Damian Lazarus is one of the most well-known names in the house and techno scene today. The Eternal Alchemist is known for bringing its progressive, emotional and psychedelic music to audiophiles around the world. The head of the Crosstown Rebels label has impressed for 20 years, remaining at the top of the ever-changing dance music landscape.
The influential underground dance music label was born when Lazaro wanted to release his music without restrictions. "I don't want to feel like I have to be accountable to anyone when it comes to choosing music to work with artists," he says. "So I created Crosstown Rebels as a way to try to build a community of artists and people with strong personalities from around the world who are connected musically."
Imprint nearly went bankrupt in the mid-1990s, but Lazar's decision to move to Los Angeles, home to a prominent rave scene, and the subsequent dance music boom in the US led to the label's triumph. As a result, some of his most popular records of all time were released by the label's top artists.
Artis Rasa celebrates CR20 The Album's birthday on Friday, May 12.
The eight-track LP features previously unreleased tracks and new mixes that include material from Black Coffee, Maceo Plex, Department of the Arts, Dennis Cruz and more. This album represents the past, present, and future of Crosstown Rebels. Among the sounds that can be heard on CR20 The Album , piano, tribal melodies, penetrating synths, haunting vocals, underground music, and bass.
"It's been 20 years of creating, discovering and releasing the best electronic music of the last 20 years," said Lazaro. “I wanted to try to find some special moments from those 20 years and I wanted to remix some songs from artists I'm working with today. I also sat down with some gems and never heard a song that I had in my back pocket in 10 or 12 years. It's a roundup of the label's finest sounds from the past, present, and future.
According to the producers, he selected songs representing some of the label's biggest and most popular artists, such as Jamie, Art Department and Maceo Plex, as well as upcoming artists. For example, Dubshape's "Ever Cow Has A Bird" was one of the label's best-loved songs, and Lazarus enlisted new artist Tibi Dabo to do a remix for the LP. Lazzaro said it was a "tough order" because some people don't like touching legendary songs. However, the remake seems to be a match made in heaven. Instead, Lazarus asked Black Coffee, one of dance music's biggest names, to remix "Horizon Red" from new producer Made By Pete.
Accompanying this release is a 240-page hardcover book entitled 20 Years of Magic, Madness and Music, which will be released on May 19. The coffee table features photos of artists and hundreds of Crosstown Rebels parties over the last 20 years, allowing viewers to get a sense of three potential newsmakers, say the producers of shows Get Lost and Day Zero. In addition, there will be a big documentary on the occasion of the anniversary. The documentary examines the development of the label between 2007 and 2013, having previously been filmed for other projects to put the trail in a wider perspective. Marko did a great job celebrating his accomplishments.
Indeed, Crosstown Rebels is one of the most influential labels in the underground dance music scene, and headliner Lazarus continues to champion and highlight artists from around the world who share his passionate and experimental approach to house music and beyond.
Mathew Jonson - Searching for New Planets With Oxygen (Original Mix) (Crosstown Rebels) OFFICIAL
