House of Downtown

Last updated

House of Downtown were a New Zealand-based electronic music act consisting of DJs / producers Christiaan Ercolano and Emerson Todd, active between 1999 and 2003, and again in 2021. [1]

They released two well received albums on their own 'State House' record label via Universal Music, as well as several 12-inch singles on State House and Simon Flower's South Exit label. [2]

Albums

Their debut album 'Release' was held in high regard, and had the band viewed as "the act that could put New Zealand house music on the world map." [2] It reached number 35 in the New Zealand album charts in July 2001, [3] being supported by New Zealand radio station George FM. It had been delayed by Universal after uncleared samples were discovered. [4] 'Release' had positive sales although had copyright issues; the band said their first album's release took so long that when it was released they were "... so over it". [2]

The band released another album 'Mutha Funkin' Earth' in 2003, with the backing of Universal Music. According to Universal music's (New Zealand) then Managing Director, Adam Holt, they "...had no hesitation in funding their second album". [2] 'Mutha Funkin’ Earth' reached number 32 in the NZ album charts. [5] It was a diverse album, seeing appearances from hip-hop and R&B guests including 'Tha Feelstyle' and 'Tulele Faletolu'. [4]

As an act, they combined DJing and live performance in the Auckland clubland in the early 2000s. [6]

Christiaan Ercolano, originally from Wellington, was a local hip-hop scene pioneer. He was also the beatmaker in 'Noise N Effect', and worked with the Upper Hutt Posse. Those roots could be heard in House of Downtown's work, which merged house music with strong R&B influences. [4]

Emerson Todd, an Australian raised New Zealander, met Ercolano while DJing. [4]

After the second album the band split, and Todd moved to Sydney, then Berlin, where he continues to successfully release music. [4]

Ercolano continues to DJ and produce, forming part of a DJ collective called 'audioclub', [7] and half of electronic music duo 'DiCE', along with Dave Ti. [8] They produce original and remixed material, including a remix of the House of Downtown track 'Feel It', [9] and also a charity single with New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street to benefit the Starship Children's Health Hospital. with Lionel Wellington & JJ Fong. [10]

In 2021, a new album called 'Re-release' is due, it features new remixes of the tracks on 'Release' by musicians including DJ Philippa, DiCE_NZ & Alkalino, as well as a remix by a new artist offered via a remix competition. [11]

Related Research Articles

The music of New Zealand has been influenced by a number of traditions, including Māori music, the music introduced by European settlers during the nineteenth century, and a variety of styles imported during the twentieth century, including blues, jazz, country, rock and roll, reggae, and hip hop, with many of these genres given a unique New Zealand interpretation.

Todd Terry American DJ and house producer

Todd Norton Terry is an American DJ, record producer and remixer in the genre of house music.

Jan Hellriegel Musical artist

Jan Hellriegel is a singer/songwriter based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Fast Crew were a New Zealand hip hop group consisting of five members – Dane Rumble, Jeremy Kent-Johnston, Diablo Deville, Gemma Copas and DJ Alias.

Supergroove is a New Zealand funk rock music group. Their debut album Traction was released in 1994. The group disbanded in 1997 but reformed in 2007.

Savage (rapper) New Zealand rapper

Demetrius C. Savelio, better known by his stage name Savage, is a New Zealand rapper and a former member of hip hop group the Deceptikonz. Savage was the first New Zealand hip hop artist to have a commercial single achieve platinum certification status in the United States. The "International Breakthrough" accolade of the Pacific Music Awards was created in his honour. Savage also has applied his recognisable voice in the electronic dance music space with 5× platinum hit ''Freaks'' with Timmy Trumpet, and 4 times platinum hit ''Swing'' with Joel Fletcher.

Shapeshifter are a live drum and bass act from New Zealand. They are known for their live shows and blend of heavy soul with drum and bass. They have made appearances at Glastonbury, The Big Chill, Big Day Out, Parklife plus sold-out performances across Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Frontline are a New Zealand hip hop music group formed in 2001.

The Phoenix Foundation New Zealand indie rock band

The Phoenix Foundation is an indie rock band formed in Wellington, New Zealand.

Simon Grigg is a New Zealand music businessman, writer, broadcaster, publisher, producer, DJ and archivist. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, he attended Palmerston North Boys High, Auckland Grammar and the University of Auckland.

<i>Silencer</i> (Zed album) 2000 studio album by Zed

Silencer is the debut studio album by New Zealand rock band Zed. It was produced and engineered by David Nicholas at Revolver Studios in Auckland, New Zealand, with final overdubbing and mixing at Mangrove Studios, north of Sydney, Australia. Recording sessions were over in seven weeks, but not before all band members and production staff were struck by influenza. The album was first released in New Zealand on 27 August 2000, via Universal Music Group. The album debuted at number one on the Official New Zealand Top 40 Albums chart, quickly achieving triple platinum status, and creating six hit singles. "Renegade Fighter" was also the number one song in New Zealand for the year 2000. In 2001, Silencer earned the band three wins at the New Zealand Music Awards including 'Album of the Year', 'Top Group', and 'Top Male Vocalist'. A bonus disc edition was released in early 2001, containing ten bonus tracks and three music videos, "Renegade Fighter", "Come On Down" and "Driver's Side".

