DJ Champion

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Present within Montreal’s music scene for 15 years already, Maxime Morin, better known as DJ Champion, has been making waves ever since the release of his first album, Chill 'Em All (Saboteur Musique), released in 2004, for which he won Electro-Techno Album of the Year at the 2005 ADISQ Gala and received a nomination at the 2006 Juno Awards for Best Dance Recording. Joined on stage by his flamboyant G-Strings, the musician and "conductor" took part in numerous festivals and events of international scale in the last few years, multiplying memorable performances all the while accumulating honours, such as a Félix award for Concert of the Year at the 2006 ADISQ.

Resistance (Saboteur Musique – 2009), the highly anticipated follow-up to Chill 'Em All, revealed a more serious and bold DJ Champion in his genetic crosses, as noted by Nightlife Magazine's Olivier Lalande. Aware of the challenges of re-creating the energy of his live performances, he chose to incorporate elements of rock into his music. This second record saw DJ Champion pen most of the lyrics for the very first time. A strong album built around dense sonorities amplified by uplifting musical compositions, Resistance is the artist’s inner struggle to avoid venturing down the same creative path.

Moreover, this album gave him the opportunity to head out on two pan-Canadian tours and to play at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Following his concert at the 2011 Festival d’été de Québec, he received the prestigious Miroir award for Urban and Contemporary Music. DJ Champion is now ready to be inspired by a new universe, that of classical music.

Press quotes

À PROPOS DE / ABOUT RESISTANCE...

But it was DJ Champion, performing with his G-Strings, who provoked the biggest crowd response of the weekend. The DJ, real name Maxime Morin, delivered a relentless performance, which included one near 15-minute epic.
Jason Gregory, Gigwise (UK)

The coolest thing of the night had to have been Champion and his G-Strings. Nothing livens up a DJ set like having him conduct five guitarists during his set.
Bill Pearis, Brooklyn Vegan (USA)

L’efficacité extraordinaire de Champion et ses G-Strings qui, en quelques minutes, quelques symphonies guitaristiques et quelques pyramides rythmiques, ont rendu la foule folle de joie –bras en l’air et jambes remuantes, hurlements de plaisir à chaque nouvelle strate de la fusée incandescente, Champion sait décidément y faire, et devrait à nouveau faire quelques ravages en Europe.
Thomas Burgel, Les Inrockuptibles (FR)

Resistance [...] correspond mieux à ce qu'on espérait du concept Champion. En plus d'y déployer une palette stylistique élargie, l'artiste se montre plus sérieux et audacieux dans ses croisements génétiques. Enfin , les guitares ont du grain et les trames, une troisième dimension. Enfin, on sent de belles modulations d'intensité. [...] Bref, Champion a gagné sur le front qu'il lui manquait.
Olivier Lalande, Nightlife Magazine, Septembre 2009

The title track with its danceable chorus, seductive hook and coquettish flirtation with the darkside could easily be a pop-rock hit. [...] Resistance is impossible.
Graham Rockingham, Journal Metro Canada, September 24th 2009

À PROPOS DE / ABOUT CHILL' EM ALL...

Défi relevé avec brio, surtout qu’au délà de la formule, il y a le travail minutieux qui nous permet d’y découvrir de nouvelles subtilités à chaque écoute.
Philippe Renaud, La Presse

Champion and his G-Strings conquered the elements and the crowd last night, pulling off a veritable miracle for the jazz fest’s big free outdoor blowout […] Doing justice to his name, Champion built an ingenuously textured set…the beat never stopped nor did the vibe.
T’Cha Dunlevy, The Montreal Gazette

Champion, c’est Champion! […] Parmi les révélations, une seule fait l’unanimité : les joyeux Québécois de Champion… Seul Champion, véritable machine à danser québécoise, entre guitares électriques, rythmes électro et voix jazzy, a emporté l’adhésion générale.
Ouest France, 27e édition des Transmusicales

Selected press

Important shows

Canada, United States, Mexico, France, Finlande, Germany

• Festival d'été de Québec (2011)
• Inauguration du Quartiers des spectacles (2009)
• Transmit Now // Rifflandia Festival (Vancouver 2009)
• Juno Awards (2007)
• Exclaim! Tour (2007)
• SXSW (2007)
• Transmission (Vancouver 2006)
• Toronto Film Festival (2006)
• M for Montreal (2006)
• The Great Escape Festival (UK, 2006)
• Paléo Festival (Switzerland 2006)
• CMW (2005)
• Transmusicales de Rennes (2005)
• Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (Las Vegas 2005)
• Montreal International Jazz Festival (2004-2005)
• Montreal Francofolies (2004)
• Academy Awards (2004) - Les Triplettes de Belleville

Awards

  • Miroir for Urban and Contemporary Music prize at 2011 Festival d'été de Québec
  • 2007 SOCAN Dance Music price
  • Félix for Show of the year at 2006 ADISQ
  • Félix for Album of the year - Electro or techno music at 2005 L'Autre Gala de l'ADISQ
  • Nominated at 2010 ADISQ for Anglophone album of the year, Quebec Artist of the year - Other languages
  • Nominated at 2010 Casby Awards  for the Best Edge Session
  • Nominated at 2008 ADISQ for DVD of the year
  • Nominated at 2007 ADISQ for Artiste québécois s'étant le plus illustré hors Québec
  • Nominated at 2006 Juno Awards for Best Dance Recording
  • Nominated at 2006 Casby Awards for Favourite New Song
  • Nominated at 2005 ADISQ for Breakthrough artist of the year, Songwriter of the year, Arranger of the year