Axwell

It may be hard for Axwell to top the success and personal highs of 2007, but one things for sure the talented producer will certainly try.

His single, 'I Found U', not only topped every dance chart imaginable (Buzz, Coolcuts, Music Week Dance Chart etc), before crossing into the mainstream eventually peaking at a highly respectable number six in the UK (it also hit the Top 10 in Holland). “Universally the biggest record across the board - played everywhere in one mix or another. It doesn't seem to offend anyone,” exclaimed Pete Tong who first set the ball rolling by crowning it an Essential New Tune. Radio 1 support was universal with Vernon Kay awarding it his Weekend Anthem, and Zane Lowe the Hottest Record in the World Right Now accolade.

“Not only does Axwell's music have an innate feel for the dancefloor that betters most others, his versatility is even more impressive. Too many producers get caught in a trademark groove, becoming a prisoner of their own perceived style. Axwell's material is so varied, yet never fails to rock big time.” - Judge Jules

Record buyers, label executives, DJs and his production peers equally hail Axwell in high regard. “I think Axwell is a brilliant producer,” says Miami's Robbie Rivera. “His music has so much energy, soul and depth. He makes music for DJs which is what I love.” Roger Sanchez is another admirer and champion of his current placing at the apex of dance music's elite. “He's on fire right now. His productions go from strength-to-strength and always rock my dancefloor!”

The across-the-board success of 'I Found U' also saw the Positiva release crowned DJ mags' Record of the Year, while the public similarly voted it their favourite of 2007 on Steve Smart's Kiss FM show in London and Anton Power's Juice FM show in Liverpool; it also picked up the prestigious Track of the Season at the DJ awards held at Pacha, Ibiza.

This forthcoming summer will see Axwell return to the white island as resident at Pure Pacha and see him headline at all of this season's festivals including Global Gathering, Glastonbury and Creamfields. His high DJ profile underscored by becoming the highest climber in DJ mags' Top 100 DJ's poll - up a massive 60 places from 93 to 33.

But as the adage goes, it takes many years of hard work to become an overnight success. Starting out on what would end up as his eventual career path, nine-year-old Axel Hedfors first took up the drums, before progressing to computers and music software when most kids were riding bikes and using jumpers for goal posts. Completely self-taught, he leant to play keyboards and programme beats, and by the time he'd reached his late-teens was already delivering the fruits of his hard work, releasing acid techno tracks made with Fasttracker2 under the pseudonym Quazar (of Sanxion)...

Born in Sweden, but a self-described native of house music, it wasn't long before his recordings found an outlet on labels like Soulfuric, Guidance, and initially, as the newly dubbed “Axwell”, with fellow Scandinavian artist StoneBridge. “Axwell has found the perfect balance between underground and accessible, not to mention the sound quality, which makes him stand out,” says the man whose Stoney Boy label released his debut single, 'FunkBoy', in 1999.

After dabbling with Latin-infused house under the guises of Mambana (with Afro Medusa singer Isabel Fructuoso) and then Jetlag (with vocalist Noel McKoy and co-producer Brian Tappert), Axwell again changed stances. The dawn of the new millennium saw him hone his house sound, and in the process not only his production stature, but also his demand as a remixer. The catalyst his pairing with Robbie Rivera and songstress Suzan Brittan in 2002 on 'Burning', a track that would eventually reach the summit of Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart two years later. In 2004 he also enjoyed a pan-European hit with vocalist Errol Reid on 'Feel The Vibe'; a year later Positiva re-released the song as 'Feel The Vibe ('Til The Morning Comes)' with additional vocals supplied by Tara McDonald. A top 20 UK chart position followed. 2005 also saw him enjoy his highest placed UK chart single with 'Watch The Sunrise', sung by Sheffield's Steve Edwards (the man behind hits for Cassius, Bob Sinclar and Xpress-2) peaking at number three in Dance Singles Chart.

Mix-wise the talented Swede's been responsible for restyling club and crossover hits for Usher ('Burn'), Stonebridge ('Put 'Em High'), N*E*R*D* ('Maybe'), Moby ('Slipping Away'), Deep Dish ('Dreams'), Pharrel Williams ('Angel'), Madonna ('Jump'), Nelly Furtado ('Pomiscuous'), Bob Sinclar ('I Feel For You') and Faithless ('Music Matters'). His versatility to be able to change from out-and-out disco to rock-infused indie beats, and then wordy hip-hop rhymes, helping propel him to most major label's first port of call, in the process providing DJs with essential tools for their trade. “Axwell is probably one of the best house music producers in the world,” says fellow Swede Steve Angello and occasional production partner. Together the two retooled Bronski Beat's 'Smalltown Boy' into 'Tell Me Why' as Supermode that peaked at number 13 in the UK.

And while it was always going to be hard to top his acclaimed remix of Hard-Fi's 'Hard To Beat', his mix of their latest single, 'I Shall Overcome', looks set to eclipse it having already topped the Coolcuts Chart. Meanwhile his mix of 'Let It Go' by Dirty South featuring Rudy, which first surfaced toward the end of last summer on his Axtone label, has now been licensed for a domestic release by Defected.

As with Axwell's raise in profile, similarly a handful of his fellow Swedish dance producers have also raised the bar becoming part of an elite group of hit remixers-come-producers - or the Swedish House Mafia as the press has affectionately dubbed them. Amongst the aggregate StoneBridge, Steve Angello, Eric Prydz and Sebastian Ingrosso. Axwell collaborating initially with the latter on a remix of Ernesto Vs Bastian's 'Dark Side Of The Moon', before delivering their original production, 'Together' - the debut release on his Axtone imprint. While with Eric Prydz the two joined forces to produce '123' and then '321' under their Axer alias for Eric's Pryda Friends label.

Indeed Axtone is one of the most in demand independent labels with 'Submariner' showcasing the underground sound of Axwell's arsenal winning support from the likes of Eddie Halliwell, Paul Van Dyk and Sander Kleinenberg; it looks set to rival the cult status that 'Get Dumb' - Axwell's all-star pairing with Angello, Ingrosso and Laidback Luke - generated last summer.

Currently in the midst of a DJ world tour that has already seen him enjoy sell-out nights in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore - next up he heads to North America and Canada taking in a handful of dates during March and April including the Winter Music Conference in Miami where a brand new Axwell single is promised to be showcased to waiting masses.