Timo Maas

All Music Guide:

Düsseldorf's Timo Maas is mostly associated with his involvement in Germany's trance scene as a DJ and producer. Often misspelled by Americans as Timo Mass, he gained a large global at the height of the global trance music scene, which had a large push from DJs such as Paul Van Dyk and Sandra Collins in the mid- to late '90s.

Maas' first exposure to music came via listening to the radio when he was young. He bought his first record when he was nine and his first pair of turntables when he was 17. His earlier gigs were around Germany playing mostly Top 40 records at bars, sneaking in the occasional techno record. In 1982 he played his first real official set in the basement of a friend's house at a party and was booked a lengthy six years later for his first official all-techno gig. He was introduced to the rave scene in 1992, in its early German days, through a booking at an Easter rave. Following were a long string of big rave events and local exposure. The production bug first bit Maas in the early '80s, but his first record, "The Final XS," was not released until 1995. Called cheesy by Maas himself, the record did not do very well in most markets. Shortly after, he teamed with producer Gary D on the more successful "Die Herdplatte" record. Gary D also landed Maas a residency at one of Hamburg's better-known clubs, Tunnel, from 1994 to 1996.

Connections in England later brought Maas to the Bristol-based progressive house club Lakota and the label Hope Recordings. During 1996-97, he released singles through labels including Hope, Lakota, Phuture Wax, and UK44, as well as an album under his Orinoko moniker. He also recorded with manager and mate Leon Alexander under Mad Dogs and Englishmen. In 2000, Timo Maas took a residency at the New York City mega-club Twilo with colleagues Deep Dish. Following the massive success of his Azzido Da Bass remix "Dooms Night" and his own track "Ubik," Maas released 2000's Music for the Maases, a mix album largely composed of his own productions and remixes. After one more mix album, Connected, his production debut Loud appeared in early 2002.

Wikipedia:

Timo Maas (born July 27, 1969, Bückeburg, West Germany) is a German electronic music DJ/producer and remixer.

Career

Maas bought his first set of turntables at the age of 17, and played his very first DJ set in 1982 at a party in his friend's home. The beginning of his career consisted mostly of gigs around Germany playing "Top 40"-records with the occasional techno record sneaked in, but it was to be another 6 years from his debut DJ performance before he would perform his first official all-techno set. In 1992 Maas was introduced to the early German rave scene, and he went on to DJ at many different rave-events both in Germany and elsewhere, earning a name in the electronic underground scene.

Maas' first record, "The Final XS", was released in 1995. His second record release was a collaboration with another producer, Gary D, "Die Herdplatte", which was a bigger success than his first. Gary D also gained Maas a residency at Hamburg's famous club, The Tunnel, between 1994 and 1996. Through British contacts Maas played at the Bristol club Lakota. Maas also began to release records through record-labels such as Hope Recordings, both under his own name and the alias Orinoko. Maas has also recorded under many aliases such as Mad Dogs and many others together with his manager and friend Leon Alexander. In 2000 Timo Maas began a residency alongside Deep Dish at the New York club Twilo.

Maas first became popular in mainstream dance music through his remix of Azzido Da Bass' Doom's Night, in the wake of which he released Music For The Maases Volume 1, a mix album consisting of many of his previous tracks and remixes. After another mix album called Connected for Paul Oakenfold's imprint Perfecto, Maas released his own debut artist album Loud in 2002. The album was produced by German dance music production powerhouse Martin Buttrich (also known for his work with Loco Dice), and featured guest appearances from Kelis and Finley Quaye. A second Music For The Maases Volume 2, was released, again consisting of remixes and new tracks. In 2005 Maas released his second artist album Pictures, this time featuring guest artists Kelis, Neneh Cherry and Placebo's Brian Molko.

His "To Get Down" track has been widely used in movie soundtracks such as the 2003 remake of The Italian Job, Riders in 2002, as well as other mediums such as the video game FIFA Football 2003, and a Budweiser beer commercial. Another of his tracks "Unite" appears in the Fifa 2004 soundtrack. A remix of the Neighbourhood screen music is credited to him on the video game The Sims 2: Nightlife, whilst the video game Wipeout Fusion uses the song "Old School Vibes" from the album "Loud". Burnout Revenge used the General Midi remix of "First Day" was used for the game's EA TRAX.

Maas has also provided remixes for artists such as Fatboy Slim, Kelis, and Madonna. His music has been described as progressive trance, but in reality is more like progressive house.