Freddy Fresh

Freddy Fresh is among the most active and prolific American underground dance music artists, having released more than a hundred records on a dozen different labels in less than half a decade. Born and bred in New York, Fresh's name is more often associated with the Minneapolis scene, to which he relocated in the late '80s after kick-starting a passion for hip-hop and house music production. Fresh formed his longest-running record label, Analog Recordings, in Minneapolis, and his label empire has since grown to include a host of sublabels (first Butterbeat and EMF, and then Socket and Boriqua), as well as Analog's U.K. arm. In addition to a growing stateside audience, Fresh is also one of the few contemporary non-Detroit techno/electro musicians to have a strong European following, and his records for Experimental, Harthouse, and Martin "Biochip C" Damm's Anodyne label have strengthened his international presence. Although Freddy's release history has included tracks in just about every style from hip-hop and house to techno and trance, his roots and most consistently pursued affectation lay in electro; his records thrive on buzzing modular analog noises and resolutely dirty production techniques, resulting in a distinct, instantly recognizable brand of funky, minimal, somewhat experimental dance music.

Although Fresh grew up a gothic rock/new wave junkie, a trip to the "boogie down" Bronx with his girlfriend (later his wife) in 1984 introduced him to the thriving N.Y.C. hip-hop scene. Instantly smitten, Fresh began collecting DJ tapes (Shep Pettibone, Jeff Mills, Frankie Bones, anything he could get his hands on) and, of course, records -- everything from Jonzun Crew and Newcleus to Liquid Liquid and Cerrone, Bill Withers and Cat Stevens -- and his collection has since grown to over 10,000 strong (making his side gigs as a DJ a bit easier). Fresh's first work behind the boards came via Bronx legends Boogie Down Productions, with Fred remixing a track for a B-side release (although good luck finding it, and Fred recommends you don't try!). From there, Freddy began piecing together a studio, collecting many of the ancient analog synths that give his records their distinct, almost studio-jam feel (he mixes all his tracks live). In 1992, after releasing debut singles on Nu Groove and Silvo Tancredis' Experimental imprint, Fresh established his first label, Analog, to release his own tracks. The label and its offshoots have since attracted such weighty names as Thomas Heckman, Tim Taylor, Cari Lekebusch, DJ Slip, the Bassbin Twins, and Biochip C. In 1995, Fresh inked a contract with noted German techno label Harthouse, and his second full-length, Accidentally Classic, was released by the label's U.K. arm in late 1996, with a Harthouse U.S. reissue following close behind. His third album, The Last True Family Man, followed on Harthouse Eye Q. Several singles and a mix album followed until the release of his next full-length, Music for Swingers in 2001. Additionally, Fresh has released records through Wisconsin-based acid stronghold Drop Bass Network, Labworks, and noted German electro label Electrecord.

from Wikipedia:

Freddy Fresh (born Frederick Schmid, 29 March 1963, Saint Paul, Minnesota) is among the most active and prolific American underground dance music musicians, having released more than a hundred records on many record labels. He is more often associated with the London scene, to which he relocated in the late 1990s, after having Top 40 chart success with one of his songs.

Biography

Fresh's first record label, Analog Recordings, was formed in late 1992. His label empire then grew to include a host of sub labels (Analog UK, Butterbeat, Electric Music Foundation, Socket and Boriqua). In addition to a growing Stateside audience, Fresh is also one of the few contemporary non-Detroit techno/electro musicians to have a strong European following. His records for Experimental, Harthouse, and Martin "Biochip C" Damm's Anodyne label have strengthened his international presence. Although Fresh's releases included tracks in hip hop and house and techno and trance, his roots and most consistently pursued affectation lay in electro and breaks.

Although Fresh grew up listening to gothic rock and new wave, a trip to the Bronx in 1984 introduced him to the hip hop scene. Fresh began collecting DJ tapes (Shep Pettibone and Marley Marl) and records from Jonzun Crew, Newcleus, Liquid Liquid, Cerrone, Shannon and Cat Stevens. His collection has since grown to thousands. Fresh's first work in the recording studio came via Boogie Down Productions, with Fresh remixing a track for a B-side release and from there piecing together a studio, and collecting many of the analog and modular synthesizers that give his records their distinct feel. Fresh mixes all his tracks live and sequences with an MPC 2oooXL and an MPC 4000 and uses pre-midi analog synthesizers and modular systems. In 1992, after releasing debut singles on Nu Groove and Experimental, Fresh established his first label, Analog, to release his own tracks.

The label and its offshoots have since attracted Thomas Heckman, Tim Taylor, Cari Lekebusch, DJ Slip, the Bassbin Twins, and Biochip C. In 1995, Fresh inked a contract with noted German techno label Harthouse Records, and his second full-length, Accidentally Classic, was released by the label's UK arm in late 1996, with a Harthouse US reissue. His third album, The Last True Family Man, followed on Eye Q. It spawned two international chart hits, "Badder Badder Schwing" featuring Fat Boy Slim, and "What It Is". The recordings peaked at #34 and #63 respectively in the UK Singles Chart in 1999. Several singles and a mix album followed, until the release Music for Swingers (2001). Fresh went on to release a string of albums on Howlin Records.

Fresh has released records through the Wisconsin based Drop Bass Network and the German label Electrecord. In 2000, Fresh also formed a collectors label specializing in vinyl 45 singles, Howlin' Record, and has since released over thirty five singles and four albums. These included "Have Records Will Travel", "Outstanding In His Field", "Diggin' Up Ghosts" and "Surrounded By Funk", as well as Howlin’ Greatest Hits.

In 2004 Fresh released a reference book, Freddy Fresh presents The Rap Records (Nerby Publishing LLC), dealing with the history of the early independent old school rap scene, that catalogued rap labels from 1979 to 1989. The book was featured in The Source, Vibe, The New York Times, and Village Voice, and won journalism awards in the United States, and has been recognized as the only reference book on this subject. Fresh released the updated second edition, with over 740 pages and more than 2,500 color photographs.

Fresh's music has also enjoyed commercial success in films such as Austin Powers in Goldmember, Jackie Chan's The Tuxedo and television commercials by Adidas, Budweiser and Coors. Fresh tours regularly and has DJ'd in over thirty four countries and has performed on television for MTV Canada, Club TV, S2, House Viva TV and Club Spain. His radio appearances included two Peel sessions for the John Peel on BBC Radio 1.

Currently Fresh is a teacher of DJ Techniques at the McNally Smith College of Music in Saint Paul.

Personal life

Freddy Fresh, married his wife Alexandra on April 21, 2005 in St Paul MN,They have two daughters, Arianna Isabella, born in December 2008 and Antonella Camille, born in May 2011.