Born in Canada, Hatiras developed a passion for music at a very early age, making and selling his very first mix tapes by the age of 12. His intense passion for music, which derives from drum and bass, techno, funk, disco and house, has inspired the production of his funk-filled, energetically engineered tracks.
While he has received significant attention recently, Hatiras is no stranger to the electronic music world. In 1993, Hatiras along with two close friends, established a concert promotions company called Liquid Adrenaline, which steadily grew to become one of the largest in North America. Their events attracted as many as 10,000 partygoers from America and Canada and featured some of the leading names in dance music. It was through this channel that Hatiras fine-tuned his musical talents and formed relationships with many of the key players in the business.
His career later took off when he joined forces with music industry powerhouses Bad Boy Bill and Michael Ryden of Chicago-based label Mix Connection Multimedia. Their first collaboration was released on Mix Connection subsidiary, International House Records (IHR), and was an instant success. The atomic blast of Hatiras' creation, "Liquid Adrenaline Sessions 1," vaporized the borders of music and technology and included the hit track "Digital Doom," which generated substantial recognition for Hatiras.
His subsequent releases were just as powerful, but it wasn't until the release of his chart-topping global smash single, "Spaced Invader," that the world got to know Hatiras. The song earned Hatiras a Canadian Juno Award (the equivalent of an American Grammy) for "Best Dance Recording" in 2002. Revered for his driving beats and stunning grooves, Hatiras' unique style has put him in high demand on the remix circuit, where he has remixed artists such as Kylie Minogue and many others on labels such as Sony and Universal Music, just to name a few.
In 2003, Hatiras formed his own record label, Blow Media, in which he continues to release his music, as well as focusing on nurturing other promising artists. Blow Media has seen tremendous acceptance, growth and success with a string of consistent hits including, "Money Shot," "Hot Box," "Love For The Weekend," "Baked From Scratch" and "Spanish Fly," a collaboration with Macca which earned Hatiras his second Juno Award in 2006. The label continues to shine with Hatiras' successful "Electronic Luv" compilations and smashing releases by other talented producers/DJs, such as Antoine Clamaran, Robbie Rivera, DJ Dan, Jaxon and Macca.
He has traveled the world and sold hundreds of thousands of records over the course of his music career, earning the distinction as one of the most influential electronic music producers and DJs in the world today. During the course of our interview, Hatiras opens up about his past, the many experiences of his life, how technology is changing the music industry, and the future of electronic music.
ASM: You lived a very interesting childhood. Did you always know that you wanted to be in the entertainment industry?
Hatiras: I grew up mainly in Toronto, but also lived in South Africa, Greece and Switzerland for a few years. Those travels opened my mind to the fact that the world is a big place. I never intended to be in the music industry. When I was a little child, I wanted to be a clown. My parents encouraged me to follow my dreams as long as I tried my best.
ASM: Were you always into music growing up? Who were some of your influences?
Hatiras: Definitely. My interest in music was sparked by early Michael Jackson, Wham!, Madonna, Lionel Ritchie, etc. From there, I discovered electronic-type music, like Depeche Mode, New Order and Information Society. I was also a huge fan of freestyle/'80s from guys like Stevie B, Trinere and Sweet Sensation. I guess that growing up, I was always into dance music the most. I was also influenced by my older sister who gave me my first DJ tapes that were mixed by her older skater friends.
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