Born and raised in New York & currently residing in Los Angeles, Producer / DJ and record company owner Evan Landes (pka Groove Junkies, Cranky Owls, Nimble Digits) has gained wide support and respect throughout the international dance community over two decades for his consistent quality of work.
Class, forward thinking and an unbridled passion for quality house music define the essence of MoreHouse Records co-founder. His desire to enlighten, uplift and ultimately transform new listeners into loyal followers on a global level has been his mission since the label’s inception. Evan's strategy of releasing an eclectic array of intoxicating dance grooves which are not bound by any gimmicky trends and memorable songs that stand the test of time, has paid off since MoHo’s doors first opened in 2002. A brilliant collective of singers, musicians, writers & producers, who are featured throughout Groove Junkies impressive catalogue have helped define the “MoHo Sound”. Within the genre of House music, each unique release can run the gamut stylistically - ranging from to deep, tribal, peak hour and electronic influenced tracks to organic soul, funk, afro, latin, jazz and gospel drenched songs.
The labels discography and his personal achievements put him in an elite class amongst his peers. In addition to co-owning the label with wife and recording artist Solara since 2002, he's helped coordinate and produce over 60 successful releases on the MoreHouse imprint, including numerous chart topping hits. Evan's original productions and remixes have amassed an impressive 19 Top 10 positions on Traxsource’s Top 100 download charts, as well as the coveted no. 1, 2 & 5 slots on the European based DJ Mag Hype Chart and a couple of Top 5 positions in Billboard’s Top 100 Dance chart. In October 2010 his critically acclaimed debut artist album “In The Zone” shot up to the #1 position on the Top 100 Album Downloads chart on Traxsource within 4 days of its release and received ‘Album of the Year & Month’ kudos from numerous industry publications.
He's also collaborated on highly charted dance floor anthems for the likes of Om Records and Ben Watt’s Buzzin’ Fly and has contributed to the output of iconic labels such as Island/Def Jam, A&M, Warner Bros., J Records, Interscope, Ultra, Defected, Definity, Soulfuric, Mn2S, Quantize Records, Guess and Zulu Records. Most recently he ended 2014 with a definitive remix of Spiritchaser's classic Deep House hit "Conch" that went to #1 on Traxsource.com's Top 100 Soulful House Chart and has started 2015 with a bang by cracking Beatport's Top 15 on their Top 100 House chart with a song titled "We Fade" that he co-wrote & co-produced.
His body of work has garnered DJ support from industry legends such as Frankie Knuckles, Louie Vega, David Morales, Roger Sanchez, Ben Watt, Joey Negro and Tony Humphries to name a few, along with a ‘who’s who’ list of industry tastemakers.
High profile commissioned remixes for international dance artists and top grossing acts have solidified Evan’s position as one of today’s most consistent and influential producers within the global House music community. Opting for quality over quantity, Groove Junkies treatment’s of songs from artists such as Ben Watt, Frankie Knuckles, Leela James, Deborah Cox, Spiritchaser, Marc Evans, Michelle Weeks, Lisa Millett, Carolyn Harding, Richard Earnshaw, Natasha Watts, Samantha James, Colonel Abrams, Rihanna and Pussycat Dolls all showcase Evan’s attention to production detail, his musicality and ability to move the crowd.
Groove Junkies music has been featured on highly successful mix compilations by labels such as Ministry Of Sound, Defected, Hed Kandi, Stereo Sushi, Soulfuric, MN2S, Seamless and Om Records (including compilations by top DJs such as Grammy winner Frankie Knuckles and EDM Superstar Kaskade). His songs have been played & charted on numerous international radio shows such as BBC’s Radio One, Ministry Of Sound, Hed Kandi and Galaxy FM in the UK, as well as Radio Italia in Italy, Pacha Radio in Spain, DV FM in Denmark, Braga Radio in Portugal, UDM in Switzerland, Radio1 Rodos in Greece, Radio Norway, Orbit FM & Pulse Radio in Australia, Beats Radio in So. Africa, KCRW & Power Tools in the US and many more outlets both FM and internet based throughout the world. Groove Junkies immensely popular ‘MoHo Stereo’ Radio Show aired on 5 continents to over one million confirmed listeners each month from 2006-2010.
Nominations for ‘Breakthrough Producer’ at London’s House Music Awards in 2005, and ‘Breakthrough DJ’ at the Ibiza DJ Awards in 2006 found Groove Junkies in company with nominees such as Dennis Ferrer, Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso & Jamie Lewis and offered well deserved recognition of Evan’s exceptional ability.
Evan's DJ touring has showcased his talent on an international level at some of the hottest venues and festivals to an ever growing fan-base. Having headlined extensively throughout the world, Evan holds an impeccable reputation throughout clubland’s most discerning dance floors. As Groove Junkies 'founding father' and now solo member, he's earned a reputation for exceptional DJing skills and flawless programming ability. His versatility working with various genres have allowed him to display his talent on the biggest of stages, as well as more intimate settings.
He has headlined on 5 different continents and rocked the decks at such diverse venues / festivals / parties as Detroit’s Electronic Movement Festival, The Electric Daisy Carnival, Def Mix @ Pacha, Ibiza, Club Essential in Riga Latvia, Catwalk in Barcelona Spain, Turmills & The End in London, Street Parade in Zurich Switzerland, SHE @ Trademark in Sydney Australia, Indochine in Jakarta, Fruto Beach in Cartagena Colombia, Vox Bar & Pixie Club in Brazil, Mansion in Miami, Ruby Skye in San Francisco, The Smart Bar in Chicago and DEEP & Balance in Los Angeles to name a few. He has shared the stage with DJ heavyweights and recording artists such as Frankie Knuckles, Louie Vega, Francois K., Hec Romero, Ben Watt, Grant Nelson, Kaskade, Terry Hunter, DJ Spen, Brian Tappert, Ron Carroll, Miguel Migs, Audiowhores, Jamie Lewis, Bobby & Steve, Andy Caldwell, DJ Meme, Jellybean Benitez, King Britt, DJ Spinna, Marlon D., Marques Wyatt, Anastacia, CeCe Peniston, Michelle Weeks, Tortured Soul, Barbara Tucker, Dawn Tallman, Kenny Bobien and many more…
There’s no shortage of US based DJ’s & House producers, so it takes something quite special to rise above the rest and shine. The fact that Groove Junkies have cultivated such a strong reputation in such varied corners of this industry is testament not only to Evan’s enormous talent as a producer, his unbridled skill as a DJ and record label executive, but a combination of all - intertwined with that rarest of things; true star quality. There are no indications of letting up the pressure in 2014 and beyond.