IMD
Darren Emerson
Darren Emerson is one of the most influential figures in dance music, an accolade that after a career spanning more than 18 years and counting…
Whilst growing up on a diet of hip-hop, break-dancing and later acid house, Darren bought his first set of decks at 14 and began Djing in clubs at the tender age of 16. Inspired by DJs such as Jazzy M, Darren would travel two hours on a train from his hometown in Essex to visit record stores across London for the latest vinyl. His first gig was at a club called Outers in Southend, playing early Chicago and Balearic house. He then progressed onto the Milk Bar and Limelight, djing alongside Johnny Walker and soon gaining recognition by being named as DJ of the month in both the Face and I-D magazine – soon the bookings came flooding in…
Darren chose to ditch his job as an established city trader and take on dance music full time. Recently turned 18, a friend introduced him to Rick Smith and Karl Hyde. Smith and Hyde had been in a band together for several years and needed a new injection from a DJ/Producer – in the form of Darren - and the rest is, well… Underworld.
Signed to Junior Boys Own - whom Darren was already producing for, the band released three albums: ‘Dubnobasswithmyheadman’, ‘Second Toughest in the Infant’ and ‘Beaucoup Fish’ - and have since sold over a million albums world-wide. Their hits include ‘Cowgirl’, ‘Rez’, ‘Dark and Long’ and of course, ‘Born Slippy’ – all classics. As well as their chart success, Underworld were renowned for their stunning and unpredictable live shows.
2000 saw Darren depart from the band and go at it solo. Although Underworld had been his passion for 10 years, it was time to branch out; expand his DJíng and work with producers he was meeting on his travels across the world.
The first collaboration saw Darren and DJ cohort Sasha produce the Ibiza classic - ‘Scorchio’ – a perfect accompaniment for Space on Sundays. Re-establishing himself as a tech-house heavyweight, two Global Underground compilations soon followed; ‘Uruguay’ and ‘Singapore’ and the hugely successful Underwater Episodes 1 & 2. All proving that Darren was back to doing what he does best; showcasing a party-wise selection of deep, chunky house and funky techno cuts to perfection. Darren has also, since his first remix for Gat Décor’s ‘Passion’ on Effective Records in 1992 (Darren’s first label), remixed tracks for Fat Boy Slim, The Prodigy, Puff Daddy, Hatiras’ ‘Spaced Invader’ (Defected) Meeker and Gus Gus.
Darren started Underwater Records in 1994 - initially to release records for his friends, the label, since its inception has seen releases from Steve Mac, Mutiny, Meeker, Gus Gus, Pnau, Paul Jackson, Sharam Jey and Tim Deluxe – whose ‘Sirens/ We All Love Sax’ and ‘It Just Won’t Do’ managed to put Underwater firmly in place on the independent label spectrum. In 2003 Underwater was voted ‘label of the year’ by DJ Magazine and went from strength to strength releasing albums and singles from its ever growing and increasingly varied roster of artists. Darren continued his hugely successful Underwater residency at London’s The End, until the club sadly closed its doors early 2009. The residency began in February 2001 and has since seen the likes of Fatboy Slim, Josh Wink, Carl Craig, Tim Deluxe, D. Ramirez and Yousef alongside up and coming talent like Serge Santiago and Deepgroove.
Having spent most of 2007 touring the globe as one of the world's most in demand DJ's, Darren has recently returned to the studio which is very exciting news indeed. In 2008 Darren released tasty new techno club track ‘Crash Jack’ which received support from heavyweight DJ’s such as James Zabiela and John Digweed.
In February 2009, Darren will be releasing his eagerly anticipated 3rd Global Underground mix CD ‘Bogota’ whilst continuing his unrelenting schedule of Djing around the globe - at some point he sleeps.