Villainy is an alternative rock band from Auckland, New Zealand. Formed in 2010 the band consists of James Dylan, Neill Fraser, Dave Johnston and Thom Watts.

4 Corners is a New Zealand Hip-Hop group formed in 1998. Their songs On the Down Low and By My Side charted on New Zealand's top 40 in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Funkin for Jamaica (N.Y.) 1980 single by Tom Browne

"Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)" is a 1980 single by jazz trumpeter Tom Browne. The single—a memoir of the Jamaica neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens where Browne was born and raised—is from his second solo album, Love Approach. Browne got the idea for the song while he was at his parents' home. The vocals for the single were performed by Toni Smith, who also helped compose the song. The song hit number one on the US Billboard R&B chart for a month. "Funkin' for Jamaica" peaked at number nine on the dance chart and made the Top 10 on the UK Singles Chart, but it never charted on the Billboard Hot 100.

Kids of 88 New Zealand new wave duo

Kids of 88 were a New Zealand new wave duo based in Auckland, New Zealand, consisting of Jordan Arts and Sam McCarthy. They are best known for their 2009 single, "My House". They have since signed through Dryden Street to Sony Music and released the album Sugarpills in August 2010. In 2014, the duo stated that 'the [Kids of 88] project has concluded.'

Ruby Frost Musical artist

Jane de Jong, known professionally as Ruby Frost, is a New Zealand singer and songwriter from Auckland. In 2009, she won the nationwide music competition MTV 42Unheard, giving her a recording contract with Universal Music New Zealand. Since then she has performed showcases at CMJ in New York and The Viper Room in LA; toured with Mt Eden, Cut Copy, Evermore and Van She; and opened for acts including Diplo, Nero, Kimbra, Digitalism and Garbage. She was one of the four judges in season one of The X Factor NZ, and was the runner-up mentor when her act Whenua Patuwai came second in the competition.

Titanium was a New Zealand pop boy band formed in Auckland in 2012 from the winners of The Edge radio station's competition to create New Zealand's first authentic boy band. The Edge radio station hosted auditions across New Zealand and eventually six young men were selected for the group consisting of members, Zac Taylor, Andrew Papas, Jordi Webber, Shaquille Paranihi-Ngauma, Haydn Linsley and T.K Paradza. They released their debut single, "Come On Home". The single debuted at number one on the official New Zealand Singles Chart on 17 September 2012. Titanium released their debut studio album, All For You in December 2012. They became the first New Zealand band to have three songs in the Top 40 Singles Chart at one time.

Word to the Mutha! 1991 single by Bell Biv DeVoe featuring Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill

"Word to the Mutha!" is a song co-written and performed by American contemporary R&B group Bell Biv DeVoe. It originally appeared on their debut studio album Poison under the title "Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike, Ralph and Johnny !", but the title was shortened and a remixed version of the song was issued as the only official single from the group's remix album WBBD-Bootcity!: The Remix Album. The song features vocals from Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill. It was the first recorded song to feature all six members of New Edition. Brown, Tresvant and Gill are credited separately on the single, rather than collectively as New Edition.

Ekko Park are a rock band from Auckland, New Zealand, that consists of guitarist and singer Joe Walsh, guitarist Jessie Booth, drummer Nick Douch and bassist Bryan Bell.

Richard von Sturmer

Richard von Sturmer is an artist, poet, playwright, film-maker, and musician from New Zealand. He was born in Devonport, North Auckland.

References

  1. Rockshop.co.nz. "Remix House of Downtown's 'Rise Above' and be in to win". Rockshop.co.nz. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "House Of Downtown". nzmusician.co.nz. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.
  3. "July 2001 NZ album charts". NZ Music Charts.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "House Of Downtown - Person - AudioCulture". audioculture.co.nz.
  5. "June 2003 NZ album charts". NZ Music Charts.
  6. "House Of Downtown". nzmusician.co.nz. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  7. "Auckland's Boutique DJ Hire Service - audioclub". Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  8. "Auckland Boutique DJ Hire Service".
  9. "DiCE – Feel It". 26 October 2015.
  10. "Time of the Year by Lionel Wellington, Dave Ti and Christiaan Ercolano feat. JJ Fong on WhoSampled". WhoSampled .
  11. Rockshop.co.nz. "Remix House of Downtown's 'Rise Above' and be in to win". Rockshop.co.nz. Retrieved 9 March 2021.