Pirahnahead
Musician, DJ, producer, orchestral arranger/conductor – each of these words describes Pirahnahead. Real Talk. Not just modern day music business hype. From the age of two, it was clear to everyone that music would play a major role in his life. At that young age his mother taught him to play the piano, and shortly thereafter he began to learn guitar from copying Jimi Hendrix‟s legendary riffs, and learning from local guitar gurus. He often entertained his family by both playing instruments while singing and also by spinning records on the family record player. Rock and roll, blues, jazz, classical, and R & B heavily influenced Pirahnahead‟s life then and continue to influence his musical style now.
But why the weird name? Who is Pirahnahead? Pirahnahead is a DJ; In the 1970‟s As Soul and Disco grew in popularity, Pirahnahead developed a love for the upbeat and soulful music from being brought into the DJ booth in local skating rinks and clubs by his sisters so he could be tended to while they partied. Memories of watching DJs work in the booth resurfaced when Pirahnahead met legendary DJ Ken Collier. Weekends at Detroit‟s club Heaven and trips to New York‟s Paradise Garage and Club Shelter played a significant part in inspiring Pirahnahead as a DJ. After being mentored by Ken Collier, Pirahnahead went on to play at several parties and clubs in and around Detroit. During the summer of 2005 Pirahnahead showcased his DJ skills (During the Mahogani Music 2005 tour) worldwide at locations in Japan, London, Amsterdam, and several other cities. Since then even, He has been a mainstay in Europe and Japan.
Pirahnahead is a musician; If you listen to anything he has produced, it’s probably him on each instrument. He has played guitar and toured with groups like Enemy Squad, Dub Culture, Charm Farm, Malik Alston’s Painted Pictures, and other bands in the Detroit and Lansing area. While touring with various incarnations of the P-Funk All-Stars, he had the opportunity to work with well-established artists such as Morris Day and The Time, Bernie Worrell and the Woo-Warriors, HR of Bad Brains, Fishbone, Buddy Miles, and Amp Fiddler. He also performed Woodstock in 1998. Pirahnahead toured Europe, and Japan (with Moodymann) During the summer of 2005. He sang, played keys and guitar during this tour at mega festivals
such as the Montreux Jazz Festival, and the North Sea Jazz Festival. These were performances of his original material to promote the release of his CD “SOLID: A Moment in the Mind of Pirahnahead” (Mahogani Music) which was released as a japan exclusive in 2005, and in Europe and the US in 2006. He also was a featured act along with Diviniti at the Tokyo Crossover Jazz Festival of 2007 and 2008. Pirahnahead toured Italy with Gerald Mitchell as Los Hermanos in the winter of 2009.
Pirahnahead is an Arranger; He has studied at Wayne State University as a music major. His musical education has given him means to explore an exciting edge that he brings to his musical projects; classical orchestration. His love for string instruments and keen sense of string enhanced harmonies make him a sought after musical director and producer. He has written and conducted string parts for projects for DJ Spinna, DJ Genesis, on Shuya Okino’s ‘United Legends’ Project on the song „If It Is Love‟ featuring Clara Hill and his extended remix for the Dj Kawasaki & Diviniti collaboration ‘Shine’ (which Shuya compiled into an ep entitled ‘Pirahnahead Works’), Tom Glide & the Luv All-Stars (alongside the EWF/phoenix horns, Larry Dunn, and many other notable musicians), and on Quentin Harris’ ‘Give It 2 U’ from his latest album ‘Sacrifice’.
Pirahnahead is a producer; He has done remixes for Lex Empress, Tortured Soul, Delano Smith, Duce Martinez, and many others, but his sound is the reason. His productions have a distinct sound which cover all bases of his influence, from house to hip-hop, to Jazz to Rare Groove styles, and has collaborated with some of the best there are. In 2008 he co produced works for the next Les Nubians album, which he had the pleasure of working with Les Nubians godfather Manu Dubango. Though you may see his name alongside anyone from DJ Minx, of Women On Wax (as AnimalTrax) , Reggie Dokes (As NapiHedz), he is more known for the works he has created with and for Diviniti. These two musical powerhouses linked in 2003 and since the first day have created pure magic. Dancefloor jams such as “Find a Way” (which was edited by Danny Krivit and released on King Street Sounds, and also became a staple for DJs such as Louie Vega, Theo Parrish, Joe Claussell, Joey Negro and DJ Spinna, among many others), ‘Love Will Stay’, “Poem 4 A Lost One” (featured on his Moods & Grooves ep; Emotional Expression), the list will go on for decades.
Just after Mahogani Music released Pirahnahead‟s first full length album, “SOLID: A Moment in the Mind of Pirahnahead.” in 2005. In 2006, Pirahna launched his own imprint, Whasdat Music. The first release, “Sunshine”, by Carolyn Victorian, was released summer „06. After which pirahnahead gave a glimpse into his life with Whasdat Music’s sophomore release ‘Music’. However, the year 2010 came and so did the NGTVNRG ep, with it’s outspoken ‘Self: Con-Science’ track. With the album release on Mahogani Music and productions on Women on Wax, Sound Signature, and his own label, Whasdat Music, the best of Pirahna may be just on the horizon.
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