Stylistically inhabiting a musical landscape populated with driving jump-up drum breaks, angular melodic synthesiser patterns and driving pulse-like bass lines, as a musical entity TREi is a genuine composer and artist. An individual capable of easily dispelling the knob-twiddling computer programmer connotations far too often associated with the more throwaway aspects of dance music.
Given this, in the space of what counts as four short years behind the consoles as a DJ and a producer, TREi has risen to the upper echelon of drum and bass in New Zealand. Resultantly, his music production and DJ skills are now raising eyebrows in all the right places across the globe. Or to call a spade a spade – on an international scale, a new force to be reckoned with has emerged in drum and bass.
Raised in sunny Hawkes Bay on the East Coast of New Zealand, TREi got his start in music as a guitarist, playing with heavy metal and rock bands. Relocating to Auckland city at age 19, he came into contact with music production hardware and the emerging sounds of techno and drum and bass through attending parties such as The Breakz. While attending these events he discovered the music of Roni Size, Plug, Digital, Konflict, and the deal-sealer of deal-sealers; Ed Rush and Optical’s darkside masterpiece - the Wormhole album. From there it was a short step to a fully fledged drum and bass addiction in terms of production and DJing.
In 2000, Trei relocated to Wellington (the capital city of New Zealand), where in 2004 he would announce his arrival on the country’s drum and bass circuit through placing 2nd in the now annual nationwide drum and bass DJ mix competition Rumble in the Jungle.
Since then TREi has become a regular guest at New Zealand’s best known drum and bass parties, including the country’s longest running club night Bass Frontiers, and played alongside the top tier of the international talent pool - Andy C, Hype, Zinc, Mampi Swift, Concord Dawn, Pendulum and others. TREi also regularly DJs in Australia, and in late 2008 debuted on the European tour circuit to much acclaim.
As smooth in the studio as he is in the mix, TREi’s music regularly features in the playlists of scene leading luminaries including State of Mind, Bailey, Marky, Andy C, Klute and Friction.
In 2006, TREi released his first 12 ‘Catscratch/Big Mouth’ on Random Recordings, and has since accumulated a substantial catalogue of releases on a diverse mixture of labels. Of particular note was the highly anticipated release of ‘Day Away’ on Black Sun Empire’s Obsessions Label and breakthrough track ‘Valium Express’ (w/Dose & Menace) on Commercial Suicide which featured in Andy C’s Cover mount CD for Mixmag’s December 2007 Edition.
With upcoming releases on Critical Music, Shogun Ltd, Commercial Suicide, Samurai Music, Incite Recordings, Syntax Audio, Revolution Recordings and Marky’s Innerground all receiving massive worldwide support and his debut album set for release in 2009; TREi’s going frequent flyer - watch this one rise.
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