Max Essa Profile Originally from London but currently based in Tokyo, Max Essa as been working as a music producer and D.J since the early 1990’s. In 1993 he made his debut as a producer on the legendary Warp Records. During the next few years Max went on to work for a variety of labels such as Paper Recordings, D-Vision and D.i.Y Discs, collaborating with a diverse array of artists including Charles Webster and Mark Rae. In 2000 Max started playing guitar for the band Long Distance Runners and over the next 2 – 3 years concentrated on a gruelling series of live performances and events as part of the band. Performing all over the U.K as well as Europe, Long Distance Runners were renowned for their extreme performance style and chaotic live shows. After an exhausting few years with the band Max quit to concentrate on his work with Stevie Kotey’s Bear Funk label. His critically acclaimed Midnight Garden E.P was released in 2006 and signalled something of a new direction. The record combined Max’s guitar work with a slower, ‘Balearic’ sound which was in tune perfectly with the resurgence in popularity of all things ‘Cosmic’ and Disco. Since the release of this record Max has gone onto remix many artists including Rubies (Telle Records), Coyote (Is It Balearic Recordings?) and Sorcerer (Tirk Records). In 2009 he produced two L.P’s for Bear Funk - ‘Continental Drift’ and ‘Zim Zim Zah Zah’ (in collaboration with Stevie Kotey). 2010 has been Max’s busiest year yet with the launch of his own label, Jansen Jardin, focusing on a more ‘House’ sound and featuring artists from both Japan and Europe. He has a new solo L.P entitled, ‘White Shoes Blue Dreams’ due out in October on Bear Funk, as well as singles for Is It Balearic? Recordings and Feel Music scheduled for release in the summer. Remixes on Nang Records, Solardisco and Ene Records are also due out later in the year. Contact: www.myspace.com/maxessmusic www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=110050799940&ref=ts Recent discography: http://www.discogs.com/artist/Max+Essa