Rae & Christian
Encyclopedia
Rae & Christian were Grand Central Records
' founder Mark Rae
and fellow producer and DJ Steve Christian
. Their music is broadly classed as Hip-Hop
/ soulful dance music
and features such vocalists as The Jungle Brothers, Jeru The Damaja
and The Pharcyde
as well as contributions from Bobby Womack
and The Congos
. In addition to releasing their own albums, they also produced and remixed the music of several established artists.
. He first met sound engineer
and producer
Steve Christian when they both utilised the same rehearsal space in Ducie House in the Northern Quarter of Manchester. The first meeting took place when Christian, who is the production strength of the duo, walked past Rae's studio and informed him that his music was out of key. The pair embarked on a partnership that has seen them achieve critical and public acclaim for their work
In an interview with Pride Of Manchester, Rae said:
Naturally, this new act was the first to release records on the Grand Central Records label. Their first release was an EP, Pure Arithmetic, released in June 1995 under the band name First Priority
. A year after their emergence, Rae and Christian enlisted the vocal skills of Veba to add a more diverse flavour to their sound. Contributions to the Grand Central Records compilations
Frying The Fat
and Central Heating
attracted attention from the dance music press.
In 1998, they released their debut album as Rae & Christian, Northern Sulphuric Soul
, which was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize. The Jungle Brothers
and Jeru The Damaja
both contributed to the album's songs, giving them an edge over other sampling groups of the late 1990s. They undertook a heavy touring schedule, travelling with their own percussionist, double bass player, female vocalist, scratch DJ, sax, flute and rhodes players, to complement the skills of Rae behind the deck and Christian on guitar.
At the same time as nurturing other acts on the Grand Central Records label, their production and remixes were utilised by (Lamb
, The Pharcyde
, Wai Wan) and mainstream stars such as Natalie Imbruglia
, Simply Red
and The Manic Street Preachers. Their second album, Sleepwalking marked a change in approach, a movement towards more live instrumentation and more varied songwriting partnerships with veteran musicians such as Bobby Womack
, Tania Maria
and The Congos
.
Although they never officially split as a group, Rae and Christian released their last material in 2002. The album, Nocturnal Activity
, consisted of remixes of tracks from Sleepwalking.
albums and has undertaken a new partnership with sound engineer
, Rhys Adams. However, he has expressed an interest in working with Steve Christian again.
In his new partnership with Rhys Adams, initial releases came out under the band name ARP (Adams.Rae.Productions). After the demise of Grand Central Records, Rae started a new record label, Yes King Recordings, and his second project with Adams, the band Yes King.
However, in early 2007, Rae stated on his MySpace page, that new recordings were forthcoming both from himself as a solo artist and once again in partnership with Steve Christian, within 18 months.
In addition, Rae stated that he and Adams are currently in the process of re-editing the Rae & Christian back catalogue for a double CD of remixes, including a cappella versions of tracks over alternative backing music.
In 2009, an album of remixes and alternative versions of Rae & Christian tracks, Raiding the Vaults was released. According to Rae's MySpace page, this album was crafted in a collaboration between Yes King and Rae & Christian.
Grand Central Records
Grand Central Records was an independent record label based in the Northern Quarter of Manchester, UK. It was started in 1995 by DJ Mark Rae . Rae started out working as manager of the Fat City Records' store...
' founder Mark Rae
Mark Rae
Mark Rae, born in Ashington, Northumberland, England, is the head of the highly revered independent record label Grand Central Records and one half of DJ and production duo Rae & Christian.-Grand Central and Rae & Christian:...
and fellow producer and DJ Steve Christian
Steve Christian (DJ)
Steve Christian is a producer and musician from Manchester. He was formerly one half of recording group Rae & Christian, along with Mark Rae, the then head of independent record label, Grand Central Records.-Background:...
. Their music is broadly classed as Hip-Hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
/ soulful dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
and features such vocalists as The Jungle Brothers, Jeru The Damaja
Jeru the Damaja
Kendrick Jeru Davis, known as Jeru the Damaja is an American rapper and recording artist who has worked extensively with Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr, whom he has known since high school.-Biography:...
and The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde are an alternative hip hop group based in South Central Los Angeles. The original four members of the group are Imani , Slimkid3 , Bootie Brown and Fatlip . DJ Mark Luv was the group's first DJ, followed by producer J-Swift and then J Dilla...
as well as contributions from Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack
Robert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack is an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned more than 40...
and The Congos
The Congos
The Congos are a reggae vocal group from Jamaica active on and off from the mid-1970s until the present day. They are best known for their Heart of the Congos album, recorded with Lee "Scratch" Perry.-History:...
