London-born producer, DJ and label owner Christopher Dines is as intense and as spiritual as his music. He fuses all kinds of house and electronica into expansive DJ sets and cut his teeth playing in the capital’s top clubs, including Ministry of Sound and Pacha. Meanwhile, his productions form a stream of self-expression that’s similarly soulful. These have been released on such labels as Jesse Saunders’ Broken Records, Afro Medusa’s Decadent Records, SuCasa Beats and, most recently, his own label Athena Digital. A gifted individual, with an ambitious signature, who stands out among a sea of contemporary artists, Christopher has worked with everyone from multi-award-winning composer Michael J McEvoy to pop chanteuse Neneh Cherry – and yet he’s still only 26 years old!

Christopher grew up with a massive mix of music in his household, from soul to dance, from hip-hop to rock. His father, a one-time disco dancer with innovative 1970s DJ Froggy, even turned him on to the house and Detroit techno vibes of Kevin Saunderson’s Inner City project. These inspirational sounds changed his life forever and he started DJing, rocking local house parties because he was too young for clubs. After leaving school at 15, he also presented shows on pirate radio stations, including Flex 103.6FM, and later promoted pop band The Genius Cru, as well as working with DJ Chris Samba. At just 19, Christopher was holding down regular gigs at Garage City events, which ran weekly at Bar Rumba, and his remarkable talent was quickly recognised by Defected’s Toni Tambourine. By now performing and producing under his main alias, Chris Lopez, he smashed sets for City Loud at Turnmills and for Defected In the House at Pacha, London.

Production-wise, Christopher has experienced success under numerous aliases, with radio and DJ play in territories across the world. He began working with close friend Article P under the name Splash and signed ‘Night by Night’ to Chicago-born house maestro Jesse Saunders’ Broken Records. And under the alias Disco Bob, he delivered the white label ‘Moving On’. Around 2005, he co-founded the deep house imprint SuCasa Beats, introducing the likes of Pablo Martinez, Onyx (Soul2Soul) and Afro Medusa to the label. Splash also made waves via SuCasa, with their groove-heavy single ‘London Rawness Project’, featuring Onyx. This was a time when his productions really started to impact widely on the world stage. His flow continued apace into 2006 as he unleashed the enduring ‘Addicted’, as Chris Lopez presents Miss Ling, on Decadent Records. This vocal house classic was remixed by, among others, Defected’s Andy Daniels and Pablo Martinez. Christopher even remixed Afro Medusa’s ‘Beautiful Thing’ and their chart-topping ‘Pasilda Pt. II – Come A Little Closer’.

Despite such success, in 2006 Christopher left SuCasa and dance music and started what would be a three-year long hiatus from the music industry. This time was spent travelling, rethinking his focus and writing a book entitled A Ticket to Prosperity, which has been supported by the likes of DJ Danny Rampling and Led Zeppelin’s ex-tour manager Richard Cole. During this break, in 2008, he even partnered with the hugely successful television journalist Michael Cogdill to co-write a second book, Raise the Haze. And, finally, in the summer of 2009, he returned to music, teaming up with illustrious American screen composer Michael J McEvoy, who has worked with Paul Oakenfold and whose most recent film work includes writing music for Richard Linklater’s Me and Orson Welles. Together they have produced several singles, including ‘Imagination’ and ‘Liberty’, which will drop, in 2010, on Athena Digital, Christopher’s new label, which is a collaboration with Article P. Also due on Athena are two new tracks by Christopher called ‘Spacial Majesty’ and ’4th Dimension’.

Yes, Christopher’s advances contrast boldly with much modern-day DJ culture. He’s an individual, whose belief is not buoyed by hype but by the heads and hearts of music lovers everywhere. For, as any aficionado knows, dance music should be a feeling, a spiritual thing…

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DJ/producer, label owner and author Christopher Dines speaks to Tonight In My City about his enduring passion for dance music – and overcoming the demons that almost drove him away…

CHRISTOPHER DINES INTERVIEW:

TURNING THE TABLES ON ADDICTION

DJ/producer, label owner and author Christopher Dines speaks out about his enduring passion for dance music – and overcoming the demons that almost drove him away

Thankfully, a path of excess has led to a position of wisdom for 26-year old DJ/producer Christopher Dines. In 2006, this London-born creative enjoyed a hit with a beguiling song entitled ‘Addicted’, written under his alias Chris Lopez, together with Afro Medusa’s Nick Bennett. Yet, at one time, he was addicted, not only to alcohol but also to cocaine. However, after getting clean, Christopher soul searched and wrote a self-help book that’s been endorsed by ex-mega band tour manager Richard Cole, DJ Danny Rampling, and stacks of others. Fast-forward to 2009 and he’s recently even launched a new music label called Athena Digital (named after the Greek goddess of wisdom), and is now returning to the ring of fully revitalised spinning.

Yes, these days, few are more mindful than young Christopher, who in this exclusive interview speaks out about the conflicts of creativity, conquering demons, and his new label.

You’ve evidently experienced a lot for one so young. What happened when you left the music industry?

