TEKNOSTEP
TEKNOSTEP is the alias of prolific session player, producer, DJ & remixer STÉPHANE VERA. A versatile musician, he is a former Royal Conservatory of Music teacher, and plays keyboard, drums, percussion, bass and alto saxophone. Born in Geneva, Stéphane has lived in New York, Montreal and Ottawa, and is currently based in Toronto, with passports from both France and Canada.
After many months of production, his debut full-length CD , 'MUSIC FOR SHORT ATTENTION SPANS' is about to hit stores in May, 2002. After recording and appearing on nearly forty singles and compilations, including releases on seminal U.S. house labels UNDAGROUND THERAPY, JOURNEES & DUST TRAXX, it seemed appropriate that Stéphane would collect some of his best works for this debut.
"Music For Short Attention Spans" is an extremely diverse album, loaded with solid beats, sweet melodies, and jazzy hooks. Stéphane takes a swing at many styles, from the 4-on-the-floor Chicago groove of "Feeling", to the deep Naked-esque "NextUne" featuring vocals from local singer SKYLA J, to the classic electro sounds of "Solid St8 (Electrohohm)". A vinyl e.p. featuring these 3 tracks is being released simultaneously with the CD, to be distributed internationally through STICKMAN RECORDS, bringing his music to dancefloors around the world.
As a remixer, Stéphane shifts the energy of the original compositions to the dancefloor, as demonstrated on reworked tracks for D'ANGELO, JORDAN FIELDS, ROY DAVIS JR. MIGUEL GRAÇA and others. On "Music For Short Attention Spans", two of his remixes of other artists are featured, including nice+smooth recording artist DJ SHINE's track "Stressed Out", as well as Chair recording artist DANIEL LUI's track "Big Smoke Nights II".
Stéphane is perhaps best-known in the music scene as the keyboardist for Chicago House music legend ROY DAVIS JR., having appeared on his records since 1996. As a session musician, Stéphane has collaborated in the studio with a huge list of artists, including Abacus (Guidance), Algorithm (Revolver), Brian Harden (Peacefrog), Capital Sound (Numuzik), DJ Shine (nice + smooth), Hollis P. Munroe (Ovum), Ivana Santilli (EMI), Luc Raymond (Tag), Mark Luvdup (Euphoric), Martin Villeneuve (Yoshitoshi), Max Graham (Hope), Miguel Graça (Strictly Rhythm), Prototype 909 (Caipirinha), Dj Liquid (Journees), Prozzak (Sony), Rumble (Island), Sheldon Thompson (Revolver), Sunkissed (Nordic Trax), TGM/The Green Man (Basswerk/Combination), Trevor Walker (Bombay), and many others.
As far as musical influences, Stéphane credits the following in the liner notes to his CD; "Andreas Vollenweider, Aphex Twin, Art of Noise, Boards of Canada, Brian Transeau, Cari Lekebusch, Chick Corea Elektric Band, Ian O'Brien, Inner City, Jamiroquai, Jazzanova, Jean-Michel Jarre, Jesper Dahlbak, Kraftwerk, Level 42, Luke Vibert, Paul Hardcastle, Spacetime Continuum, Stevie Wonder." Now that's an open mind.
Stéphane currently mixes his time between teaching music, composing for film+tv, and performing live around the world.
