Since his very first EP, released in 1995 on Ozone records, Olivier Raymond aka Oxia has been at the forefront of the French electronic music scene. With his friend The Hacker and their label Goodlife, Olivier has helped regenerate the sound of French productions. Before taking a sneak preview to the future, let’s step back in time a little … to the beginning … yes to 1971 … Born in Grenoble (France) Olivier’s musical talents were far from being predestined. None of his family “walked the boards” nor played any sort of instrument. Against all odds, via a rogue gene perhaps, Olivier’s musical soul was formed. From a very young age, Black Music is Olivier’s preferred companion: The Jackson Five; Prince; Chic … Disco followed when Olivier experienced “Cerrone in concert” in 1978 with his parents – one of life’s defining moments as he refers to it. Only a few months later his parents bought him his first synthesizer. During his college years, Olivier befriended Stéphane Deschezeaux, another young man passionate about Black Music. They made their debut on a local radio station presenting a ‘Funk’ radio programme. Olivier, only 15 years old, started mixing with a simple cassette player and deck (without pitch). Soon tiring of his limited tools, he invested in a proper pair of decks and began mixing funk, rock, pop… at student parties. Other influences are added to his repertoire: electro-funk of Afrika Bambaataa, italo-disco, new wave from Depeche Mode, New Order… The early house scene had just started to take its form (Todd Terry, Farley Jackmaster Funk, Marshall Jefferson).

“ For us the house scene wasn’t new but a continuation of the Funk movement”

Oxia

March 2008 Promo