www.darrenemerson.com / www.myspace.com/dazemerson
Dates
Gallery
Releases
Darren Emerson - H2O 050 EP - Underwater Records 2005
Darren Emerson - Bouncer - Underwater Records 2005
Darren Emerson - H2O - Underwater Records 2002
Darren Emerson & Sasha - Scorchio - Deconstruction 2000
Underworld - Everything, Everything - Junior Boys Own 2000
Underworld - King Of Snakes - Junior Boys Own 1999
Underworld - Jumbo - Junior Boys Own 1999
Underworld - Bruce Lee - Junior Boys Own 1999
Underworld - Beaucoup Fish - Junior Boys Own 1999
Underworld - Push Upstairs - V2 Records 1997
Underworld - Moaner - Junior Boys Own 1997
Underworld - Juanita - Junior Boys Own 1996
Underworld - Tin There / Musique - Astralwerks 1996
Underworld - Second Toughest In The Infants - Junior Boys Own 1996
Underworld - Rowla / Deep Pan - Junior Boys Own 1996
Underworld - Pearl's Girl - Junior Boys Own 1996
Underworld - Born Slippy.NUXX - Junior Boys Own 1996
Underworld - Born Slippy - Junior Boys Own 1995
Underworld - Spikee / Dog Man Go Whoof - Junior Boys Own 1994
Underworld - Dirty Epic - DMD 1994
Underworld - Dark & Long - Junior Boys Own 1994
Underworld - Cowgirl - Wax Trax! Records 1994
Underworld - Rez / Why, Why, Why - Collect Boys Own 1993
Underworld - Mmm... Skyscraper I Love You - Boys Own Recordings1993
Underworld - Dubnobasswithmyheadman - Boys Own Recordings1993
Underworld - Mother Earth / The Hump - Tomato Records 1992
Lemon Interrupt - Dirty Guitar - Collect Boys Own 1992
Lemon Interrupt - Dirty - Junior Boys Own 1992
Lemon Interrupt - Big Mouth / Eclipse - Junior Boys Own 1992
Remixes
D. Ramirez - La Discotek (Darren Emerson Remix) - Underwater Records 2007
Arthur Baker feat. Tim Wheeler - Glow (Darren Emerson Remix) - Underwater Records 2006
Random House Project & Robert Owens Longing (Darren Emerson mix) - Underwater Records 2004
Pnau - Again (Darren Emerson Remix) - Underwater Records 2003
P. Diddy feat. Kelis - Lets Get Ill (Darren Emerson Remix) - Universal 2003
Gus Gus - David (Darren Emerson Remix) - Underwater Records 2002
Slam - Alien Radio (Darren Emerson Remix) - Soma 2002
Sasha & Darren Emerson Scorchio (Emerson's Late Night Dub) - Deconstruction 2001
Brother Brown - Star Catching Girl (Darren Emerson Underwater Mix) - Rulin Records 2001
Meeker - Mountains (Darren Emerson Remix) - Underwater Records 2001
Hatiras - Spaced Invader (Darren Emerson's Underwater Remix) - Defected 2000
Fatboy Slim - Sunset (Bird Of Prey (Darren Emerson Remix) - Skint 2000
Massive Attack - Risingson (Darren Emerson For Underworld Mix) - Wild Bunch Records1997
Chemical Brothers - Leave Home (Underworld Mix 1) - Astralwerks1996
Tata Box Inhibitors - Protein (Darren Emerson's Underwater Mix) - Touche1996
Bjork - I Miss You (Underwater Mix) - Elektra 1996
Everything But The Girl - Before Today (Darren Emerson Underwater Remix) - Virgin 1994
Spooky - Schmoo Dub (Underworld Remix) - Guerrila 1994
108 Grand - Te Quiero (Darren Emerson Underworld Remix) - Brute Records 1993
Bjork - Human Behaviour (Underworld Remix) - One Little Indian 1993
Eagles Prey - Tonto's Drum (Darren Emerson Remix) - Plastic Fantastic 1992
Gat Décor - Passion (Darren Emerson Remix) - Effective Records 1992
Shakespeare's Sister - (The Green Eyed Dub) - London Records 1992
Shakespeare's Sister - Black Sky (Dub Extravaganza Part 2) - London Records 1992
Leftfield - Song Of Life (The Lemon Interrupt Mix) - Hard Hands 1992
DJ Mixes
Darren Emerson Live At: Underwater, The End, London DJ Magazine 2007
Darren Emerson & Magik Johnson - Underwater Episode V - Underwater Records 2006
Darren Emerson & Sharam Jey - Underwater Episode 4 - Underwater Records 2005
Darren Emerson & Paul Jackson - Underwater Episode 3 - Underwater Records 2004
Darren Emerson & Mutiny - Underwater Episode 2 - Underwater Records 2003
Darren Emerson & Tim Deluxe - Underwater Episode 1 - Underwater Records 2002
Darren Emerson - Global Underground 020: Singapore - GU 2001
Darren Emerson - Global Underground 015: Uruguay - GU 2000
Darren Emerson & Deep Dish - Cream Separates - Deconstruction 1997
Darren Emerson & Alex Paterson - TEXtures - Volume 1996
Darren Emerson & Dave Angel - Mixmag Live!Volume 13 - Techno DMC Publishing 1996
Darren Emerson / CJ Mackintosh / John Digweed / Pete Tong - Essential Mix 2 - FFRR 1996
Darren Emerson - Psychotrance 2 - Moonshine Music 1995
Darren Emerson - Muzik Masters - Muzik Magazine 1995