London-based Defected Records' triple-disc Defected in the House: Miami 2006 collection serves as a perfect introduction for American ears to the world's top dance label. The compilation's arrival in US shops coincides with—and celebrates—the Winter Music Conference in Miami Beach, the 20-years-strong annual dance music summit where each year's hottest new club anthems make their debut.
Every March, record labels, producers, DJs and thousands of clubbers wing their way to the balmy beaches and bustling dance floors of the nightlife Mecca known as South Beach. Here, the global dance music industry unveils its arsenal of future dance floor bombs to an eager, and musically educated, audience. Those lucky enough to be at the right club at the right time are sent home with their ears ringing, toes tapping and memories indelibly marked with what will be some of the biggest dance hits of the coming year.
This year, Defected Records held its annual Winter Music Conference bash at the opulent indoor-outdoor Nikki Beach complex and its adjoining nightclub Pearl. Those present were swept along on an intoxicating 14- hour musical odyssey. Kicking off the festivities mid-afternoon, DJs began with sunny, gently beating R&B and Latin-influenced dance tracks before amping into an evening of peak-time disco anthems, after which the glowing, sweat-soaked, cheering dancers were dropped into a deep sea of rhythm-heavy late-night tracks.
Sounds amazing? Wish you were there? Defected in the House: Miami 2006 is the next best thing. The triple-CD set contains three unique mixes ("Sunset," "Sundown," and " Sunrise"); each carefully programmed to take you through the moods of a Defected Miami Beach party. The track list on this chic (not-so-) little collection reads like a who's-who of house music. Here you will find exclusive and previously unreleased tracks from the best in the biz, among them American artists Blaze (with diva Barbara Tucker), Byron Stingily, The MuthaFunkaz( Baltimore's DJ Spen and his crew), Dennis Ferrer, Sybil, Bobby D'Ambrosio, Kerri Chandler, Frenchmen Julien Jabre and Afromento and Brits Reel People, Ashley Beedle and Faze Action.
Defected in the House: Miami 2006 was curated and mixed by Defected Records founder and head of A&R (and an international DJ in his own right) Simon Dunmore. Well known throughout the dance industry for his rich musical heritage—he was the head of A&R at respected UK dance imprints AM:PM and Cooltempo before "defecting" to start his own label—Dunmore's love of disco, funk and soul is clearly in evidence in this glorious, feel-good party mix.
Defected in the House: Miami 2006 is the latest in Defected Record's hugely successful "In the House” compilation series. It has now firmly established itself as a major seller at retail among dance compilation series, with sales of over 600,000 copies worldwide. The series has previously showcased the world's best-known DJ and producer talent, including Dimitri from Paris, Masters at Work, Bob Sinclar and Danny Krivit. The “In the House” compilation series is a favorite of collectors who regard it as the top source for contemporary soul, disco, funk, and house. Defected Records is one of the world's great dance music labels. In the late 1970s, disco labels like Prelude, Salsoul, and West End were so synonymous with quality that DJs and fans simply bought their releases on sight.
In the 21st century, Defected Records enjoys the same kind of flawless reputation. Specializing in soulful, vocal driven, four-on-the-floor, up-tempo dance music (aka house music), Defected is home to a roster of sparkling international artists from the US, UK, Europe, Japan, and South America.
Launched by Dunmore on January 1, 1999, Defected has since established fans and residencies (regular parties) at nightclubs all across the globe and a loyal import buying following in the US. For more, including downloads, mixes, and videos (yes, Americans can finally see those dance videos!), please visit www.defected.com.