Artist Spotlight: Byron The Aquarius

When Byron The Aquarius talks about live frequencies, his enthusiasm is infectious. A keys player by trade, one can detect echoes of the likes of Keith Jarrett, Jan Hammer and Herbie Hancock. With a tinge of pitch bend and the early release of words, you can hear the rhythm in the way he speaks. This might be a common trait coming from one who lives in Birmingham Alabama and has been greatly educated on Jazz by his grandfather. In his music, he reminds the listener how precious the single note can be again and this makes the attraction to his music irresistible.

While playing keys in the studio with Atlanta-based House DJ/Artist Kai Alce, Byron released an album on BBE ( entitled “Planets of Love” in 2015. He was also playing keys in the studio with Atlanta-based House DJ/Artist Kai Alce. A year later, he released “Highlife” EP on Theo Parrish’s imprint Sound Signature.

In the years since, Byron The Aquarius has emerged at the front of house music's ever-rolling and contemporary new wave with music like Rush Hour, Ninja Tune, Eglo to Kyle Hall's Wild Oats and Shall Not Fade. He has toured the planet playing festivals such as Dimensions, Dekmantel, All Points East and many more as well as a plethora of the world’s best clubs.

Byron The Aquarius - Ambrosia (Axis)

After focusing on purely synthesizer and drum machine-based music for the last 28 years, Jeff Mills has decided to broaden the musical horizons of his Axis label. That means releasing music made with more traditional instruments as well as the sci-fi techno fare that the Motor City label has long been associated with. To showcase the potential of this new era, Mills has first offered up a fresh album from Byron The Aquarius that adds jazz-funk instrumentation (think spacey synth solos, fluid piano lines, breathy flutes and rubbery bass guitar) to a combination of organic and programmed deep house and nu-jazz grooves. It's a brilliantly expansive and spiritual set full of intricate musical details, with a number of the best tracks being accompanied by equally as inspired alternative mixes.

Listen / buy

Byron's Top 10 Favourite Tracks

I remember hearing this at Dekmantel Festival walking in a Party. From that day forward hearing it on the huge sound surround speakers open my mind to colorful sound spectrums in my head in my keyboard playing that I couldn’t wait to come back home to the US to play on my Juno to learn the chords and jazz it up, something special truly to me...

Kai Alce was always a mentor to me, heard this song in an Atlanta bar The Sound Table on Edgewood Ave, dancing with a wine glass, seeing how people was connecting and beautiful women was all over the place when they heard the chords with the baseline slapping drums that touched my soul. Will never forget that party, it was very special to me and inspired me in my creativity of simplicity of sound spectrums...

One thing I can say, I can never get enough of Kyle Hall so special to me for this track because I see how Kyle Hall evolved to his arrangements & sounds keyboards. It brings joy to me listening to this vibes of the 90’s this a slapper right here that’s special to me.

This song from Patrice Scott is special to me hearing the jazzy piano that just hunts me and the chords melodies, Patrice may not know it but that dude is an inspiration hearing his sounds and how he evolved as well he always telling a story in his music which touches me in a special way. This track is a slapper! In the whip with your girl or the club...

Stefan the G from Atlanta loves his music. This track is also special to me all I got to say the song inspired me and do justice even thru these times of the Corona lol Friday sat night funky groovy track which is legend! With the vocals that just stick in my head.

Special track to me with Theo and Amp the Legend OG! This song funky vibes just do some to me, makes me get that stank face with the lazy drums that slaps and keyboards magic for days and will forever be special to me.

Jay Dee always inspired me the welcome to Detroit project I will never forget how Dilla really changed the game and this joint Think Twice made the day for me. It’s special for my younger days them myspace days, the sounds in this song is just crazy, special 4 life!

This live band remake of Slum Village Jealousy from Abstract Orchestra them guys did the dam thang on this special to me, been playing this these past days, band be mad jamming yo! Nothing but some vibes to inspire you...

Glenn Underground is another big inspiration to me. I respect this cat to the fullest, he’s a pure producer musician, but the Peace for Nippon does it for me and will always hold a special place to me soulful music vibes for the mind in these times.

Can't get enough of DJ Harrison dude always been an inspiration to me a musician producer from VA. This dude has always be coming with the vibes that inspire me in a huge way, this song RollSkate reminds me of some Slum Village, the type of music that you can just stare at the moon and think of ideas and melodies.