Natural High

What any artist would like to achieve is for their soul to live forever through the power of their music.

UK producer, remixer and electronic artist Michael Woods says he’s no exception. For at least a decade, he has been leaving his distinctive mark upon the dance world, with original tracks like ’Natural High’ and ‘Dynamik’ smashing dancefloors.

Many artists, including John Callaghan, Way Out West, Kylie Minogue, Underworld, Martin Solveig and Lady Gaga have vied for his remix talents while his formidable production and performance skills bought him to the attention of the notoriously demanding Joel Zimmerman. â€œIt all blew up from there,” Michael recalls, leading to an invite as support for the Deadmau5 2010 UK tour, followed by a summer residency for Cream at Ibiza’s Amnesia. A steady stream of winning tracks and remixes have left an incredible legacy, though Woods’ star has been rising all his life.

From London with a music teacher for a father, Woods has always lived with music. Classically trained in piano, guitar, drums and trumpet from a young age, it was more natural for Michael to recreate the contemporary sounds of his time. â€œI didn’t seek out to do dance music,” Michael recalls, “it simply made sense. What I can do from a laptop, I can’t do on just any one instrument – though I enjoy the piano for the same reasons.” With skills attuned to Liszt and Beethoven - he currently orchestrates for the percussion section of the London Symphony - Michael’s heart was more regulated to the beats and basslines of dance. “I kind of fell into it,” Michael admits. “I was just hanging out with Matt Darey in his studio. I was playing on his keyboards and he loved what I was doing.”

Inspired, Michael would seek to establish his signature sound of waving thundering basslines and pert hooklines, working towards an armload of successful remixes and productions. With a victorious 2010 tour supporting Deadmau5 now under his belt, 2011 sees Michael touring down under. “Music is my life, my love. It’s amazing to produce in the studio and then go out and see the kids go crazy,” he reveals. “So I’m looking forward to people digging the tunes, and seeing how the kids will like it.”

Michael Woods plays Platinum, on the Gold Coast, Saturday April 2 and Barsoma Sunday April 10.