In 2006, I took three years out of the music world and dived into studying the human mind and human potential. Until the age of 21, I was in a lethal situation, and then I got sober (with help). During my time out I wrote a book called A Ticket to Prosperity, garnering support from everyone from Danny Rampling to Richard Cole, and Harold W. Becker (The Love Foundation). Personally, to have Richard Cole endorse me is a blessing. He was the tour manager for Led Zeppelin, Ozzy Osbourne, Eric Clapton, The Who, and Black Sabbath. During the 1960s, Richard pioneered ideas for British rock bands to take over their own teams and equipment to the USA. I have also co-written another self-help book with 23-time Emmy award-winning TV journalist Michael Cogdill. Our book is called Raise the Haze, to be released in 2011. Also, look out for Michael’s new book, She Rain, due out in March 2010.

To what were you addicted, and how serious was your situation?

I was addicted to cocaine and alcohol. In high school we were drunk or high most of the time. In 2003, I was eventually sent to a clinic, where they suggested that I seek help, living a new way of life, which I still do today. Today, one day at a time, with support and help, I haven’t consumed alcohol or mind/mood altering drugs for over five years.

Have you witnessed many other artists who are, or have been, in trouble in this way?

Yes but I don’t want to point any fingers. I’m just being open about my demons because it’s the truth. Music and art are a release for so many people, and for alcoholics and addicts it’s an ideal liberation from the ‘washing machine’ thinking. I respect Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) for deciding to live a sober life – and for going public about his recovery. Even Boy George has got back into DJing and he’s doing it sober. This proves that you can still have fun but in a safe way. It’s also an undeniable truth that most successful DJs have to stay sober in order to stay on top of their game.

So what’s your advice to others who have to confront their own demons?

My experience proves that it’s best to ask for help. There is an abundance of good people who can help, no matter how impossible circumstances may seem.

Why did you return to music?

Well, put simply, because I love it! During 2009, I had nagging thoughts about getting back into the studio and DJing again. I was also talking to Daniel DiCriscio this summer. I first got in touch with him during the 2007 Super Bowl finals, when I was in LA. DiCriscio is Hollywood’s ‘makeover messiah’. He’s consulted and worked with many artists, from the late Anna Nicole Smith, Marylyn Manson, Pamela Anderson and Paula Jones, to helping Paris Hilton when she was in jail in 2007. He gave me some priceless suggestions (and endorsed A Ticket to Prosperity, which is a blessing). Then it dawned on me that I can’t run away from the world. So I created a partnership with Emmy award-winning screen composer/musician, Michael J. McEvoy, producing alternative dance music. He’s produced some incredible jazz albums, and last year was composing music with Paul Oakenfold on several major film projects in Hollywood. In fact, if you enjoy films, look out for Richard Linklater’s Me and Orson Welles, as McEvoy composed original music for this incredible new movie.

Are you still using the alias Chris Lopez?

I have produced and remixed under Chris Lopez, Disco Bob, and Splash etc. It’s all fun. I remixed several Afro Medusa singles under the Chris Lopez alias a few years ago, which gained very positive feedback. During the Lopez era, while acting as A&R for the independent label Su Casa, from 2005-2006, I signed and pushed a stack of underground artists, including Steal Vybe and Marlon D from New York, DJ Martino (83 West) from Canada, Afro Medusa (UK), Andy Daniell (Defected Records), Pablo Martinez (Samba La Casa), and Onyx (Soul2Soul). I also signed the soulful house crew Samba La Casa for remix projects back in 2002, before they became a household name in the deep house scene. For three years, I was DJing under the Chris Lopez alias; however, I’ll be focusing on using my real name for production and DJ gigs from now on.

Having previously worked in radio is this something that you will explore further?

I had the privilege of playing on London’s biggest pirate station of the 1990s, Flex 103.6FM, which aired from 1992 to 2002. I also played on Ice 884.FM for a year. I learnt the skills of voice control, voice tones and melody from Eddie Gordon. Ed was a creative force behind Radio 1′s Essential Mix and Manifesto Records, and he managed the legendary Pete Tong for 20 years. We spent a good 18 months going over how to make a substantial career in music. I was 22 at the time. Ed’s a true gentleman and has always been happy to give me advice, even in recent days. Radio is still an interesting medium, although, of course, most people are aware that the FM dial doesn’t carry as much weight as it did in the 1990s. Today, people have this magical device called an iPod, which can shuffle thousands of their favourite songs, films and videos, instantly.

Tell us about Athena Digital…

I founded the label in August 2009, and recently brought in Article P as a partner. Everything we sign will be of the highest quality.

Who else is involved, regarding future releases and label input?

There is Hamish Balfour and Line 2. There are four producers in our creative division. We also have an excellent promotions and sound production team.

So how else do you see your future evolving?

The beautiful thing is I can walk away from all of this. Making music is a part of my creation, but it’s not me. My birth name is Christopher Francis Dines. I am half black Kenyan, half white Irish/English, born in London, but that’s not me either. They’re just words put together or an expression of beliefs to describe a culture. I already knew when I made a decision to return to music that the music career won’t last forever. It’s simply a speck of dust, in the midst of time and space. Anyway, I think William Shakespeare said it best, ‘to thine own self be true’.

Christopher’s debut single on Athena Digital, ‘Spacial Majesty’, is out now. For more details visit: www.christopherdines.com or www.myspace.com/athenadigital.

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