Pawn Shop Records

Known aliases: Blissom, Version3
Last known whereabouts: Vancouver, Canada
Web presence: myspace.com/blissomproductions, myspace.com/version3music, and myspace.com/secretmusicproductions

The basics:
Stef Lefrancois, a.k.a. Blissom, started his music career in the early 90′s, playing drums for various ensembles in Paris, France, where he was born. After moving to Canada, he spent some time perfecting his recording engineering skills, and is now an accomplished producer, with songs played world – wide and being featured on labels such as Compost, Sony, or BBE.

Stef’s love for everything percussive is obvious when listening to his tracks. So is his fascination with dense, complex, evolving synth textures, and…effect units! As a fervent supporter of the “wall of sound” concept, Stef’s creations lend themselves well to repeated listening, as new details and “ear candy” will creep out, dreamy and tortured textures weaving with layered percussion.

As a DJ, Stef has played in all the major Canadian cities, and various outdoor festivals. He was a resident at NASA in Toronto in the early 2000′s, as well as a regular headliner at the Promise parties (oh the memories!). His occasional appearances in London, UK, have made a lasting impression, and created many remixing opportunities, leading to string of upcoming releases on UK label Stilnovo. A recent gig in Austin for the South by Southwest festival, reignited Stef’s craving for playing good music, loud, in front of crowds. Stef’s drumming and engineering background are obvious when listening to him play. The mix has to be tight, groovy, “in the pocket”. He also pays great attention to sound, and is one of those who will get out on the dance floor to make sure everything sounds right. Stef blends minimal House, Latin, and Nu-Jazz, taking the crowd on a journey from organic to electronic, and back, at the flick of a fader.

2009 has been a very busy year. With his long time accomplice James Chapple, Stef just finished a new album as Version3. The duo also came up with a few beautiful remixes, out on Stilnovo, which are already garnering praise from Mark de Clive Lowe, DJ Spinna, or Demarkus Lewis. Stef’s remixing talents will be featured on Pawn Shop Records as well, with a banging remix of Mathieu James coming out this summer. He also just recently started his own digital label, exclusively on Beatport, which will be putting out quality, sharp electronic music, both incredibly infectious, and soulful, including projects with Frankie Valentine and Rise Ashen.

Past action:
Full Length albums:
Blissom & Ashen “Mr. Tran Travels in Sound” (Spot Records)
Rise Ashen & Blissom “Something Wicked” (Fossilfuel Records)
Version3 “Good Morning Class” (Unreleased)

Singles/Remixes:
Rise Ashen – Torn (Blissom Remix) – Spot Records
…Appeared on: Glucklich 5 (Compost), Private Lounge 3 (Apricot/Pinnacle), The White Room (Sony Music)
Blissom & Merkin – Tag Team Triangle – Spot Records
…Appeared on: Beats & Pieces 2 (BBE), Future Electro 1 (Apricot)
Rise Ashen – Second Wind (Blissom Mix) – Spot Records
…Appeared on: Joeski & Onionz Nu-York Nite Life (NRK)
Sun Singleton “Ready” (Version3 Remix) – Stilnovo
Positive Flow ft. Zena Edwards – Dance of the Soul (Version3 Mix) – Stilnovo
Foreign Dub – Power to Reset (Version3 Mix) – Stilnovo
BAW Collective – Don’t Stop – Do Right!
…Appeared on: Required Listening

Style: Funky, soulful, tribal, jazzy, electric… down-tempo Electronica to fist-pumping Electro House.