Biography:

 

Julius Spates a.k.a. "the Mad Thinker" – Chicago, IL

If you close your eyes, open your ears, open your mind, and let your body flow you will find yourself in a new plane previously unexplored. Seamlessly blended tracks vibrate your spine while soothing your soul. Many people refer to the genre as house, but Julius “the Mad Thinker” makes it home. Approaching each endeavor with heart, soul and passion, Julius “tMT” builds you up gradually through loops of energy bursts and just when you reach your climax he drops you back to a lounge state awaiting the next climb to the peak.
First exposed to dance music in the sixth grade, Julius has been DJing and producing since 1994. Influenced by pioneering artists and labels such as Traxx Records, Future Trax, Prescription, Dancemania, and artists such as Mr. Fingers ( a.k.a. Larry Heard), Armando, Lil’ Louis, Timmy Regisford, Cajmere and his Cajual Records, “the Mad Thinker” is now one of dance music’s fastest rising stars. In 2004, the Undaground Archives Choice Awards voted him “NYC’s Best Emerging Talent.” Julius is a co-founder and partner of 3Degrees Global and is a resident of the 3Degrees Ultra Lounge and “Some Call It House…We Call It Home” tour. He holds a weekly residency at Chicago’s Wet nightclub and frequently graces the decks locally in premier nightclubs such as Soundbar, Sonotheque, Zentra, Crobar, and Transit. Across the nation, “the Mad Thinker” has showcased his skills at Devotion at The End Up and Pink in San Francisco, Marlin in Miami, Marques Wyatt’s renowned Sunday night weekly DEEP in Los Angeles, Boston’s Soul revival, and Kevin Hedge and Louie Vega’s party Roots at Cielo in New York. Along with the Basement Boys, he was invited to become an official resident at Sunday Sessions in New York City, the most recent production from Body & Soul co-founder John Davis. Over the years, “the Mad Thinker” has played alongside such legends as Frankie Knuckles, Joe Claussell, Farley “Jackmaster” Funk, Lil’ Louis, Derrick Carter, Louie Vega, Derrick May and Ron Trent. In 2006, “the Mad Thinker” will complete his second compilation project, Some Call It House…We Call It Home 06 for 3degrees Music. He is also developing the production team Aid to the SouLLess, food for the soulful (second half silent) a collaborative effort with fellow 3Degrees residents Emmaculate and FLX. The theory behind ‘Aid to the SouLLess’ is straightforward. Music provided by ‘Aid to the SouLLess’ will serve as help for those who possess little soul, and will serve as food for those who possess much soul. Look for the first in a string of Aid to the SouLLess releases this spring on the famed West End Records.