Paradox is most certainly a breakbeat pioneer with a production career that has spanned well into it’s second decade. Having first released back in 1990, he’s since released over 100 singles on every leading drum’n’bass label including Reinforced, Good Looking, and Metalheadz, in addition to his own imprints such as Paradox Music, Arctic, Esotic, and Outsider. In the last couple years his collaborations with good mate Seba, and vocalist Robert Manos have solidified this man’s reputation as not only a talented breaks master, but a gifted songwriter with mass-appeal as well. As active as Paradox is with his production, he still manages to do many of his notorious live sets, not just in the UK, but all over the world. He had personally coordinated over 120 live shows himself, before entrusting ESP to loyally handle all his future work. This will in 2009 also include an album tour for his upcoming Paradox & Alaska longplayer 'The Isolationist'. After 18 years in this scene, the future looks very bright for Dev--- aka Paradox, Alaska, or whichever moniker he may take on. Let the breaks roll!
Paradox is International music producer and breakbeat icon Dev Pandya. Paradox's career dates back to 1990 when 'Mixrace' was formed with partner DJTrax. The first professional recording by Mixrace was sixteen years ago back in1990.
After brief relations with Surburban Base and Strictly Underground Records the first Mixrace 12" surfaced in 1991 on the early rave/breakbeat Moving Shadow Records label. Trax and Paradox, both only 17 at the time released the early Mixrace Hardcore classic 'Too Bad for Ya/The Future isBefore Your Eyes' (SHADOW 018) which at 180bpm in 1991 was a ground breaking slice of rave hardcore for its era and funnily enough fifteen years on can be mixed into today's Drum and Bass Dj culture with ease.. Timeless.
Four more releases followed on the Moving Shadow label, and in 1995 Dev and Trax set up their own Stronghold, Mobhanded and Offset Recordings stables.
New artist guises surfaced in 1996 in the forms of 'Alaska' and 'Paradox' as Dev wanted to show his diversity by creating two different genre's of drumfunk [a Paradox coined term nowclassed as a musical genre] with Alaska being the ambient moniker of the two, and Paradox exploring the drum patterns of 1970's funk.
The Paradox sound exploded with a string of 12" releases on Renegade Hardware, Certificate 18 and 4hero's Reinforced Records, the label to whom Paradox would cement his producer status as the godfather of breaks. 1998 onwards and Paradox almost single handed flew the flag for break orientated drum and bass, giving other producers hope that the music would live on whilst others quickly left in droves to copy the latest fill-less static drum pattern rubbish.
Paradox's unique style of programming and massive back catalogue set offalarm bells way outside of the drum and bass spectrum and it was only a matter of time all the hard work carved out on Reinforced would eventually pay off as recognition was appearing from diverse corners ofthe music industry from legendary bassist Bill Laswell and classical indian queen Shobha Gurtuto the world’s most famous pianist Herbie Hancock.
Paradox has made Drum and Bass history by being the first Drum and Bass musician to work with Herbie Hancock. It doesn’t stop there as work is in place for Dev and Herbie to work on a full-length project together combining the past, present and future knowledge of breakbeat science.
Paradox has also collaborated with trumpet master Toshinori Kondo and Bernie Worrell from Parliament Funkadelic, the legendary funk band.
Dev has now recorded over 110 12"s for an amazing 52 record labels including Goldie's Metalheadz, 4Hero's Reinforced Records, LTJ Bukem's Good Looking, Certificate 18, London Elektricity's Hospital, Partisan, Dylan's Freak Recordings, Renegade Hardware, Timeless, Ireland's Bassbin, Total Science's CIA, Blame's 720 Degrees, Nexus, Danny Break's Droppin Science, Vibez Recordings, Marc Mac's Twisted Funk, Toshiba-EMI, Ninebar, Sonica, Dego's 2000Black, Holland's Rush Hour Records, New York's Offshore Recordings, BMG, SonyMusic Japan and Italy's Archive Records.
Paradox also directs 4 records labels on his own in true control-freakstyle. Each label has their own unique ethos with Esoteric music as the headquarters for Nucleus and Paradox collaborations, Arctic music for Alaska ambience, Paradox music marks the flagship Paradox stable and dev alsoruns Outsider in order to support the scene and push new and like-mindedartists forward.
Dev Paradox has released two albums on major label Sony Music Japan throughout his career. 2006 saw the 6th album surface on 13 Music and work has already begun on the 7th album which will feature a jaw-dropping number of guest musicians from the 60's and 70's all eager to contribute to Paradox's 7th long player.
Paradox remixing duties include the classical Indian musician Shobha Gurtu, 4Hero for Talkin Loud/Mercury, Yasushi Ide for Warner Brothers, Boom Boom Satelites for Sony/Epic, Kirsty Hawkshaw, Raf & Illogik featuring Don-E, Deep Blue, LTJ Bukem and Makoto, Justice, James Hardway, NXS, Blue, Trax,Konami Entertainment and Japanese Manga Cartoon Company Marine Entertainment/Avex. Paradox is currently working on a remix exclusively for vocalist Kirsty Hawkshaw for her new album for 2007.
Multi-media contributions include exclusive music for USA giant ESPN NBA Playstation and XBOX games, KonamiArcade platform games and Sony Playstation games in Japan and music featured in the Jeff Winner motion picture 'Satellite'. Paradox also released a Live tour DVD with his 4th albumon Reinforced records showcasing the extensive tour work that goes on behindmaking music and gave an insight into the life of the musician.
Paradox's unique profile has attracted endorsement deals from Firetrap Clothing, Fossil watches, Acupuncture Footwear and Bloc Eyewear, companies all eager to be affiliated with the paradox ethos and sound.
Dev Paradox is also without doubt a live touring robot outside the studio. Every month of the year you can catch Paradox's live show truly worldwide. Dev has visited all corners of the globe and in true control-freak style has personally co-ordinated, orchestrated and headlined around 120 live overseasshows in all four corners of the USA, East Asia, every un-turned stone in Europe and entertained packed crowds in sublime places from Iceland to Tokyo.
What makes the Paradox live show different to any Dj set is that when Paradoxis invited to perform abroad it's because the Paradox sound is in demand. Paradox only performs his own material live. Paradox joined ESP International in the summer of 2006 to spread the ethos to an even wider audience. Dev has stuck to his guns and remained true to himself and in turn the name Paradox has earned a strong status and overseas following. Anyone that attends a live Paradox show leaves the venue witnessing a truly interactive performance.
Let the Drumfunk roll…
paradoxmusic.com | press section | back