There is a certain attitude in a Chris Holmes DJ set, a waggish charm mixed with exceptional skill. The Chicago native turned LA transplant, spent years honing and tailoring his craft, establishing an idiosyncratic sound in a sea of the same. “I like really bizarre and random stuff, so I played into that,” he says, “And in a weird way it became my style.” It is this approach and magpie spirit that caught the attention of Sir Paul McCartney, who handpicked Holmes to open for his much-hyped performance at Coachella 2009. The craftsman remixed Beatles songs and covers in set he cites as the impetus to re-contextualizing his sound.
Holmes’ feisty energy and punch-the-air, jump-up-and-down DJ sets have landed him on tour with high profile acts like Radiohead, Daft Punk, LCD Soundsystem, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and MSTRKRFT. He has worked as a remixer and electronic music producer for luminaries like Felix Da Housecat, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, Usher, Prince, Britney Spears, and Dandy Warhols among others.
As a DJ and artist Chris Holmes continues to search, sculpt and evolve his craft. His new musical adventure maintains the message and inspiration behind the DJ everyone has come to know. The rebellious wisdom is still in tact.