Sander Kleinenberg's Little Mountain label, entitled "Does She Know Yet?" and "Automatic Weapon".[13] His remixes at the time went by the name "Max Graham's Sidechain Mix", named after the bass-pad sound that was heavily sidechained in his tracks.[14] Included in these remixes was Guy Gerber's “Stoppage Time”, released on John Digweed's Bedrock Label.[15]

2005–06: “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”, Essential Mix

Graham produced a bootleg remix of Yes track "Owner of a Lonely Heart", which was played on BBC Radio 1 and signed by Ministry of Sound and released globally. It reached #9 in the UK, giving Graham his first Top-10 UK Hit.[16] During this same period, Graham was signed to the Bullitt agency and released music on Deep Dish's Yoshitoshi Recordings, including the single "Crank".[17] 2006 saw him invited for his first Essential Mix.[18]

2008–10: Armada, Cycles and Radio (Artist album)

In 2008, Graham shifted to a more melodic sound and signed with Armada Music. He began his CD series Cycles, which featured 8 compilations throughout the series, including a selection of progressive and trance songs.[19] In 2010, he release his first artist album, Radio,[20] which included collaborations with Jessica Riddle, Neev Kennedy, Ana Criado and Protoculture.

2011–14: open-to-close sets, trance, and The Evil ID

From 2008 to 2017, Graham released a new Cycles CD almost every year as a self-proclaimed “snapshot” of his current DJ sound.[21] He also began touring exclusively playing open-to-close shows, where he focused on a wide variety of genres and a true journey of music.[22][2] Producing under his own name, he made singles "Sun In The Winter",[23] "Nothing Else Matters",[24] and the hit "The Evil ID",[25] which was championed by Armin Van Buuren at Tomorrowland.[26] Graham also performed regularly at A State Of Trance shows. [27] During that period, Graham teamed up with Protoculture to release a string of singles and remixes, including a remake of Grace’s "Not Over Yet".[28]

2015–17: Leaving Armada, moving away from trance, changing sound

In 2015, Graham began to move away from trance (due to the changing sound that no longer appealed to him)[2] and left Armada, closing down his Rebrand label in the process.[29] His sound changed, and he started the label Cycles with Black Hole Recordings. [30] This period saw more underground releases, like "Redemption"[31] and "One Hundred",[32] and showcased deeper sounds such as the tracks "Argentina" [33] and "Sunrise in Flight".[34] He also collaborated with Estiva on the track "Generation".[35]

2017: The End of Cycles

In late 2017, Graham announced via Facebook that he was ending the weekly Cycles Radio episodes and taking an extended break from touring and making music.[36]

2019: The Return

In 2019, Graham returned to the scene and announced via social media in August, that he is currently in the studio working on his second artist album, and relaunching Cycles Radio with a new monthly format.[37][38]

DJ

Graham is known mostly these days as a DJ for his open-to-close sets, where he typically plays 6-8 hours.[3] He has performed on Above and Beyond's Group Therapy Radio (multiple times),[39] Pete Tong's Essential Mix,[18] John Digweed's Transitions[40] and Armin van Buuren's A State of Trance.[41] He's toured to over 75 countries and performed at such festivals as Ultra,[42] Tomorrowland [43] and Dance Valley [44] as well as performed at some of the most famed venues in the world, including Ministry of Sound;[45] Pacha, Ibiza; Ushuaia, Ibiza;[46] Twilo, New York; Space Terrace, Miami;[47] and open-to-close sets at Cielo, New York,[48] and Output, New York.[49]

Producer

Graham's production varies in genre and has been at times hard to classify [50][51] Under his name he makes predominantly Progressive House and Progressive Trance while he also makes Techno under the alias Shelter.[52]

Label Owner

He has owned three record labels: ShineMusic, Rebrand Records and Cycles Music.[29] He also hosted Cycles Radio for 317 episodes[53] until it went on extended hiatus in late 2017. Graham resumed Cycles Radio in August 2019.[37]

Discography

Studio albums

Mix albums

Singles

Remixes
  • 2000: Bullitt - Cried to Dream - Virgin Music
  • 2000: Starecase - Lost 22 - Hope Recordings
  • 2000: Subgod - Velodrome TV - Polyester
  • 2000: Vicious Cycles - Vicious Cycles - Platipus Records
  • 2001: Uberzone - Bounce - Astralwerks
  • 2001: Conjure One - Redemption - Nettwerk
  • 2001: globe - Can't Stop Fallin' In Love - Avex Trax
  • 2002: Conjure One - Sleep - Nettwerk
  • 2002: Cultivate - Broken Pieces - Lost Language
  • 2002: Barakka - Song to the Siren - Lost Language
  • 2003: Strawberry Fields - Release Records
  • 2004: Madoka - Afterburner - Private Reality
  • 2004: Jase From Outta Space - Do What You Want - Shine Music
  • 2004: Tilt - Twelve - Lost Language
  • 2004: DT8 Project - Winter - Data Records
  • 2005: Sam Perez - Across the Ocean - Yoshitoshi
  • 2005: Leah - Contact High - Wooden Records
  • 2006: Filterheadz - Endless Summer - Love Distortion
  • 2007: Purple Code - The Rising - Re*Brand Records
  • 2008: Marcus Schossow - Swedish Beatballs - Coldharbour
  • 2008: Jerome Isma - Vila Nova - Electric
  • 2010: tyDi Feat. Tanya Zygar - Half Light - AVA Recordings
  • 2010: Filo & Peri ft. Audrey Gallagher - This Night - VANDIT
  • 2011: Grace - Not Over Yet w/ Protoculture - Perfecto
  • 2011: Protoculture - Topaz - Re*Brand Records w/ Armada Music
  • 2012: Solarstone & Scott Bond - 3rd Earth - Captivating Sounds w/ Armada Music
  • 2013: Gabriel & Dresden ft. Neil Ormandy - Tomorrow Comes w/ Protoculture - Organized Nature w/ Armada Music

