My label Fade Records has been a true labor love for the past 2 decades. What started out as purely an outlet to release my own music in the early 90’s because we simply didn’t know how to contact labels or the process to send demos to anyone, has has become its own living entity.

The label has ebbed and flowed over time with output of releases. We released 4 records in the first 3 years and I wasn’t sure there would be anymore. But while on my first UK tour in ’97, I came across a record in a shop, bought it and played it every gig. Soon after I reached out to the label and told them how I was playing it on tour and was getting great reactions every night. I had the thought to license it to Fade and give it new platform. This would be the catalyst and vision to release music from other artists. Fade would continue to grow with the discovery of Steve Porter and Sphere. Along with Kolo, this would solidify the first 20 releases. I was very blessed to build the label on tracks that were each artist’s entry point into the production world scene. I now have a lot of pride in the fact that so many artists began their journeys in the industry with Fade, only to go onto greater things.

I have seen the label always at the core as another creative outlet for music. To work with new, young and emerging artists, to be a part of helping them launch and develop their careers has been an honor and truly gratifying.

Musically, the label has always been an extension of my own musical sound at the time. I always looked for music that was not cookie cutter or copycat on trend. I signed tracks that I believed in personally and never signed something for sales. Signing a track and going through the manufacturing of vinyl process and promotion, I remained 100% behind a release whether it sold 1 or 10,000 copies with the same passion and belief.

The historical roster lineup of the label charts a relevant musical journey through time.

Our foundation of the label has been, and is, a collective of artists. I would always refer to the label as “We”, even though I was running things from top to bottom. Without the music and these artists, there would be nothing.

Throughout the different eras of the label, there have been different groupings of “We”, but each are viscerally connected.

Fade has been hibernating for the last 3 years, moving distribution, re-thinking the way forward, my ears are always open to music which both inspires and captures my attention.

We have again, now found that, we have found “The Next We”

We feature some new names, new friends and old friends for this 2 part compilation.

Guy Dubois ft. Amanda Marks - Strings Of Fate

Inmersión electrónica, techno, dance, progresive, tech hause

• Progressive • Techno • Dark Disco • Underground • Tribal •

Based out of Los Angeles, Justin Nicoll’s sound emphasizes melodic elements fusing edgy, progressive, and driving basslines with deep and hypnotic rhythms.  Collectively, his sets merge techno, progressive house, and tribal genres with unique textures and curate a future forward sound while sprinkling in nostalgia along the way. Justin’s DJ sets are truly progressive in nature, and leads his crowd on a hedonistic yet emotional journey that keeps their bodies pumping and grooving all night. His DJ sets and music production draws inspiration from artists such as Sasha & John Digweed, John Creamer & Stephane K, Rick Pier O’Neil, ARTBAT, Oscar Mulero, and Rene Wise.

Justin began his journey DJing during the pandemic (2020), and fell in love with progressive house and techno after attending underground raves and Berlin’s techno scene. Since then he has played numerous and diverse events around the United States and abroad, including leather events, underground warehouse raves, circuit parties, tea dances, and pool parties.  Folsom (San Francisco), Los Angeles Leather Pride’s Off-Sunset Festival, Palm Springs Pride, The Cuff Seattle, and Brawny Bear Weekend (Puerto Vallarta). 

He has recurring gigs and performances for parties including TUFF, Masterbeat, GPS, Trophy Dad, The Eagle LA, MEAT RACK, Tom of Finland, Mantamar Beach Club (PVR) and underground warehouse events including SMD and ABUNDA. He has provided support for headlining artists such as PAGANO, Karsten Sollors, GSP, and Berghain/Panarama Bar resident Partok. His online podcasts and live DJ set recordings have accumulated just over 39,000 plays and listens since 2022 on SoundCloud. 

For bookings contact: jx.nicoll24@gmail.com

Events and Parties
TUFF (resident)
Masterbeat
GPS (LA)
Masteurdome Folsom (San Francisco)
Trophy Dad (San Francisco)
LA Leather Pride Off Sunset Festival (LA)
SMD (warehouse; LA)
Tom of Finland: TOM’s BAR (LA)
Brawny Bear Weekend (Puerto Vallarta)
Bear Trap (Puerto Vallarta)
Palm Springs Pride
Cheap & Dirty at The Cuff (Seattle)
Meat Rack at The Eagle (LA)
ABUNDA (warehouse; LA)

My 2022 article on the underground EDM festival scene in Johannesburg:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367127606_Underground_on_the_Highveld_a_Journey_through_Techno_and_Excess

There are few individuals within the underground dance music industry able to match Chris Fortier for both influence and achievement over the last two decades. With a mandate predicated upon the deceptively simple notion of "constant musical evolution", the founder and owner of the globally renowned Fade Records, is not constrained by boundaries, reflected in both the music he plays and creates.

An extensive list of achievements is testament to such elevated ideals, perhaps best showcased by the iconic 2005 "Balance 007" compilation; a groundbreaking CD at the vanguard of a fresh, innovative and underground sound movement, that history would later record as an aural blueprint for the worldwide dance music explosion that followed in the subsequent decade and beyond. A further eight commercially released mix albums would also contain the Chris Fortier DNA.

As a production artist, Fortier's portfolio of skills have been crafted and honed through an intimate 20-year knowledge of clubs across the globe's dance-floor capitals – from Tokyo, Melbourne, Mexico City to Budapest and Buenos Aires to residencies at the legendary AAHZ in Orlando in the early 90’s through to New York's Twilo and London's The Cross. Always in demand and prolific in output, a continually rising 400 plus Beatport production credits tell only half of an impressive story. Fortier's remix of Delerium's "Silence", was the first and original remix and sold in excess of one million copies worldwide; while work for John Digweed's Bedrock imprint further cemented an ever-growing reputation alongside the full-length album, "As Long As The Moment Exists" and its follow-up remix album on behemoth Australian imprint, EQ.

Never one to rest on his proverbial laurels, Chris' productions have seen him take on the mantle of highly regarded modern producer with releases spanning the underground sound including most recently on Bedrock, Selador, Balance, Mooseeka, Tulipa, Maya, Manual, Ground Factory, Maktub, Mindwarp and his own imprint Fade. His remixes and collaborations since 2009 tell their own tale, as Chris remains as integral, relevant and at the leading edge in the Underground as ever. With an innate and immaculate sense of what makes the industry tick, built upon longstanding personal experience, Fortier's musical evolution shows no sign of extinction.

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Progressive AddictÌon.




                          

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https://pro192studios.com/

Book your session  1-(800)-765-1910