DJ Paul Elstak
This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (May 2010) |
Paul Elstak | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Paul Roger Elstak |
Also known as | DJ Paul Elstak |
Born | 14 January 1966 |
Origin | The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Producer, DJ |
Years active | 1987–present |
Website | http://www.djpaulelstak.nl |
Paul Roger Elstak (known professionally as DJ Paul Elstak; born 14 January 1966 in The Hague) is a Dutch hardcore/gabber and happy hardcore DJ and record producer.[1] He used to use his full name to create happy hardcore and DJ Paul for hardcore gabber, but when he started Offensive Records in 2001, he started using both names for gabber.
Biography[]
In 1987, Elstak's career as a DJ started when he was hired as a struppier[definition needed] at Rotterdam Discothèque Bluetiek-Inn. Here he played with the Dutch house music pioneer Peter Slaghuis. Around this time, he also hooked up with Rob Fabrie and Richard van Naamen to form Holy Noise, with whom he released a string of releases on the Hithouse record label (owned by Slaghuis). In 1991, Holy Noise had their biggest success with their release "James Brown Is Still Alive". This release was a reply to the song "James Brown Is Dead" by L.A. Style.
In 1992, Elstak created his own record label, Rotterdam Records (under the flag of Mid-Town Records) to release hardcore techno, mostly gabber and happy hardcore. The first release on this label was a Holy Noise release under the guise of De Euromasters, releasing Amsterdam Waar Lech Dat Dan? ("Amsterdam, Where Is That?"). This record was an implicit complaint about the Dutch media paying most attention to Amsterdam and not to Rotterdam.
In 1995, he released the first DJ Paul Elstak single, "Life Is Like a Dance". After this record, a few commercial releases followed. "Rainbow in the Sky" was the most successful of these, selling 50,000 copies in 1995. Several of his singles reached the Dutch Top 40 in the mid-1990s.[2] After two years, Elstak decided to leave the commercial dance scene and devote his time releasing gabber.
In 2001, he left Mid-Town and Rotterdam Records to start a new record label at Rige Entertainment, called Offensive Records. To this day, Elstak still releases hardcore on this imprint in his own typical style.
References[]
- ^ Bush, John. "Biography: Paul Elstak". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
- ^ top40.nl
External links[]
- 1966 births
- Living people
- Dutch DJs
- Electronic dance music DJs
- Happy hardcore musicians
- Musicians from The Hague