Kaz James
Encyclopedia
Christopher James Karyotakis, known professionally as Kaz James (born in 1982), is an Australia
n singer and DJ
. He is a former member of the group BodyRockers
. He was raised in Melbourne
and is of Italian and Greek
origin. He released his first solo album, If They Knew, in 2008.
. He received his education at a private school, where he was active in music, playing trumpet
as well as singing with the choir. Foregoing university, James became a DJ at OneLove, a popular Melbourne
nightclub that has also helped launch the careers of Grant Smillie
and Dirty South
. He saved money that he earned mixing songs in Melbourne
to travel the world and perform sets in other countries, "kind of like a backpacking DJ."
, who rose to prominence in 2005 with their first release, "I Like the Way (You Move)
". This guitar
-laden dance track reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart
in April 2005 and achieved popularity in other regions of the world as well. A self-titled album was released, as was the group's follow-up single, "Round And Round
". The duo, James and British
guitarist Dylan Burns, toured extensively in 2005 and 2006 and recorded a second album, but according to James, "we just didn't get around to releasing it". BodyRockers
then parted ways in 2006.
", which features Canadian actor and musician Stu Stone
. The music video
was directed by Fred Schepisi. On 13 September 2008 he released his second song, "We Hold On
". His debut album If They Knew was released in Australia
and New Zealand
in October 2008. In early 2009, James released his next single, "Can't Hold Back
", featuring vocals by Macy Gray
. This song became James' first solo song to reach the Top 50 on the Australian pop chart
, peaking at #42. Other tracks on the album include "All Fall Down", which features former House of Pain
and Limp Bizkit
member DJ Lethal
.
In April 2008 James was the DJ for both the MTV Australia Awards
as well as for the official after party. In late 2008 James appeared on the Stereosonic tour, along with Paul van Dyk
, Carl Cox
, Booka Shade
, Sneaky Sound System
and Pnau
.
, where he reportedly dated model Kate Moss
and actress Keira Knightley
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n singer and DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
. He is a former member of the group BodyRockers
BodyRockers
BodyRockers were an electronic music act, consisting of Dylan Burns and Kaz James. They are best known for their 2005 single, "I Like the Way".-Background:...
. He was raised in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and is of Italian and Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
origin. He released his first solo album, If They Knew, in 2008.
Early life
James was raised in suburban MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. He received his education at a private school, where he was active in music, playing trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
as well as singing with the choir. Foregoing university, James became a DJ at OneLove, a popular Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
nightclub that has also helped launch the careers of Grant Smillie
Grant Smillie
Grant Smillie is a prominent Melbourne based house music DJ who plays sets in clubs around Australia. He was raised on the North/East Side of Melbourne and attended Xavier College in Kew, Victoria. Along with his Onelove residency Grant tours constantly around Australia at both clubs and festivals...
and Dirty South
Dirty South (DJ)
Dragan Roganović , better known by his stage name Dirty South,is a Serbian-born Australian DJ, remixer and record producer based in Melbourne.-Biography:...
. He saved money that he earned mixing songs in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to travel the world and perform sets in other countries, "kind of like a backpacking DJ."
BodyRockers
Before he started his career as a soloist, James was one half of BodyRockersBodyRockers
BodyRockers were an electronic music act, consisting of Dylan Burns and Kaz James. They are best known for their 2005 single, "I Like the Way".-Background:...
, who rose to prominence in 2005 with their first release, "I Like the Way (You Move)
I Like the Way (You Move)
This page is about the Bodyrockers song. For the song by Outkast, see The Way You Move"I Like the Way" is a single by Australian Kaz James and Briton Dylan Burns, collectively known as the dance music group BodyRockers. It was released in April 2005 and later appeared on the group's self-titled...
". This guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
-laden dance track reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in April 2005 and achieved popularity in other regions of the world as well. A self-titled album was released, as was the group's follow-up single, "Round And Round
Round and Round
Round and Round is a faux finish technique of applying paint in a circular motion, usually with a sponge....
". The duo, James and British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
guitarist Dylan Burns, toured extensively in 2005 and 2006 and recorded a second album, but according to James, "we just didn't get around to releasing it". BodyRockers
BodyRockers
BodyRockers were an electronic music act, consisting of Dylan Burns and Kaz James. They are best known for their 2005 single, "I Like the Way".-Background:...
then parted ways in 2006.
Solo career
In 2008, Kaz James released his debut single, "BreatheBreathe (Kaz James song)
"Breathe" is a 2008 pop-dance song by Kaz James featuring Stu Stone. It is the first solo release by James, who is a former member of the group BodyRockers. The song was later included on James' debut album If They Knew, which was released in Australia and New Zealand in October 2008...
