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One listen to "RISING INTO JOY" and you get the feeling that this producer has been making hit records for years. Yet, at the tender age of 23, his producer, songwriter and re-mixer credits appear in the liner notes of albums by artists including Arnold Jarvis, Willy Washington, Osunlade and on record labels such as Black Vinyl U.K., Hipbone, Central Park, Underground Collective and Dancetracks . Essence Records U.K. released his first single, "The Nu Breed E.P." in fall 2001. His name is Calixto 'Alix' Alvarez. Born and raised in the Bronx to Olga Garcia and Calixto Alvarez Jr. in 1979, Alix was surrounded by a variety of music as a youth from Latin to Hip Hop to House. His father, Calixto Jr., introduced Alix to the timbales, while his brother Richie, a D.J. at the forefront of the hip hop revolution, exposed Alix to rap music and hip hop culture. From his cousin Eric, Alix studied house music and acquired DJ skills. By the early age of 12, Alix began DJing at house parties and making mix tapes for neighborhood friends. To complete his understanding of underground music, Alix embarked on three important explorations: music retailing, music education and nightlife culture. Upon completing studies in audio engineering, Alix parlayed his training to an internship and finally to a full time position as Assistant Engineer with Masters At Work, the DJ / Producer / Remixer duo renowned the world over for their remixes and original productions for everyone from Michael Jackson and Jamiroquai to Roy Ayers and Gloria Estefan. Alix continued to further his understanding of the music world through a position as a retailer at Vinylmania, one of New York’s oldest and most respected underground dance music record stores, serving DJ’s since The Loft and The Paradise Garage for over 20 years. At the Shelter and now defunct Legends, two societal underground house music clubs, Alix took part in and contributed to the evolution of house music. These two underground institutions would play a pivotal role shaping his DJ and production style. Today, his creations are described as elegant, sensual and hot. The power of his productions lies in thier subtlety. "Rising into Joy", an original production released as a single on Black Vinyl Records U.K.,excellently showcases Alix's ablility as a producer. The song also appears on Arnold Jarvis’s first solo album, The Collection. Through marrying industry contacts with his DJing ability, Alix has DJ’ed at Club Rimel in Mexico City; Club Steam in Miami; Bang The Party, Filter 14 and numerous other venues in New York City. On Saturdays, Alix and co-founder BC hold court at BEGINNINGS in New York City showcasing the best in quality underground house music. With many soon to be released projects and remixes to follow, Alix will have plenty of material to keep people wondering, what else might the future hold for this young, up and coming producer? If the past is any indication, the future holds bright for Alix. And this is only the beginning! |