Aged 7 Mischa starts playing the trumpet and any other instrument he could get his hands on. Aged 12 gets his first DJ gig. Aged 16 he wins the Dutch national DJ contest live on national radio. Aged 22 he graduates from university with a degree in, ahem, Real Estate. Thankfully the latter venture was something of a passing phase and now the only ‘house’ Mischa Daniels is interested in is the kind that rocks dance floors…
Mischa has undergone years of sonic schooling, which has included residencies in his home country and dabbling with productions in his teens “It’s a real adventure choosing what direction is right for you” he says. “I always liked that about music”. His debut release – enthusiastically titled ‘Pumping Groover’ - on WORK Records (home to Dutch house pioneer Olav Basoski) sold bucketloads, and WORK signed him up. The following half dozen releases brought him to the attention of a number of big labels, and in 2005 Armada Music snapped up Mischa to start his own label with them, titled Fame.
Those years of musical graft certainly paid off and Mischa has now graduated to remixing for such luminaries as Kascade for Ultra Records in the States as well as UK scenester and everyone’s favourite Blue Peter offspring Sophie Ellis Bextor. He has also achieved a number 1 spot in the national Brazilian Dance Chart for his collaboration with Atomic Kitten star Natasha Hamilton - “Mischa Daniels ft Tash - Round and Round” ( it also hit the top 10 in the US dance charts.)
Constantly working on his style and technical ability Mischa’s sets range through pumping beats, to groovy disco loops and sweeping sound scapes – he describes it as “house, slightly progressive house, tribal house, but it’s got to have energy. I love what Erick Morillo does – combining huge diva vocals from the likes of Jocelyn Brown with house music and tribal beats.”
The professional admiration is mutual – Mischa’s 2006 production ‘Take Me Higher’ appears on Subliminal Sessions 10, earning Mischa the plaudit of being the first Dutch producer to be featured in the hugely credible mix series. Mischa has spent the last few years building the rest of his release repertoire in the form of remixes for Armin van Buuren, Chicane, Natasha Bedingfield, Sophie Elles Bextor, Roger Sanchez, Tom Novy, Kaskade, Alex Gaudino to name but a few...And the summer of 2008 saw Mischa compile a compilation for Pacha’s biggest series - ‘Summer Anthems 2008’.
A video was also made for ‘Take Me Higher (see it on youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQUji2owt4 ) and in addition to Mischa’s own massive productions the Fame label boasts tracks and remixes by the likes of Rooster & Sammy Peralta, Eddie Amador and Tom de Neef, and has released classics with a special Mischa Daniels remix, like Yavahn's ‘Everybody be Somebody’.
The success of his productions, the label, and regular gigs are keeping Mischa busy and he couldn’t be happier. “This is the only thing I want to do – it’s music all the way”. He is also currently enjoying props with his recent smash featuring Crown ‘Another Place’ (Armada) its frisky, infectious beats are being hammered by Axwell, Laidback Luke, John Dahlback, Eddie Thoneick, Sander van Doorn and Marco V to name a few. He is also busy with plenty of studio time for his forthcoming long player – due to see the light of day next year on the massive American based label Ultra Records. He has also just been announced as the fashion ambassador for Intoxica – a new couture clothing brand from Paris. This is one man very much on the up! And, thankfully, for his fans the estate agents suit will remain firmly in the cupboard…
