Chris Avantgarde
Genre: House · Melodic Techno
Origin: Germany
In order to ascend beyond their creative limits, artists must embrace a kind of ego death and accept that the music always comes first. As a DJ, musician and composer, Chris Avantgarde continuously pushes outside the bounds of his ego to give his creativity the space to flourish, while also collaborating with a wide range of artists. The result is a discography, and professional background, full of outstanding moments. Chris’ career has been defined by his ability to get out of his own way, to allow himself to be a conduit for creative energy and to maintain a level of self-awareness that is crucial for achieving a pure, authentic and very human output. With a dedicated worldwide following that grows larger by the day, a packed touring schedule and a diary full of enthralling studio sessions, Chris Avantgarde is benefitting from his selfless outlook. Poised to continue rising upwards, his open attitude and high work ethic are providing the perfect foundation for a high level of success…
Chris’ formative years were filled with music. His parents were music lovers themselves – his dad, especially, had a penchant for synthesiser music. One album in particular, called ‘Galaxy Volume Two’, proved to be particularly influential, with heavy rotation in his dad’s car. The feelings conjured up by the cinematic music on that compilation had a deep impact on young Chris. From piano lessons to Magix Music Maker, via a jazz trio, Chris’ love for music manifested itself in composition and production. His first club experience deepened his connection to electronic music. He saw the legendary Soulwax early on, which led him into the world of French electronic music: DJ Mehdi, Ed Banger, Daft Punk, Justice and the crew. Through sending out demos, he eventually struck gold.
Over the following years, he ended up in Los Angeles (via London and Liverpool) collaborating with two others on the launch of a sync company. Through the sync entity, Chris was able to indulge his creative side in the cinematic sound design he was captivated by as a youngster. Developing music for advertisements and TV series equipped Chris with a strong grasp of emotion, narrative and timing. In conjunction with his technical abilities, formal training and experience as a club DJ and producer, this formed the building blocks of the Chris Avantgarde we know today. Writing music for sync also taught Chris the valuable lesson of working to briefs and working closely with a client to refine ideas and compositions. Applying this to his own creative process has given him the ability to develop a more subjective response to his own music.
Chris’ sync work led to his connection with iconic melodic techno label Afterlife. French duo Kas:st tracked him down and asked him to remix their track ‘VTOPIA’ after hearing his music on TV show Dark. The remix sparked the curiosity of label co-owner Matteo Milleri, and a production partnership formed as Matteo prepared to launch his groundbreaking Anyma alias. ‘Consciousness’ became their first collaboration and, in conjunction with the stunning computer-generated images that accompanied its debut at Printworks in London, the track was a hit. Two more tracks followed in a similar vein, ‘Eternity’ and ‘Simulation’, galvanising their relationship and leading into the production of the first Anyma LP – Genesys. Across all of his creative work with Afterlife and the Anyma, Chris’ natural flair and impeccable production skills have been demonstrated time and time again. In particular, the cinematic quality of his sound has aligned perfectly with the visual side of Afterlife’s shows. The emotive element resonated with thousands of fans around the globe, and introduced his innate talent to a huge fanbase. He has also released a solo single with Afterlife, titled ‘Perception’ and teamed up with Kevin De Vries for the Mind Control EP on Adam Beyer’s iconic Drumcode.
This period also marked the genesis of Chris’ return to DJing, which was put on hold for a few years when he immersed himself in sync. With his profile boosted by the Afterlife connection, booking requests began to flood in from all over the world. But he was determined not to jump into anything too quickly. By the time he was ready to hit the road, demand for Chris was incredibly high and his worldwide performances have included bookings at some of the world’s most influential club spaces and festivals. On stage, he showcases his diversity incorporating variation into his sets; house, techno, breaks, garage, it’s all in there. Always with emotionally charged atmospherics, storytelling and that ever present cinematic undercurrent flowing through every set.
With a clear vision of where he wants to go, this is an artist who keeps pushing forward with an open heart and open mind. Maintaining his core values, while also cultivating an authentic and sincere musical identity is no mean feat but he remains steadfast in his dedication to his musical ethos. His music is emotive, heartfelt and powerful, his performances unforgettable and his attitude exceptional. As he continues to build an infallible reputation, Chris Avantgarde is staying true to himself every step of the way…
