DARREN MOSS
Darren Moss aka Dazz Embed/Dazmos/Toxic Monkey. Music producer, writer, programmer,artist and musician.
Dazz has been producing electronic music since 1981. Hundreds of tracks and several bands and production projects working with many different artists over the years and several deals later, found overnight success with Ian Brown (Stone Roses), writing and producing Kiss Ya Lips (No ID) for the album Solarized in 2004 followed by top 20 UK hit All Ablaze in 2005.
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This proved to be the springboard for EMBED, an ambitious post 911 politically driven electro breakbeat rap project featuring Kapulet and Loki. After releasing the Secret Weapon Series 1-4 EMBED were invited to tour with Ian Brown in UK 2007 and 2009 releasing their debut album Sonic Weapons in 2009.
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Embed Sonic Weapons
Collaborating with UK rapper Arch Kapulet and special guest Loki they challenged the establishment system releasing several EPs Secret Weapon Series 1-6 with video singles urging the citizens to wake up and educate themselves to resist the nefarious globalist agendas of the ruling elite. In 2012 they released Shame featuring American singer songwriter Shea Seger. This paved the way for a new project We Are SYD in 2013
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We Are SYD
The collaboration We Are SYD born out of EMBED with Yuval Gabay on drums (Soul Coughing, Roni Size, ADF) and the fabulous Shea Seger on vocals. The first track Gently created a lot of industry interest and so they started recording the album in Dazz’s studio now in Buspace Studios W10.
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We Are SYD
Set Up
Dazz set about creating the sound from old classic analogue synths having to build a bespoke black box controller to sync the bank of classic old skool synths. They modified the KORG MS10 and SEQUENTIAL CIRCUITS PRO1 to control the left hand bass LFO and modulation with foot pedals leaving the right hand free to play keys. The project concept was a 3 piece analogue electro breaks band no computer no sequencer no backing tapes recorded old skool as a live band.
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We Are SYD
Studio 19
With live drums and Sheas hauntingly powerful songs they wrote and produced a unique record flying in the face of the future tech AI revolution. Once the album was recorded they moved to the bigger studio 19 in Buspace Studios W10 and set it up as a rehearsal space/ venue to perform the album in a series of private shows over 6 months in 2016 building their audience.
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Sadly just as the energy was peaking to the point of showcasing and signing a deal fate had different plans for the trio. Due to a series of unforseen life incidents the dream and vision for We Are SYD was consequently derailed and the project temporarily shelved.
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Early Years
Darren grew up in North London and was naturally heavily influenced by the diverse and eclectic club scenes of the late 70’s early 80’s where punk revolutionary fashion and electronic dance music were synonymous with the creative expression of a new disaffected generation.
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Fascinated with the idea of electronic dance music of the future Darren started experimenting with synthesizers and drum machines programming electronic beats on classic kit Roland Drumatix 606 and 707 eventually recording on the first affordable 4-tracks and started producing his electronic dance music.
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In the 80’s Dazz produced several albums of experimental electro dance tracks and formed several partnerships and bands learning his craft and forging the way ahead for modern dance music.
He started writing songs and a project Shoot The Moon eventually got him noticed by major record label EMI but after a series of demos and a video shoot literally on the pyramids in Cairo Egypt in 1985 he still didnt get signed. However the A&R continued to support him and eventually Darren ended up forming a new band Water with guitarist artist Paul Robinson in 1987.
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Water
Water lived worked and partyed in Soho London and were initially backed by London Records. They recorded a series of demos got management and started producing an album that resulted in them getting offered a deal with Trevor Horn at ZTT. Unfortunately this too never materialized after 6 months of legal negotiations and so the crazy hedonistic acid house years saw the end of the Soho adventure as another dream faded.
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During the 90’s Darren continued his collaboration exclusively with musician and co writer, now Paul DaCosta as ESSEN.
They produced the white label CactusWater 1992 at Beethoven Street Studios where their West London trip hop sound was championed by Brian Eno and thankfully ESSEN were eventually signed and released their debut vinyl EP God and the Devil in 1996 followed by the album King Size Blues on Clean up Records /One Little Indian 1998.
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ESSEN recruited a drummer Fabio Abeni and bassist Christiano Sossi for the band to finish the album. ESSEN launched the album at a sell out show at The Jazz Cafe Camden London. They embarked on a short UK tour to promote the album ending up at the eclipse festivals in Devon. Unfortunately the label had gone bankrupt promoting The Sneaker Pimps and so the ESSEN project had run its course.
In 2000 Darren decided to get his own studio settling in the SAGA Centre W10, and start the new century producing his own projects collaborating with other artists.
He produced a house album for Vee Scott with Love Wot U Do as the main single. He then collaborated with Kevin Beadle to form MESSENGERS and produced a dozen 12″ singles released thru GOYA Distribution. They also produced an album WE ARE..
Meanwhile Darren continued producing his own project Toxic Monkey. This led to the creation of EMBED. collaborating with rapper Arch Kapulet. Darren set up ESSENCORE ALLSTARS to perform a series of shows at the fledgling CORSICA STUDIOS. Collaborating with a party promoter Tom Currie under the name MIRACLES HAPPEN. These hedonistic times forged the opportunity to collaborate with Ian Brown in 2004 to produce most notably Kiss Ya Lips (No I.D) and All Ablaze in 2005.
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