The long way from Metal to Hardcore over the techno-hating
hiphopper until entering the electronic music scene seems to be
very common. Neal White also followed this scheme. In the early
90s the young stud from Hamburg frequently visited wild
acid-parties - apparentlyespecially spectacular in the hanseatic
metropolis. Now it had happened - he was lost, his soul was sold.
In 1994 Mr. White started a cooperation with two comrades-in-arms -
one of them's still up on his mischief in the electronic scene as
3DJ Dirsch. The revolutionary and legendary SOS DJ-Team was born.
Revolutionary not only due to their activities in the electronic underground
but also because of their massive part in the distribution of breakbeats,
a kind of music formerly completely unknown in Germany.
In 1998 Neal moved from Hamburg to Berlin - the SOS DJ-Team then
draw to a close and was finally disbanded in 2000.
This also states the end of Neal White's career as a DJ. Now he
concetrated mainly on producing music himself - first of all because
regular DJ-Decks decisively lack buttons and controllers. But basically
his principal reason was the fact that on existing records he couldn't
find exactly the music he wanted to play. Besides he was full of own
ideas which kind of music could fill this gap.
Together with Marc Teloy, Neal released his first record as Somalux
at a label called Slowbow. The sound was mainly no-frills but the
effect on the dancefloor was quite convincing. This can be called a
fact at the latest since their gig during the tour of Laurent Garnier
and Der Dritte Raum.
In the same year he played a part in the foundation of the Berlin-based
label Freizeitglauben, as another part of the berlin based record shop
wearing the same name. At this label he had his first releases as
Neal White (FZG1 and 2). Another one of his own releases and a remix of Mindlab's "Lick" were the source of first sincere recognition within the international music scene.
He's only been pitching the tunes since 2000 - anyway, he managed to
act as a "co-pilot" in Andreas Krüger's project "Der Dritte Raum"
(the 3rd room) since 2004. Such offers don't just fall out of the sky -
since his first electronic attempts Mr. White has been working his butt
off remorselessly. He's a stunning live-musician able to force even the
most tired dancer back to the floor.
Text written by Marcel Jochmann (© Opossum Recordings)
