Michael Woods – Natural High
9/02/2009Fresh from remixing Grammy-award nominee Adele, Xenomania signing Gabriella Cilmi and MOBO-winner Nate James, Michael Woods is back with âNatural Highâ released 9 March through new label Diffused Music.
Featuring P Diddy and Michael Jackson collaborator Inaya Day, âNatural Highâ has already garnered a raft of support from Radio 1 and Kiss, bagging itself a #1 UK club chart smash in the process.
The Out Of Office âFull Vocal Remixâ is stripped down, oozing Inayaâs soulful vocals over skidding synths before the infectious piano riff erupts. Mickey Slimâs re-rub bubbles over low-slung broken beats, before Dino Lennyâs âClassic Rave Remixâ snowballs into an infectious monster of dazzling piano riffs. Lee Haslamâs mix is a dense sound clash of echoing vocals, relentless bass and twitchy bleeps, whilst Ant Brookesâ remix fizzes around hypnotic bass and laser-gun klaxons. Mickey Slimâs second offering closes the package, with scratchy analogue feedback spearing gloopy acid grooves.
Michaelâs Out of Office alter ego has already been championed by Radio 1âs Pete Tong as âset to be major,â naming âHands Upâ an âEssential New Tune.â Heâs received consistent backing from Roger Sanchezâs internationally syndicated âRelease Yourselfâ radio show and picked up support from #1 house DJ David Guetta. 2008 also saw him rock Gatecrasher Summer Soundsytem and DJ alongside Soulwax, Jonathan Ulysses and Bodyrox.
It was whilst being classically trained at Pimlicoâs Trinity College of Music that Michael discovered house music and began some rather reckless extra-curricular activities, mainly breaking into the school music rooms at lunch, where, like coveted treasure, lay an ancient Apple Mac and Korg M1 upon which Michael would blast out warped electronic odysseys.
Initially breaking into the scene as Warrior and landing himself a top 20 UK and #1 club chart smash with the eponymous track, Michaelâs sophomore release, âVoodoo,â enjoyed similar success and led to a string of collaborations, including 2003âs hook-up with Judge Jules and vocalist sister Marcella Woods on âBeautiful.â
Early â09 will also see Out of Office up the ante; first, a collaboration with The Original on â90s anthem âI Luv U Baby,â and then âInsatiableâ featuring sister Marcella.
âItâs time to concentrate on myself now,â he says. âWith Diffused, I want to explore all genres, mixing whatever sounds I uncover and being totally fearless. Thereâs no other way.â