artist title label location format details year
¥ Sub-Zero (feat. Teknostep) Death By M.S.G. O.U.T.E. Ottawa, Canada CD album 1995
¥ Red Light (Miguel Graça & Robert Ouimet) Love Alive (Teknostep & Luc Raymond remixes) Hi-Bias Toronto, Canada vinyl single 1996
¥ Capital Sound …And The Party Goes On Numuzik / PolyTel Montréal, Canada CD album 1996
¥ Teknostep Grace Mah Sweden CD single 1997
¥ Galactica Blast Live @ We'ave, 1997 Theralite Croatia CD single 1997
¥ Peep Show (Martin Villeneuve & Teknostep) Push TO Underground / Hi-Bias Toronto, Canada vinyl single 1997
¥ Tenspeed Greatest Thing (on the "Tenspeed" album) Zaphod Beeblebrox Ottawa, Canada CD single 1997
¥ DJ Liquid The Blue Spotted Frog (Teknostep remix) Journees / Fierce San Mateo, U.S.A. vinyl single 1998
¥ Teknostep Chill Mode (on Brian Harden's "Inner Instincts" album) Nite Life Collective / Dust Traxx Chicago, U.S.A. vinyl single 1998
¥ Teknostep XM Sol Monotone France CD single 1998
¥ Teknostep Moumounette Theralite Croatia CD single 1998
¥ Teknostep 416 Shuffletraxx Volume 1 Bangin' Traxx / Undaground Therapy Chicago, U.S.A. vinyl single 1999
¥ Teknostep Complexion (on the "Ghetto House" compilation) Electronic Revival Association Toronto, Canada CD single 1999
¥ Teknostep Supernails (on "The Remix Projekt" compilation) Journees / Fierce San Mateo, U.S.A. CD single 1999
¥ Mik Dogs In My House (Teknostep remix) One Touch Germany CD single 1999
¥ Teknostep Drumkomputer One Touch Germany CD single 1999
¥ Soldiers of Universal Love (Roy Davis Jr.) Got 2 Get 2 Heaven (Teknostep remix) Undaground Therapy Chicago, U.S.A. vinyl single 1999
¥ Daniel Lui Big Smoke Nights Volume 2 Chair Toronto, Canada vinyl single 2000
¥ German Dope Connection Attract (Teknostep & Sheldon Thompson remix) Great Lakes Toronto, Canada vinyl single 2000
¥ Teknostep Oreo 88 Maz Sound Germany CD single 2000
¥ Jordan Fields Le Thème De Garage (Teknostep remix) Risqué De Funk Électrique Chicago, U.S.A. vinyl single 2000
¥ Teknostep Bébé Phoques (on Spot Records Sampler) Spot Toronto, Canada CD single 2000
¥ D'Angelo Spanish Joint (Roy Davis Jr. & Teknostep remix) Virgin Los Angeles, U.S.A. vinyl single 2000
¥ The Green Man/S.Vera Spadina Basswerk / Combination Germany vinyl single 2001
¥ Stéphane Vera Sit Back (on the "This Is House Music!" compilation) Headphoniq Chicago, U.S.A. vinyl single 2001
¥ Pink Funk (Teknostep remix) Journees / Fierce San Mateo, USA. CD single 2001
¥ Teknostep Rockit Journees / Fierce San Mateo, USA. CD single 2001
¥ Teknostep Yours Journees / Fierce San Mateo, U.S.A. CD single 2001
¥ Stéphane Vera Smarten Up Steven LeFreQ Chicago, U.S.A. vinyl single 2001
¥ Stéphane Vera Tricks Of The Trade LeFreQ Chicago, U.S.A. vinyl single 2001
¥ DJ Shine VS Teknostep Volume 1 (First Snow / Hope) Nice & Smooth Toronto, Canada vinyl single 2001
¥ Teknostep The Philadelphia Loop Project Volume 1 Tuningspork Philadelphia, U.S.A. vinyl single 2001
¥ Teknostep Alpha Amiga Headphoniq Chicago, U.S.A. vinyl album 2002
¥ DJ Shine VS Teknostep Volume 2 (Flip Flops / Stressed Out) Nice & Smooth Toronto, Canada vinyl single 2002
¥ Teknostep Music For Short Attention Spans Nice & Smooth Toronto, Canada CD album 2002
¥ Teknostep 416 Shuffletraxx Volume 2 Nite Life Collective / Dust Traxx Chicago, U.S.A. vinyl single 2002
¥ Teknostep The Great Sequencer In The Sky Recycled Soul Ottawa, Canada vinyl single 2002
¥ Pan/tone Quién Es Su Papa, Mama Fina? (mastering by Teknostep) Revolver Montréal, Canada vinyl single 2002
E-mail - Booking