Chris Fortier: ‘Fade Records is not about the money’

Chris Fortier: ‘Fade Records is not about the money’

5 April, 2007 | 9.59AM

• Written by: Terry Church
• Filed under: Music News: chris fortier, fade records

US spinner Chris Fortier has revealed that he didn’t start his record label Fade to make a mint, but simply because he wanted his music out on vinyl.

“I started the label from pure necessity, necessity for my own releases really,” he said.

“I didn’t have grand illusions to have some big record label to make money or to use the label as a promo tool that is so common today.

“I just wanted my music out on vinyl and I really didn’t know any other way then to do it myself,” he commented.

Since its inception almost 14 years ago, Chris Fortier’s Fade Records has released some of the most groundbreaking progressive house records ever heard.

The label has helped launch the career of a number of scene’s top DJs and producers including Steve Porter.

“Steve Porter sent me some tracks after I played a gig near his hometown,” explained Chris.

“I was immediately drawn to them.

“And then when I found out more about him, I was further blown away.

“Barely 18 years old and weaving intricate energies with ease.

“Steve was probably the biggest catalyst for me to jump back full stop with the label and focusing solely on other artists.”

Through his constant touring, Chris Fortier soon found himself at the forefront of A&R, and became the first port of call for many young producers looking to release their first tracks.

“Each week on the road I was handed CDRs from young artists and I was like a kid in a candy shop.

“Soon I had full release schedules beyond 12 months.

“I soon begun to see a pattern developing with the artists and tracks I was selecting.

“Every track turned out to be the very first production from these guys.

“I really enjoyed being on the cusp at the start of their careers, and being a positive force to help them achieve bigger things.”

The wealth of talent Chris Fortier has supported over the years can be heard on the Fade Records’ first retrospective album ‘Audio Tour Volume 2’.

Compiled and mixed by Royal Sapien and Chris, the double CD features 35 of the label’s best tracks, many of which were debut releases for the producers behind them.

The mix compilation highlights the many careers that Chris Fortier has helped launch.

Chris concluded: “The label has never been about money and has never had any kind of financial angle.

“I have never signed a track because I thought it would be popular or sell a lot.

“I signed tracks I believed in and was happy regardless of their sales.”

‘Audio Tour Volume 2’ is out May 2007.

Chris Fortier and Royal Sapien’s Top 5 Fade Tracks
Chris and RS guide Beatportal through their top five favourite Fade tunes…

1. Funk Harmony Park ‘My Truth’ (original mix)
Royal Sapien: “I’m not sure if this remix was shipped with a note that read, “Please play at the end of your set,” but it seems that lots of DJs use the Royal Sapien Main Mix of ‘My Truth’ to close their sets.”

Click here to listen/buy ‘My Truth’

2. Chris Fortier ‘Despegue’ (Fractual Ambient Mix)
Royal Sapien: “Anthemic and club-friendly, the percussion is funky and smooth, and the groove just works. This rises and falls like the ocean. There’s a beautiful isolation of elements in this mix, which makes it a pretty and serene ambient track.”

Click here to listen/buy ‘Despegue’

3. Seed ‘Seed Sound’ (Bass mix)
Chris Fortier: “This was a really cool discovery for us. It’s from a West Coast DJ called Brian. I thought this was really different to a lot of things out at the time. Its dirty clanging groove is great. A few big DJs and labels tried to get it from me to release, but I held on tight to it.”

Click here to listen/buy ‘Seed Sound’

4. Smight ‘Your Happy Place’
Chris: “This track comes from the Texas-based Herb Berkley. Herb is one of the most happy-go-lucky, music lovers I have ever met. He always has this dark and tripped out edge to his stuff.”

Click here to listen/buy ‘Your Happy Place’

5. Chris Fortier ‘Losing Wait (Deep Dub)
Chris: “This was my first solo single. It was born out of a bassline alternate from the original version. I managed to bang this version out in some downtime during the recording of my Bedrock album.”

Click here to listen/buy ‘Losing Wait’

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