Chris Fortier
Encyclopedia
Chris Fortier is an American DJ and founder of the Balance Record Pool as well as co-founder and owner of Fade Records. Fortier's DJ-ing covers a range of styles from dark progressive to minimalist techno. He is well known for being a central figure in the development of electronic dance music
in the United States as both a DJ and founder of the Balance Record Pool.
Chris Fortier grew up in Melbourne, Florida
, moving to Orlando, Florida
to attend the University of Central Florida
. Until he discovered house music
, Fortier's primary hobby was surfing. He began DJ-ing in 1990 in Orlando where he was influenced by other Florida DJs such as Kimball Collins and Dave Cannalte. After performing with DJ Icey
, Kimball Collins set Fortier up as resident DJ at the Aahz nightclub. In 1993, Fortier was introduced to Neil Kolo, who had been producing music for 5 years. They found they had chemistry and became the duo Fade, releasing "...For All the People" on their newly founded label Fade Records in 1994. In 1996, Fortier founded the Balance Record Pool, a record pool designed to help North American DJs to spread electronic music. Balance won the International Dance Music Awards for best record pool in 2005 and 2006. The Balance Record Pool and Jimmy Van M
's DJ booking agency making up Balance Promote Group.
In 1998, when submitting a bootleg remix of Sarah McLachlan
's song "Plenty" to her record label, Fortier was offered the chance to remix the Delerium
song "Silence
" featuring McLachlan. Their remix was released on Nettwerk
and sold over one million copies. Fade Records began to expand to productions not exclusively by Fortier and Kolo, including helping launch the career of Steve Porter
. Fortier helped Porter develop his production abilities and Porter helped introduce Fortier to the mixing software Pro Tools
. In 2000, Fortier began his residency at New York City
club Twilo, playing alongside Dave Seaman.
After being in contact with EQ / Stomp regarding distribution of their records in the Balance Record Pool, Fortier was given the opportunity to mix the seventh entry in their Balance series. For Balance 007, Fortier used Ableton Live
to mesh songs together, similarly to Sasha
.
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
in the United States as both a DJ and founder of the Balance Record Pool.
Chris Fortier grew up in Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
, moving to Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
to attend the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
. Until he discovered house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
, Fortier's primary hobby was surfing. He began DJ-ing in 1990 in Orlando where he was influenced by other Florida DJs such as Kimball Collins and Dave Cannalte. After performing with DJ Icey
DJ Icey
DJ Icey, , is a DJ and electronic music producer, credited by Allmusic as having helped to "jump-start the increasingly fertile dance scene in and around Orlando, FL, during the '90s". E, the Incredibly Strange History of Ecstasy credits him as "the prime founder of the Funky Breaks and the Florida...
, Kimball Collins set Fortier up as resident DJ at the Aahz nightclub. In 1993, Fortier was introduced to Neil Kolo, who had been producing music for 5 years. They found they had chemistry and became the duo Fade, releasing "...For All the People" on their newly founded label Fade Records in 1994. In 1996, Fortier founded the Balance Record Pool, a record pool designed to help North American DJs to spread electronic music. Balance won the International Dance Music Awards for best record pool in 2005 and 2006. The Balance Record Pool and Jimmy Van M
Jimmy Van M
Jimmy Van M is a DJ of progressive house and downtempo music. He was a large part of the "Delta Heavy Tour" with Sasha & John Digweed, in addition to performing with many other DJs, such as James Zabiela and Lee Burridge. He has released a few singles as well as mix albums on Ultra Records and...
's DJ booking agency making up Balance Promote Group.
In 1998, when submitting a bootleg remix of Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
's song "Plenty" to her record label, Fortier was offered the chance to remix the Delerium
Delerium
Delerium is a band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, formed in 1987, originally as a side project of the influential industrial music act, Front Line Assembly...
song "Silence
Silence (song)
"Silence" is a song by the Canadian electronic music group Delerium. It was co-written by Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan, who is featured as the vocalist on the track....
" featuring McLachlan. Their remix was released on Nettwerk
Nettwerk
The Nettwerk Music Group is the umbrella company for Nettwerk Management, Nettwerk Records, Nettwerk One Publishing, Nutone Records, and Artwerk. With over 150 employees, the Vancouver-based company has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Nashville, and Hamburg...
and sold over one million copies. Fade Records began to expand to productions not exclusively by Fortier and Kolo, including helping launch the career of Steve Porter
Steve Porter (producer)
Steve Porter is a music video producer, remixer and DJ originally from Amherst, Massachusetts. Porter, who began producing music at the age of sixteen while attending The Williston Northampton School, was discovered by Chris Fortier in 1999 and was signed to Fortier's Fade Records label...
. Fortier helped Porter develop his production abilities and Porter helped introduce Fortier to the mixing software Pro Tools
Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation platform for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, developed and manufactured by Avid Technology. It is widely used by professionals throughout the audio industries for recording and editing in music production, film scoring, film, and television...
. In 2000, Fortier began his residency at New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
club Twilo, playing alongside Dave Seaman.
After being in contact with EQ / Stomp regarding distribution of their records in the Balance Record Pool, Fortier was given the opportunity to mix the seventh entry in their Balance series. For Balance 007, Fortier used Ableton Live
Ableton Live
Ableton Live is a loop-based software music sequencer and DAW for Mac OS and Windows by Ableton. The latest major release of Live, Version 8, was released in April 2009. In contrast to many other software sequencers, Live is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool for...
to mesh songs together, similarly to Sasha
Sasha (DJ)
Sasha is a Welsh DJ and record producer. Sasha began his career playing acid house dance music in the late 1980s...
.
Discography
- 1998: Atmospherics: The Breaks (StreetBeat Records)
- 1999: Trance America (Engine Recordings)
- 2002: Bedrock 3 (Bedrock RecordsBedrock Recordsthumb|200px|Bedrock RecordsBedrock Records is an English record label for trance, house and techno started by Nick Muir and John Digweed.Its name comes from a nightclub in London that is also called Bedrock. Bedrock Records has released many singles from artists such as Astro & Glyde, Brancaccio &...
) - 2004: Audio Tour (Fade Records)
- 2005: Balance 007 (EQ / Stomp)
- 2007: As Long as the Moment Exists (EQ Recordings)
- 2007: The Album We Never Released That We Are Now Releasing as Fade (Fade Records)