Biography:
Eric Wikman is the owner of Generate Music and Deepswing
Productions.. Deepswing is his most well known production
name for dance music productions and international DJing.
His music style is a mixture of “Soulful, Jazzy, Gospel
& Disco House” which is also known as “the
disco of today”.
Based on the west coast of the United States, in the heart
of Hollywood, Los Angeles is home to this label, production
studio and Global Groove music publishing company. Deepswing
was started in 1995, in Los Angeles, when Eric and then
originating partner, James Donaldson put out the first “Deepswing”
release on Kult Records out of NYC. (In 2003 JD moved on
to start Big D Records and his own music production company).
The name of “Deepswing” began after Eric wrote
a review in a local LA scene magazine for a song produced
by Grant Nelson describing the feeling that was so “deep”
with an infectious “swing” to it.
The music that influenced this production company included
sounds from the original House music producers in Chicago
(Hot Mix 5) & New York, along with current ones like
Soulfuric, Joey Negro, Steve Silk, Mousse T, Grant Nelson,
DJ Disciple, Sandy Rivera, Knee Deep, Masters at Work, Blaze,
Basement Boys, Grant Nelson to name just a few of them.
Of course the sounds of disco, funk, gospel, R&B and
every type of music listened to while growing up had a major
impact on how songs and music were written. With this background,
all the productions project feelings with a positive and
uplifting message.
In the past, Eric Wikman has produced under alias names
such as Jazz Transit for Soulfuric Recordings, Sunkids for
Yellorange Records, Dept. of Soul for Roger Sanchez / Narcotic
Records and released tracks for labels like Urban Motion
Project, Soulshine Recordings, Kult Records, Global Groove
for Champion Records-UK along with many others.
The years of hard work started to pay off at the 1999 Winter
Music Conference under the name of Sunkids, with the song
“Rescue Me” featuring Chance and her powerful
voice which sounds like Aretha Franklin. This song was released
on legendary Tony Humphries label “Yellorange”
and was remixed by the hit producer “Little Louie
Vega and Masters at Work”. Tony & Little Louie
introduced “Rescue Me” at the famous “Magic
Sessions” in Miami and it was talked about being the
“hit of the conference”. The very next year…
2000 Winter Music Conference “Yellorange released
the follow up song featuring Chance with “Rise Up”
along with remixes by Teddy Douglas - Basement Boys (Crystal
Waters fame) & Cricco Castelli. Once again, another
hit track! “Rise Up” went on to become a favorite
all over the world and placed a spot in Paramount Pictures
major motion picture “Sum of all Fears” starring
Ben Affleck & Morgan Freeman.
Eric also owns Generate Music, the record label that started
in June 2000. After releasing numerous tracks through other
record labels, building a reputation and realizing that
the majority of the successful producers ran their own companies,
it was time to start a “boutique” label and
thus Generate Music was born.
The start of this new record label began with the release
of a huge hit “In the Music”, that was picked
up by Time/Rise in Italy. Not only did this song head straight
to #1 all over Europe it also gave Deepswing the opportunity
to film a music video for MTV Europe in Milan and on the
French Riviera. This song was also included in the DreamWorks
major motion picture “The Tuxedo” starring Jackie
Chan and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Apart from “In The Music” there have been other
compositions such as “Takin Me Higher”, “I
Promise You”, “Shelter “(featuring Xavior),
“I Am Somebody”, “Let’s Do This”,
“We’re Going up!”, “It’s All
Right” , “Take Me To The Disco”, I’m
A Believer” (featuring Donna Washington) ,“Diva”
& “Freedom (featuring Chance and “Love Is…”
featuring LA Radio personality Kristi Lomax. The combination
of joyful energy and strong track releases have propelled
Deepswing into being one of the hottest production companies
n the house music genre and building a label that people
can count on for strong quality releases.
On the side of remixes, Eric (Deepswing) is able to add
a comparable list that includes Jamiraquoi’s “
Main Vein” on Sony UK, Kristine W’s “Feel
What you Want”, Michael Procter’s “Angel”
and some Eddie Amador tracks to name just a few of them.
Another aspect of Deepswing has been DJ’ng in major
cities all over the world like Australia, New Zealand, Portugal,
Italy, Germany, Switzerland, the UK, France, Greece, Canada,
and of course in the USA. This is where Eric finds most
of the inspiration and important feedback from the crowds
on the dance floor around the world for his next productions.
Also, for the last several years Eric has guest DJ mixshows
on Radio Italia Network “El E Noir” Italy and
Radio One Norway with Espen Wiik, The Slammin Show in Manchester
UK.
So far, Eric has co-worked and released approximately 70
remixes and original tracks on various labels and Generate
music and he has released several solo tracks.. Along with
these tracks and DJ’ing all over the world, his production
company and label help keep the love alive in House Music
and people grooving on the dance floors.
For more information on Eric Wikman & Deepswing Productions
make sure you check out the website www.generate-music.com
and the promotional DVD with travel footage, “In The
Music” video, slide show, flyer galleries and more.