Ski Oakenfull

2007 is the year that I've finally got round to sorting out my own label 'Primaudial Records'. All the releases can be downloaded as 320kbps mp3s exclusively from my online

shop which you can find on the left hand side of this page, or from many of the major online stores (iTunes, Traxsource, junodownload etc).



Ski first made an impact in 1991 with the K-Creative, one of

the initial signings to the then newly established Talkin' Loud Records.

Co-writing & co-producing their debut album 'QED', he toured

extensively throughout Europe and Japan. After his tenure with the K-Creative

ended, Ski joined UK soul-funk band Raw Stylus as

keys man (touring & recording with legendary Steely Dan

producer Gary Katz) and regularly performed with the in house

band at Gilles Peterson's seminal club nights at Bar

Rumba in London alongside visiting luminaries such as Guru

from Gangstarr and iconic Brazilian superstar Flora Purim.



1994 saw Ski join ex-label mates Galliano as keyboard player.

His relationship with the band grew, culminating in him co-writing and co-producing

their final album '4'. The next few years saw Ski develop his

writing & production skills further including writing sessions with Incognito

and the release of the club classic 'Justify' on Bob

Jones' short lived yet much missed Black on Black

label. Ski also contributed tracks to a unique global collaborative project

called 'Sun Sun'. This featured exclusive material from some

the finest exponents of alternative contemporary dance music including DJ

Cam, Bob Sinclair, Kruder & Dorfmeister

and DJ Die. It was Ski's contribution, a deep & funky rolling

number called 'Montreux a Marseilles' that brought him to the

attention of Sony Columbia. They immediately signed him up

and he recorded a version of the late Joe Henderson's jazz

classic 'Tres Con Deo La' featuring the vocal talents of Valerie

Etienne. This was well received throughout Europe and it caught the

ears of Philly's very own aqua boogie monster, King Britt,

who supplied a beautiful remix.



Ski followed this with the release of his debut album 'Life Changes'.

The album showed Ski as a true musical polymath, embracing influences and inspiration

from house, disco, electro, jazz, soul and funk. 'Life Changes'

is the distillation of musical experience, innovation, absorption and adventure.



Over the next couple of years Ski went on to persue his passion for remixing

and writing. High profile reworks of tracks such as 'I can See the Future'

by Incognito (Talkin Loud), 'American Dream'

by Jakata (MOS) and 'Freak Like Me' by The

Sugababes (Island) firmly established Ski as a true Nu-Jazz innovator

and lead to countless remix offers.



Not one to stick to studio productions alone, Ski has provided his keyboard

talents for many different bands such as Earl Zinger, 2

Banks Of 4, The Bays and even a brief spell with Kylie

Minogue! .and of course not forgetting playing his own gigs all around

Europe, most recently at Cargo in London for Gilles

Peterson's Glenfiddich Independent Mix. Ski is also not averse to spinning

the odd record or two and has played at clubs across London and Tokyo.



For his second (and most recent) album 'Rising Son' in 2005,

Ski teamed up with Bluey and DJ Venom to produce

an intoxicating blend of classic Old skool house to Nu skool soul and uplifting

funktronica. It features Amp Fiddler s, Chi

Turner s, Tony Momrelle and Earl Zinger

and Valerie Etienne. It was initially released in Japan on

Pony Canyon and later worldwide on BBE.



Most recently Ski has completed a new project under the guise of Ayota.

Initially inspired by a Japanese friend's book of Poetry entitled Helicopter

Flying In A Cloudy Sky, Ski wrote soundtracks to three of the poems. This quickly

developed into an album project continuing a Japanese ambient theme. The result

is 'Helicopter Cuts'. Ski had the opportunity to showcase the

album live at last year's Big Chill festival and the album

is due for release on Third Ear Records in 2006.



click the following link to find Ski Oakenfull tracks on iTunes