Releasing "The Sad Piano" on Ben Watt's Buzzin' Fly label immediately sent Justin Martin's music across the spectrum of dance, making waves with A List DJs like Derrick Carter and Pete Tong who often played the track as well as receiving rave reviews from the international music press. For Justin Martin, he really could not have hoped for a more successful first record, striking gold and establishing himself on the dance scene.
Alongside fellow San Franciscan producer Claude VonStroke, the pair were heavily involved with the early days of dirtybird records, appearing on its first lot of releases. Having developed his unique sound through a number of solo EPs, Martin had gained the respect of his peers and was quickly looking like becoming one of the most popular house DJs in the world.
In 2010, he was invited by Pete Tong to create a DJ mix for his famous, regular "Essential Mix" series, bringing Martin to a wider audience. His appearance on the front cover of DJ Magazine equally helped raise his profile. Releasing more solo EPs on dirtybird, Martin gained critical acclaim from a number of music media outlets, with his singles "Mr Spock" and "Lezgo," the latter becoming a big hit and fixture on many DJ's playlists that year (2011).
Alongside his solo productions, Martin also formed a duo with his brother Christian, as The Martin Brothers, creating hip hop influenced tracks, with hits including "Duckface," "Dum" and "Stoopit." Martin has also established himself as having a quality ability to remix, re-envisioning classics such as Radiohead's "Nude" and TG's "Revox," garnering further attention in the dance music scene.
His debut album, "Ghettos & Gardens" was released in 2012, alongside a number of successful singles in support of the album. SInce this success, he has become an internationally sough after DJ, performing at places such as Panorama Bar in Berlin, Fabric in London and Space in Ibiza.
An unhealthy obsession with pizza isn't all that Justin Martin should be known for. He's also the co-label boss of American label Dirtybird which he runs with Claude Von Stroke. And a bloody good techno and house music producer who gives equally brilliant DJ sets. Releases such as 'Don't Go' which you may know through the Dusky remix, 'The Gettup' a collaboration with Bristol's Eats Everything and 'Ruff Stuff' go down a storm whenever they are dropped during his hotly anticipated, heavily attended DJ sets. Lots of bass and head-bopping and smiles come from behind the decks when he plays. I had missed him on several occasions while he was on tour around the UK so you can imagine how excited I was when I saw him play TWICE IN ONE DAY at Hideout festival. The first time, performing at a pool party, he provided the set of the day dropping tracks from the Dirtybird lebel back catalogue as well his own productions. Shiba Shan's 'Okay' and Second City's 'I Enter' are highlights with a building bass beat on each. Later, during an evening set at Aquarius club, it's just as good, this time reaching a one in, one out attendance policy while the lucky fans who get in are on each others and shoulders shuffling away throughout. Unexpectedly, on the last day of Hideout, we found ourselves observing Shy FX's genre-bashing set, with Justin Martin raving away practically next to us!
Mayday's recent collaboration with rapper Murs has been one of the most soulful combinations in recent hip hop history. Mayday has this ingenious style that feels like a mix of old school hip hop with rhythmic drum patterns and ensemble vocal lines - they execute their music perfectly, and the addition of Murs has given them an even more engaging street sound.
Seeing them perform with Murs at Colorado Springs a few days ago felt like the beginning of a new era for the group. They were pumped about the new combination, and their music was even better than the grassroots sound they had been showcasing earlier on in their career. What feels great about Mayday is their relaxed attitude to their fans - they talked to the crowd, joked around about the way one girl was screaming in support, they chatted about how great it was to be working with Murs.
They're just some guys looking to create some awesome tunes, and they know it. They've had some amazing experiences with artists like Lil Wayne and Tech N9ne, with a fan base that grows after every hit track, most recently, and notably, 'Badlands'. They keep proving that their music has what it takes to make it big.