Mark (Blakkat) Bell
L.A based Blakkat AKA Mark Bell has moved through the music world applying his golden touch to many surfaces. From a life with the major labels to the finest in underground house music clubs, the man places a stamp of quality on all that he touches.
Never losing touch with the underground, Mark has been a featured vocalist for King Britt’s Sylk 130 Project as well as for Funk D’ Void and released on Josh Wink’s seminal Ovum label. It was in conjunction with the Philadelphia label that he
produced his biggest underground hit to date, the massive Tweek & Roll single with label boss Wink.
Continuing to put out quality material, today’s label bosses frequently turn to Blakkat for dance floor killers, with his tracks remixed by today’s hottest underground names, such as KINK, Agnes and Manuel Tur. Add this to a CV that already includes the celebrated results of studio sessions with Felix Da Housecat, Josh Wink, DJ Sneak and Marshall Jefferson, while Chez Damier, Zero 7, Jamiroqui, Wyclef Jean, A Tribe Called Quest, and The Jungle Brothers have all received his remix treatment. Blakkat productions have been remixed by David Morales, Basement Jazz, Todd Terry, Steve Bug and Armand Van Helden. Balancing this output with his own projects, Mark runs his own label Shaboom as an outlet for his own talents.It is Mark’s ability to turn in classically influenced modern house that distinguishes a Blakkat jam. Whether it be raw Chicago acid or smooth New York deepness, his assured production guarantees Mark’s tracks will move a room. The timeless quality of his work is evident in all he does, with his DJ sets referencing the past 25 years of house music with a modern, infectious twist. Regular appearances at Doc Martin’s legendary Sub Level parties best show his skills, always rocking a fiercely loyal and knowledgeable crowd.
This talent has seen Mark break into the international circuit, working the floor at some of the world’s hottest clubs. Whether as a DJ or Live act, clubs such as PS1 (New York), Fabric (London), Revival (Los Angeles), Avalon (New York) Opium (Miami) The Gathering (San Francisco), Back 2 Basics (Leeds UK) Vanguard (Los Angeles), Sunset (San Francisco), Turbo (Toronto), Paradiso (Amserdam), Metropolis (Berlin), The End (London) Renaissance (Global) and Circus (Liverpool).
An original member of multi-platinum selling Mercury Prize winners M People, Mark Bell was signed as a solo artist to Atlantic Records, Hollwood Records, Warners, BMG and Sony, but it is his desire to rock dance floors and gain a real connection with crowds that is driving behind the decks at the best underground spots around. Placing Blakkat in the hottest clubs around will be Barcelona based Common People. He will build on this partnership further through various projects with the boys from Spain.