Steve Blake (DJ)

Not to be confused with sportsperson Steve Blake.

Steve Blake
OriginLondon
GenresHard trance, Hard house
Occupation(s)Record producer, Disc Jockey
Years active1990 -
LabelsTidy Trax, React, Tripoli Trax, Nukleuz[1]

Steve Blake is a London-based trance and hard house disc jockey and record producer. He has released a number of well-received records, and plays high-tempo bass-heavy DJ sets at c. 145 BPM.[2]

Career

Blake started as a disc jockey in c. 1990 in the London club scene, and from 1997 began to play hard house sets in underground clubs.[2] He came to prominence with his 1999 release "Expression", on the Tidy Trax label. It achieved chart success, was widely played by club DJs at the time, and received critical praise with journalist Mark Kavanagh of Muzik magazine calling it a "classic".[2][3][4][5][6] In 2002 Blake released the single "I Get A Rush", which peaked at #13 in the UK official dance chart, and has been featured on several dance music compilation albums including Extreme Euphoria mixed by Lisa Lashes, which reached #16 in the UK compilation album chart.[3][7][8] Blake has released approximately 20 singles over his producing career, and has also released a number of remixes of tracks such as "Dreamer" and the K90 single "Breathe".[1]

Blake has regularly collaborated with his fellow hard house DJs, including in 2002 with Nick Sentience to compile and mix the Reactivate Energize album on the React label, which peaked at #84 in the UK official compilations chart.[9][10][11] Blake and Phil Reynolds remixed Silent Jealousy, which was included on the Trance X album that peaked at #27 on the Oricon chart in 2001.[12] As of 2023, Blake continues to perform live DJ sets.[13]

Discography

Steve Blake singles
Title Artist Year Peak
UK Singles		 Peak
UK Dance
The Recycle EP[3] Steve Blake/Hyperlogic 1999 86 10
Expression[3] Steve Blake 1999 32
Feelin'[6] Steve Blake 2000
I Get A Rush[3] Steve Blake 2002 95 13
Phase 2[3][14] Steve Blake & Phil Reynolds 2002 31

References

  1. ^ a b "HF / Features - Interview with a UK hard trance legend - Steve Blake". HarderFaster.net. 17 May 2005. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Gormack, Nick (26 May 2000). "London DJ hooked on house". The Press. ProQuest 314306059. Archived from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "STEVE BLAKE songs and albums - full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  4. ^ "A Bullshitter's Guide to Hard House". Vice Magazine. 17 April 2015. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024. If you can play me a DJ mix with a stronger four dart finish than "One More" by DJ Ablaze, "In My House" by Barabas & OD1, "Expression" by Steve Blake and "Dancing On A Ceiling (Tony De Vit Remix)" I'll be damned.
  5. ^ Bird, Kev (July 1998). "In The Bag". Muzik. p. 97. Retrieved 9 March 2024. BLAKE came up trumps with "Expressions" which has been licensed to Tidy Trax. The analogue synth patterns, tough beats and cheese-tainted main hook combine to make this one a winner. It's certain be massive down at Trade
  6. ^ a b Kavanagh, Mark (July 2000). "Reviews". Muzik. p. 107. The maker of the classic, Expression' returns after a lengthy hiatus with another high-octane bounder peppered with infectious riffs, tough beats and vocal snippets.
  7. ^ "EXTREME EUPHORIA – VARIOUS ARTISTS - Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Release "Extreme Euphoria" by Lisa Lashes - MusicBrainz". Musicbrainz. Archived from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Phil Reynolds · Biography". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  10. ^ "REACTIVATE ENERGIZE – VARIOUS ARTISTS - Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Reactivate Energized - Various Artists - Album - AllMusic". Allmusic. Archived from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Trance X - X JAPAN". Oricon. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Steve Blake". Ents24. Archived from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  14. ^ Kavanagh, Mark (December 2002). "Reviews". Muzik. p. 86. If Steve's 'Get A Rush' (also on Tripoli) was your bag, then the simple but effective trancey hooks on this will also grab you.