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A note about Brian Heath
If you ask Brian Heath what kind of music he plays you'll most likely
get the response "good records". "I love music! Whether I'm
banging some crazy acid track at a club, or at home washing dishes to
bluegrass I appreciate the experience of listening". Born and raised
in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, there has always existed a
passion for music. "I attribute my love of music to my mom. I
remember being at home as a little boy and she would have the radio
tuned to Magic 104.3, which was the the oldies station. We would be
cleaning the living room, making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,
or whatever, all the time bouncing around singing "Crocodile Rock".
It was a lot of fun." Entering his teen years Brian graduated from
"oldies" to a variety of different musical styles. From blues to
bluegrass, punk to industrial, he began building a vast library of
tapes, CD's, and LP's. Eventually turning his focus to house,
techno, and other forms of electronic music. "I couldn't get
enough. I'd hear some random song and head right to the record store
to pick it up. Growing up I was always the kid that had the newest
single, and I took every opportunity I had to play it for as many of
my friends as I could." "It's actually kinda strange" he says. "I
almost felt some kind of obligation to share my library with other
people. Maybe it's what they were looking for." This was the
precursor to Brian's musical career.
Fast forward to the present and you will still find him "sharing his
library". The difference is instead of playing for his friends in
his parents garage, he now plays for them at Smart Bar. Instead of
playing tapes in his bedroom he plays in the box at London's Ministry
of Sound. Along with Steve Melvage as the "Beat Giants", they have formed
an alliance in the guise of a DJ crew that plays clubs around the world.
Darkroom, Zentra, Green Dolphin, and Lava Lounge are among the Chicago hot spots that have
witnessed the fury. New York's "Love" felt the vibe. London's
caught it too. At "The End", "Telegraph", "House FM", and the
aforementioned "Ministry", crowds have been moved and asses have been
shaken . Playing with veteran movers and shakers Derrick
Carter, Tim Shumaker, James Curd, Diz, Luke Solomon, Mark Farina, and
JT Donaldson, Brian has more than managed to hold his own.
Hearing Brian play is like being a witness to a sonic experiment.
His DJ sets are unwavering. Creations driven by Chicago house, but
dotted with disco and quirky minimal beats. His bass-driven, choppy
sound is the antithesis to many of his colleagues. "Don't get me
wrong here, I like house in general. Be it deep, disco, or
whatever. I just prefer to play the edgier side of it. Most nights
I just pull out the crazy shit and run with it". It shows. He has
gained a reputation for playing unconventional tracks, unyielding and
unambiguous beats and for being a bit of an all around party kid.
Over the past several years Heath and Melvage, who have switched gears and
are now operating under the alias "First Time In Tokyo", have continued their
partnership and managed to bring the masses some of the most innovative
nights in Chicago. From the supreme experimentation of "Guerilla Couture" to the highly regarded
"Acid 1", the duo brings an innovative blend of classic and contemporary musical
stylings without the pretension readily found in clubland these days. "To be
frank, we just wanna make you shake your ass. We'll take you to the edge and bring
you right back, comfortably", says Heath. Come as you are, have a drink, and kick it."
Most recently Brian can be found working in the studio. Aside from a dozen or so
original tracks, his credits include remixes for electro-house trio FFM, Jody "Fingers" Finch" on Chicago based label, Let's Pet Puppies, .dotbleep recordings, DJ Bang, Nate Manic, and the resurrected Classic Music Company. He and Melvage recently had their first LP released on Greens Keepers Music, which received high praise worldwide. Brian has also just released his first full length album, "Issues With Consumption", on Alphabet music.
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