. In addition to releasing their own albums, they also produced and remixed the music of several established artists.
History
In 1995 Mark Rae fulfilled a long-term dream by founding Grand Central Records in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. He first met sound engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Steve Christian when they both utilised the same rehearsal space in Ducie House in the Northern Quarter of Manchester. The first meeting took place when Christian, who is the production strength of the duo, walked past Rae's studio and informed him that his music was out of key. The pair embarked on a partnership that has seen them achieve critical and public acclaim for their work
In an interview with Pride Of Manchester, Rae said:
Naturally, this new act was the first to release records on the Grand Central Records label. Their first release was an EP, Pure Arithmetic, released in June 1995 under the band name First Priority
First Priority
First Priority is a youth organization that supports student-initiated, student-led Christian clubs on middle school and high school campuses.First Priority of America, Inc. supports local city FP movements in over 70 cities across the US....
. A year after their emergence, Rae and Christian enlisted the vocal skills of Veba to add a more diverse flavour to their sound. Contributions to the Grand Central Records compilations
Grand Central Records compilations
- Grand Central Compilation Albums :...
Frying The Fat
Frying the Fat
Frying the Fat was the first compilation album from the Grand Central Records independent record label, released in association with Fat City Recordings on 8 December 1995.-Track listing:# "Jazz Hypnosis" - First Priority# "Concentrate" - Aim...
and Central Heating
Central Heating (Grand Central album)
Central Heating was the second compilation released by Grand Central Records. The two disc album was originally released in November 1996. It was re-released in February 2004 with alternative sleeve art.-Disc one:# "Central Introduction" - Tony D...
attracted attention from the dance music press.
In 1998, they released their debut album as Rae & Christian, Northern Sulphuric Soul
Northern Sulphuric Soul
Northern Sulphuric Soul was the debut album released by Grand Central Records artists Rae & Christian, on 5 October 1998.A re-mastered version was released on 12 January 2004, which contained 3 extra tracks and alternative sleeve art....
, which was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize. The Jungle Brothers
Jungle Brothers
The Jungle Brothers are an American hip hop group that pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip-hop and also became the first hip-hop group to use a house-music producer. The group began performing in the mid-1980s and released its first album, Straight Out the Jungle, in July 1988...
and Jeru The Damaja
Jeru the Damaja
Kendrick Jeru Davis, known as Jeru the Damaja is an American rapper and recording artist who has worked extensively with Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr, whom he has known since high school.-Biography:...
both contributed to the album's songs, giving them an edge over other sampling groups of the late 1990s. They undertook a heavy touring schedule, travelling with their own percussionist, double bass player, female vocalist, scratch DJ, sax, flute and rhodes players, to complement the skills of Rae behind the deck and Christian on guitar.
At the same time as nurturing other acts on the Grand Central Records label, their production and remixes were utilised by (Lamb
Lamb (band)
Lamb is an electronic music duo from Manchester, England, whose music is influenced by trip hop and drum and bass. The duo consists of producer Andy Barlow, who also produces under the pseudonym Hipoptimist, and singer-songwriter Lou Rhodes...
, The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde are an alternative hip hop group based in South Central Los Angeles. The original four members of the group are Imani , Slimkid3 , Bootie Brown and Fatlip . DJ Mark Luv was the group's first DJ, followed by producer J-Swift and then J Dilla...
, Wai Wan) and mainstream stars such as Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Jane Imbruglia is an Australian singer-songwriter, model and actress. In the early 1990s, Imbruglia was known to audiences as Beth Brennan in the popular Australian soap Neighbours. Three years after leaving the programme, Imbruglia launched a singing career with the international hit,...
, Simply Red
Simply Red
Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz...
and The Manic Street Preachers. Their second album, Sleepwalking marked a change in approach, a movement towards more live instrumentation and more varied songwriting partnerships with veteran musicians such as Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack
Robert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack is an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned more than 40...
, Tania Maria
Tania Maria
Tania Maria is a Brazilian artist, singer, composer, bandleader and piano player, singing mostly in Portuguese or English. Her Brazilian-style music is mostly vocal, sometimes pop, often jazzy, and includes samba, bossa, Afro-Latin, Pop and Jazz fusion.-Biography:Born in São Luís, Maranhão,...
and The Congos
The Congos
The Congos are a reggae vocal group from Jamaica active on and off from the mid-1970s until the present day. They are best known for their Heart of the Congos album, recorded with Lee "Scratch" Perry.-History:...
