Before they were the Insomniax, Emile Ghantous and Erik Nelson knew that music was their first love. As time went by, it became their identity, and today, it is responsible for their existence. Both Nelson and Ghantous became passionate about music at an early age. Nelson while playing the piano, and Ghantous while falling in love with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
Growing up, Nelson was influenced by Journey, Rush, Phil Collins, Billy Joel, Elton John, and he took up the guitar after hearing Van Halen. While playing the keyboard in his first band at age 16, Nelson discovered that he wanted to pursue music. This led him to being a part of as many as six different Rock bands. He attended Illinois State University, receiving a BA in Music and Piano Performance. After graduating from ISU, he opened up Sinewave Studios, where he would work as an engineer with artists such as MC Breed, Mudvayne, Do or Die, Crucial Conflict, Johnny P. and Danny Boy.
Like Nelson, Ghantous had his own favorite musicians growing up. He listened to various artists such as New Edition, The Jacksons, Kool and the Gang, Lionel Richie, Troop, Jodeci, Hi-Five, and Boyz II Men. Ghantous started his production career at age 18. In the beginning of his career, he created beats for rappers and recorded them at local studios. He met Nelson while recording at Sine Wave Studios in 1994. Later on in his production career, Ghantous studied Audio Engineering and Production at Columbia College Chicago. A true student of music, he has collected as many as 4,000 CDs throughout his life. His influences include Full Force, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, R. Kelly, Teddy Riley, Dallas Austin, LA Reid and Babyface.
Nelson and Ghantous began collaborating in 1995 when Nelson, a keyboard, bass, and guitar player, asked Ghantous, a programmer and song writer, if he could add a keyboard portion to a song that he was working on. “We were at the studio and I had a song pretty much done, and one day he added a keyboard part to it and I loved it,” said Ghantous. During that time, Ghantous changed his focus from Rap to R&B/Pop, due to his great appreciation of the New Jack Swing era and his love of R&B and Pop music. This love would eventually drive them to the forefront of the music industry.
By the year 2000, they formed the Chicago-based song writing and production team known as the Insomniax, a name inspired by the fact that they would stay up all night working on music. Initially, the Insomniax felt that their music was missing something. Each week, they would listen to songs that were number one at the time, and ask themselves why their overall quality was not comparable.
After listening closely and picking apart the components of each song, the Insomniax began understanding what made a quality record. “As we started working together, we started developing a rhythm, figuring out each other’s strong points, developing a style as a production group. We started developing a creative style,” said Nelson. The Insomniax received their first major opportunity when the group 3LW recorded two of their songs in 2004. Shortly after, they began working with Public Announcement, Sparkle, Jojo, Lil’ Romeo and Boys II Men.
In 2006, the Insomniax signed with Michael (Mav) Mavrolas, founder of the Genuine Music Group. While already playing a role in selling over 135 million records, the Genuine Music Group's affiliation with the Insomniax would help take them to the next level. While represented by Mavrolas, the Insomniax began creating as many as ten songs a week, working with artists including Bobby Valentino, Fat Joe, A.I., I-15, LeMarvin, Marcos Hernandez, Nephu, 2XL, B5, Brandon Kane, Stevie Brock, Aksent, Midwest City, JADA, Jordyn Taylor, Mishon, Frankie J, Jon B., Velvet Angels, One Chance, D. Woods(Formally of Danity Kane) and Che’nelle. In addition, the Insomniax were responsible for developing the sound and launching the career of the Atlanta based recording group Myxx.
Today, the Insomniax maintain their willfulness to work tirelessly throughout the night in order to become the next successful song writing and production team. They have vowed to not to sleep until they reach the top, because they know that they are only one hit away from greatness.