DJ Magazine Top 100 rankings
  • 2001: No. 23 (Debut)
  • 2002: No. 83
  • 2003: No. 56
  • 2004: No. 64
  • 2005: No. 96

References
  1. Wells, John C. (2008), Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.), Longman, p. 350, ISBN 9781405881180
  2. "Max Graham Talks The Evolution Of Trance And Compares EDM To Applesauc– iEDM". Iedm.com.
  3. "max graham open to close sets - Google Search". Google.com.
  4. Hajderaj, Ani. "Max Graham Appreciates His Ties to Canadian Cities While Moving Forward". Thump.vice.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  5. "Max Graham: Yes, but faster". Itm.junkee.com.
  6. "Bio - DJ Biography - Max Graham (Canada)". Indoclubbing.com.
  7. "Paul Oakenfold - Perfecto Presents Another World". Discogs.com.
  8. "2001 | Best Dance Recording | Max Graham". Junoawards.ca.
  9. "DJ Mag TOP 100 DJ'S 2001". Electronicdancemusic.cz.
  10. "Max Graham - Transport 4". Discogs.com.
  11. "Max Graham looking to Shine with new Mix CD". Resident Advisor.
  12. "Shinemusic". Discogs.com.
  13. "Review: Max Graham - Automatic Weapon / Does She Know Yet". Resident Advisor.
  14. "max graham sidechain mix - Google Search". Google.com.
  15. "Guy Gerber - Stoppage Time (Max Graham Sidechain Mix) - Listen on Deezer". Deezer.com.
  16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  17. "Review: Max Graham – Crank". Resident Advisor.
  18. "Essential Mix - 2006-07-16 by Tracklist and Cuesheet - DJTracklists.com". Djtracklists.com.
  19. "Max Graham on Apple Music". Apple Music.
  20. "Max Graham - Radio". Discogs.com.
  21. "Max Graham presents Cycles 6 from Armada Music Bundles on Beatport". Beatport.com.
  22. Hajderaj, Ani (July 15, 2014). "Max Graham Appreciates His Ties to Canadian Cities While Moving Forward". Vice.com.
  23. "Max Graham feat. Neev Kennedy - Sun In The Winter (Official Music Video) [High Quality". YouTube. 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  24. "Max Graham ft. Ana Criado - Nothing Else Matters (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 2010-09-30. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  25. "Max Graham - The Evil ID [RE*BRAND]". 1001Tracklists.com.
  26. "Armin van Buuren @ Tomorrowland 2013 (The Evil Id & Humming the Lights)". YouTube. 2013-10-24. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  27. "Max Graham – Live @ A State of Trance, ASOT 650 (Utrecht, Netherlands) – 15.02.2014". Mixcloud.com.
  28. "Grace - Not Over Yet (Max Graham vs Protoculture Remix)". YouTube. 2011-10-28. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  29. Vicious, Syd (May 21, 2015). "Max Graham Announces Departure from Rebrand Records to Start Cycles Label". Youredm.com.
  30. "Max Graham". Blackholerecordings.com.
  31. "Max Graham - Redemption [Cycles". YouTube. 2015-06-01. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  32. "Max Graham - One Hundred (Raw Mix) [Cycles". YouTube. 2015-11-09. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  33. "Max Graham - Argentina [Cycles". YouTube. 2015-09-29. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  34. "Max Graham - Sunrise In Flight [Cycles". YouTube. 2015-09-29. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  35. "Max Graham & Estiva - Generation (Club Mix) [Cycles". YouTube. 2017-02-06. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  36. "Max Graham - Hey Everyone. As you know from a previous..." Facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  37. "Max Graham - Cycles Radio 2019". SoundCloud.com.
  39. "Group Therapy 217 with Above & Beyond and Max Graham". Soundcloud.com.
  40. "2002 - Kiss 100 John Digweed - Max Graham Guest mix". Soundcloud.com.
  41. "Mexico City « A State of Trance". Astateoftrance.com.
  42. "Ultra Music Festival announces amazing line-up". Resident Advisor.
  44. "Beatfactor: Dance Valley 2004 lineup". Beatfactor.net.
  45. "max graham ministry of sound - Google Search". Google.com.
  46. "Today, Daytime, Ushuaia Ibiza presents: Armin Van Buuren and friends!".
  47. "Winter Oasis". Resident Advisor.
  48. "Max Graham: Open to Close Set". Resident Advisor.
  49. "Max Graham Open to Close Cycles 8 Tour - Tickets - OUTPUT, Brooklyn, NY - April 14, 2017 2:00am - NIGHTOUT". Nightout.com.
  50. "Going places: DJ Max Graham, the globetrotting mix master". South China Morning Post. November 26, 2014.
  51. "max graham genre - Google Search". Google.com.
  52. "Shelter (Max Graham) - Absolution (2015)". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  53. "@CyclesRadio". SoundCloud.com.
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