Magik Johnson
Busting bold musical moves from Blackpool UK to Auckland NZ has made Dick Johnson a house music heavyweight in both hemispheres.
Dick Johnsons reputation for rocking a party began amidst the acid house madness of Manchesters infamous Hacienda, where he was Saturday night resident alongside Graeme Park and Tom Wainright. He soon had his own room The 5th Man, where the legendary basement sessions became a part of club history. After the Hacienda closed its doors a residency at Nottinghams Renaissance followed.
Between 1994 and 95, Johnson started producing tracks for Creams Olympic label, New Orders Pleasure Recordings and Manchesters Paperecordings collective. Shortly afterwards, he established Shaboom Records in Blackpool with Mark Bell and Ben Davis. Shaboom has since developed into one of the worlds most respected dance labels, with releases from artists such as UBU, Joeski & Onionz, Fred Everything, Doc Martin and DJ Sneak.
The label also became the home of Shaboom, a studio collaboration between Johnson, Bell and Davis. Warner Music approached the boys to do an album, Taka Boom was enlisted as vocalist, and the result was 1999s Meccafunk with its string of hit singles, including Sweet Sensation and If You Need Me.
A man of many monikers, Johnson records on his own as Magik Johnson/Magik J, as Del-5 with Ben Davis, and alongside Soane as Troffman. His music has been released on such influential imprints as Twisted, End Recordings, Kaos, Saved, Made To Play, Underwater,Paperecordings, KG Beats and NRK/Honchos. He has completed remixes for Crazy Penis, DJ Sneak, Joey Negro, Q-Burns, Human League, Neon Heights, Spektrum, Nick Holder, Darko Esser, 33HZ, The Bionics and many others.
Dicks debut album Cardboard Journey was released on NRK in May, 2005. Its a slice of future dance music that goes from the deepest organic house to soulful vocals to quirky downbeats through broken electro and back again.
The first single, Feel Alright, featuring Sandy Mill on vocals, has been licensed by DJ Heather, Mark Farina and Derrick Carter among others and comes with a slammiung remix from Solid Groove, while the second track, Rollergirl which blew up in the start of 2005, comes complete with mixes from Trevor Lovey, Inland Knights and Mazi.
2006 sees Dick joining Darren Emmersons Underwater roster. His first single as Magik Johnson will be Jump / Malone, two bouncy quirky down right dirty tracks sure to create quite a stir. This to be followed by I Give Up with James Dansey on vocals. Following this a full length album is on the cards as well as a collaboration with Darren Emmerson on Underwater Episode 5 Mix CD.
Late 2006 will see the launch of his new digital label MAGIKTRAX, distributed by NRK Music.
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