.
Although they never officially split as a group, Rae and Christian released their last material in 2002. The album, Nocturnal Activity
Nocturnal Activity
Nocturnal Activity was released by Rae & Christian on the Grand Central Records independent record label in 2002. It is a remix album, composed of alternative mixes of the tracks from Sleepwalking album, plus one new track, a cover version of the Parliament track "Flashlight".-Track listing:# "Not...
, consisted of remixes of tracks from Sleepwalking.
The future
Mark Rae has since released several solo and DJ mixDJ mix
A DJ mix or DJ mixset is a sequence of musical tracks typically mixed together to appear as one continuous track. When a DJ mix or DJ mixset is recorded onto some medium, it is often referred to as a mix tape...
albums and has undertaken a new partnership with sound engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, Rhys Adams. However, he has expressed an interest in working with Steve Christian again.
In his new partnership with Rhys Adams, initial releases came out under the band name ARP (Adams.Rae.Productions). After the demise of Grand Central Records, Rae started a new record label, Yes King Recordings, and his second project with Adams, the band Yes King.
However, in early 2007, Rae stated on his MySpace page, that new recordings were forthcoming both from himself as a solo artist and once again in partnership with Steve Christian, within 18 months.
In addition, Rae stated that he and Adams are currently in the process of re-editing the Rae & Christian back catalogue for a double CD of remixes, including a cappella versions of tracks over alternative backing music.
In 2009, an album of remixes and alternative versions of Rae & Christian tracks, Raiding the Vaults was released. According to Rae's MySpace page, this album was crafted in a collaboration between Yes King and Rae & Christian.
Discography
- Northern Sulphuric SoulNorthern Sulphuric SoulNorthern Sulphuric Soul was the debut album released by Grand Central Records artists Rae & Christian, on 5 October 1998.A re-mastered version was released on 12 January 2004, which contained 3 extra tracks and alternative sleeve art....
(1998) - Blazing The CropBlazing the CropBlazing the Crop was the first DJ mix album, mixed by Rae & Christian. It was released by Mixmag Live in association with their publishing company DMC Publishing in 1999 in the UK...
(1999) (DJ mix albumDJ mixA DJ mix or DJ mixset is a sequence of musical tracks typically mixed together to appear as one continuous track. When a DJ mix or DJ mixset is recorded onto some medium, it is often referred to as a mix tape...
) - Sleepwalking (2001)
- Another Late Night: Rae & ChristianAnother Late Night: Rae & ChristianAnother Late Night: Rae & Christian is the second DJ mix album, mixed by Grand Central Records artists Rae & Christian.It was released on 1 March 2001 on Late Night Tales in the UK and on Kinetic Records in the USA...
(2001) (DJ mix album) - Nocturnal ActivityNocturnal ActivityNocturnal Activity was released by Rae & Christian on the Grand Central Records independent record label in 2002. It is a remix album, composed of alternative mixes of the tracks from Sleepwalking album, plus one new track, a cover version of the Parliament track "Flashlight".-Track listing:# "Not...
(Sleepwalking remixed) (2002) - Raiding the Vaults (remix album) (2009)
Related artists
- Mark RaeMark RaeMark Rae, born in Ashington, Northumberland, England, is the head of the highly revered independent record label Grand Central Records and one half of DJ and production duo Rae & Christian.-Grand Central and Rae & Christian:...
- AimAim (musician)Aim is a British musician, DJ and producer, who was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Aim's sound is a blend of funky electronic music and hip hop beats, a sound which typified the Grand Central Records label...
- Veba
- Mr Scruff
- Nightmares on WaxNightmares on WaxGeorge Evelyn, better known as Nightmares on Wax and also known as DJ EASE , is a DJ from Leeds, UK. His music is released on Warp Records and was one of the first releases on the label. Evelyn got his start in the music industry through an interest in hip hop and on joining a local breakdancing crew...
- FingathingFingathingFingathing are an instrumental Nu jazz / hip-hop band from Manchester, UK, comprising classically trained double bass player Sneaky and DJ / turntablist Peter Parker.-History:...
- Buck 65Buck 65Richard Terfry , who uses the stage name Buck 65, is a Canadian experimental artist, MC and turntablist. Underpinned by an extensive background in abstract hip hop, his more recent music has extensively incorporated blues, country, rock, folk and avant garde influences.Terfry is also a radio host,...