Eric Prydz stands alone in his ability to mix commercial success with underground notoriety. As well as triumphing in the charts, the Swede has also always been held in high regard by an adoring underground scene. His careful and smart approach of releasing certain tracks under different pseudonyms, on his own labels, has enabled him to achieve a kind of success that has never been seen before or since. Bringing in fans from across the board, Eric Prydz truly reigns as king of dance music.
The talented Stockholm DJ runs three separate record labels, each responsible for the more underground music that leaves his bustling studio. His Mouseville imprint has seen Prydz produce under the alias Cirez D, releasing harder and more upfront techno tracks to great acclaim. Knockout, the biggest selling EP from the label epitomises the Mouseville ethos with its succinct nod to the Swedish underground. On Pryda, under the same name, Prydz explores his house influences with a plethora of tracks that have become huge club tunes around the globe. Songs like Aftermath, Armed, Rymd and Remember layer harmonies, melodies and hooks over his unmistakable Prydz basslines. Eric also created Pryda & Friends as an outlet for some of the tracks created by his friends that had never surfaced. He has also had a number of collaborations on there, including the inimitable 1983 with Paulo Mojo and 123/321 with fellow Swedish producer, Axwell.
Not only an underground hero, but Eric has achieved huge commercial success along the way. Since teaming up with the massive Data Records he has had three top two hits in the UK. Eric’s debut for Data, Call On Me was released in 2004 and flew straight to number one in the charts where it stayed for an amazing five weeks. Eric made the tune, sampling Steve Winwood’s Valerie, originally as something just to play to friends in Stockholm a year earlier. It quickly became a local anthem and rapidly gained momentum, eventually culminating into a number one hit in the UK and throughout Europe, selling 2.5 million copies world-wide.
After becoming the only artist even given the go ahead to remix Pink Floyd, Prydz release the huge Proper Education. Remixing Floyd’s Another Brick In The Wall he reached number two in the charts with yet another display of his unique ability to amalgamate the underground and the popular.
Last summer’s Pjanoo became his third successive smash hit with Data Records. Its uplifting piano-led hook made it the perfect summer anthem, becoming the sound track to party goers’ fun in the sun. Whether at a BBQ, on the way to work or at any of the world’s biggest festivals, the track consistently managed to get everybody dancing. Upon release, Pjanoo shot to number two, once again justifying Eric’s position at the top of the game.
Since his arrival, Eric Prydz has unassumingly broken into uncharted territory for dance music. Previously seen as an impossible target, the man famously scared of flying, has managed to fuse huge commercial success with huge underground success. Highly respected by DJs and producers alike and forever loved by his fans, Eric will continue to produce the goods for years to come.
