When it comes to records Vincent Thomas knows both sides. In most producers’ biographies there is a straight line from spinning records to producing records. In his case it’s different: Vincent had his hands at the production controls as well as on the turntables.
The Producer
"Shingaling" evolved from an underground club track to an international chart hit in the course of only a few weeks. For Vincent Thomas, who produced the track jointly with Jean Claude Ades, this is the final breakthrough: “Shingaling” was #1 in the German Club Charts, #1 in the Belgian dance charts, the Italian Dance & sales charts, and (even for four weeks) at the top of Beatport.com. The Original Mix of "Shingaing" was the best selling Electro House Track on Beatport.com in 2008 and nominated for the Beatport Music Awards as "Best Electro House Track in 2008" (#2). In the German Dance charts "Shingaling" reached #3 and #6 in the Dutch Nieuwe Top 40 singles charts. The song has been published in seven countries by different labels: Great Stuff, Ministry of Sound, Vendetta, Frenetic, Blanco y Negro, Ego, NEWS.
Various singles and remixes have been licensed for the following compilations: "Love Parade 2008 - Highway to Love Compilation", "Viva Rotary Club Summer 2008", "Pacha Ibiza 2008/2009", "Clubbers Guide to Ibiza 08", "Ministry of Sound Bites Summer Club 2008" and many, many more.
Even though chart performance is not his benchmark for success and he doesn’t adjusts his production work to that, Vincent rejoices it as a form of appreciation. Being in the Beatport Top 100 with "Heureka" and "If I Had Known This Before" in 2010 was a welcome confirmation.
In SWINGS, a sub-label of Great Stuff Records, Vincent had found a record company with the same philosophy as he represents himself: to create good, successful club tracks.
After numerous remixes for acts like Jerome Isma-Ae, Jean Claude Ades, Tom Novy, Paul Harris on labels like Ministry of Sound, Cr2, Armada, Swings, Harem, Ultra and Kontor, Vincent Thomas was able to definitively establish himself in the music scene.
Letting real musicians, a 15-member Cuban band, re-record an old Latin Jazz hit instead of just using a sample of the original song, was an unusual approach, Vincent admits. “Sometimes it's better to leave the well-trodden tracks.”
One of the decisive factor was not least the support of acts such as Groove Armada, Eric Morillo, Pete Tong, Fedde Le Grand & Funkerman, Tiger Stripes, Djuma Soundsystem, Deetron, DJ Chus & David Penn, Agoria and Tim Deluxe, who played "Shingaling" again and again. "That remains, even in times of the Internet, the foundation for success," Vincent Thomas is convinced.
The DJ
“DJing has to be performance”, reckons Vincent Thomas and adds: “For me, DJing isn’t just putting on one record after the other.” Due to technical evolution the role of the DJ has changed more and more to being an entertainer and performer.
His mixing style reflects his approach towards music and production: “Diversified, but consistent with a concept.”
Combining different styles of electronic music from all over the world in order to conceive a coherent, danceable sound – that’s how Vincent describes his method of operation. House and Techno magazine “Partysan” declared his style “Electro House at it’s best!”.
That’s why Vincent doesn’t stuff his case with music from only one style but with a rich variety of records from Club House via Electro to rather tech-housy, progressive sounds. That implies not to follow an already falling trend yet to trace current sounds and having tomorrow’s sounds already in his DJ case.
Vincent is constantly playing impressive shows around the globe as well as big venues like the Loveparade. For the Loveparade in the city of Dortmund (2008) and Essen (2007), Vincent was DJing at “Rocker und Freunde”, an after-show party presented by the renowned radio station 1LIVE and played with acts such as Fedde le Grand, Paul van Dyk. Bad Boy Bill, Moonbootica, Lexy & K-Paul.
The interest in Vincent's unique DJ-shows and uplifting productions keeps on growing. Be prepared for a few surprises!