", which features Canadian actor and musician Stu Stone
Stu Stone
Stuart Stone is a Canadian film, television, and voice-over actor as well as a producer of TV/film and music. Stone also has toured as a comedian and rapper...
. The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was directed by Fred Schepisi. On 13 September 2008 he released his second song, "We Hold On
We Hold On
"We Hold On" is the second single released by Australian singer Kaz James. The song is included on the singer's 2008 debut solo album, If They Knew...
". His debut album If They Knew was released in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in October 2008. In early 2009, James released his next single, "Can't Hold Back
Can't Hold Back (Kaz James song)
"Can't Hold Back" is the third single released by Australian singer, Kaz James taken off his 2008 debut solo album, If They Knew. It is the singer's first solo Top 50 single in Australia. Macy Gray is a featured vocalist on the song.-Music video:...
", featuring vocals by Macy Gray
Macy Gray
Macy Gray is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice, and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis.Gray has released five studio albums, with her fifth studio album, The Sellout,...
. This song became James' first solo song to reach the Top 50 on the Australian pop chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, peaking at #42. Other tracks on the album include "All Fall Down", which features former House of Pain
House of Pain
House of Pain is an American hip hop group who released three albums in the 1990s before lead rapper Everlast left to pursue his solo career again. The group's name is a reference to the H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr...
and Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
member DJ Lethal
DJ Lethal
Leor Dimant , better known as DJ Lethal, is a turntablist and producer and member of the bands Limp Bizkit, House of Pain and La Coka Nostra.-Early life:Leor Dimant was born in Riga, Latvia, when this country was still part of the Soviet Union...
.
In April 2008 James was the DJ for both the MTV Australia Awards
MTV Australia Awards 2008
The MTV Australia Awards 2008 is the new title for the Australian MTV Awards previously known as the MTV Australia Video Music Awards. The show was held at Sydney's Australian Technology Park in Redfern on 26 April 2008 and aired live on MTV Australia and Fox8 on the Foxtel, Austar and Optus...
as well as for the official after party. In late 2008 James appeared on the Stereosonic tour, along with Paul van Dyk
Paul van Dyk
Matthias Paul, better known by his stage name Paul van Dyk is a German Grammy Award-winning Electronic Dance Music DJ, musician and record producer...
, Carl Cox
Carl Cox
Carl Cox is a British techno and house music DJ.-Biography:Cox grew up in Oldham, Lancashire, before attending Glastonbury High Boys secondary modern school on Glastonbury Road in Morden. Cox began his career as a hardcore and rave DJ in the mid 1980s...
, Booka Shade
Booka Shade
Booka Shade is a German house duo. It is made up of Walter Merziger and Arno Kammermeier, described as veterans of the Frankfurt electronic music scene...
, Sneaky Sound System
Sneaky Sound System
Sneaky Sound System are a Sydney-based Australian dance music group consisting of guitarist and producer Black Angus and vocalist Connie Mitchell.-Early Years:...
and Pnau
Pnau
Pnau is an Australian dance music duo originating from Sydney, Australia. The duo consists of musicians Nick Littlemore and Peter Mayes...
.
Personal life
For a time James lived in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he reportedly dated model Kate Moss
Kate Moss
Kate Moss is an English model. Moss is known for her waifish figure and popularising the heroin chic look in the 1990s. She is also known for her controversial private life, high profile relationships, party lifestyle, and drug use. Moss changed the look of modelling and started a global debate on...
and actress Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley
Keira Christina Knightley born 26 March 1985) is an English actress and model. She began acting as a child and came to international notice in 2002 after co-starring in the film Bend It Like Beckham...
.
Singles
- "BreatheBreathe (Kaz James song)"Breathe" is a 2008 pop-dance song by Kaz James featuring Stu Stone. It is the first solo release by James, who is a former member of the group BodyRockers. The song was later included on James' debut album If They Knew, which was released in Australia and New Zealand in October 2008...
" (featuring Stu StoneStu StoneStuart Stone is a Canadian film, television, and voice-over actor as well as a producer of TV/film and music. Stone also has toured as a comedian and rapper...
) (2008) - "We Hold OnWe Hold On"We Hold On" is the second single released by Australian singer Kaz James. The song is included on the singer's 2008 debut solo album, If They Knew...
" (2008) - "Can't Hold BackCan't Hold Back (Kaz James song)"Can't Hold Back" is the third single released by Australian singer, Kaz James taken off his 2008 debut solo album, If They Knew. It is the singer's first solo Top 50 single in Australia. Macy Gray is a featured vocalist on the song.-Music video:...
" (featuring Macy GrayMacy GrayMacy Gray is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice, and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis.Gray has released five studio albums, with her fifth studio album, The Sellout,...
) (2009)