Damian Lazarus

Throughout the 2000s, Damian Lazarus was at the forefront of the U.K. dance music scene. Early in the decade, he was head of A&R for the City Rockers label and was behind the U.K. release of such notable singles as Felix da Housecat and Miss Kittin's “Silver Screen Shower Scene” and Tiga & Zyntherius' “Sunglasses at Night.” He selected and mixed both volumes of the label’s Futurism compilations (issued in 2002), which exemplified the era’s electro-indebted house and techno. In 2004, Lazarus set up Crosstown Rebels, a like-minded node that released dozens of 12” singles within a small time frame. Lazarus put together CR mixes like Rebel Futurism Session One (2004) and Session Two (2005), as well as Crosstown Rebels, Vol. 1 (2006). He also mixed for other labels, including Soma, for whom he assembled the second volume in the Sci-Fi-Lo-Fi series. The disc was one of his most varied sets, incorporating old-school techno, classicist house, dubstep, and even ‘80s synth funk. Shortly thereafter, he fully stepped out as a producer with releases on Get Physical. His first full-length, Smoke the Monster Out, was issued in 2009. DJ’ing was not placed to the side; he released the 54th volume in the Fabric mix series a year later.