Miss Djax (Netherlands)
Name
Saskia Slegers
Site
www.facebook.com/missdjax
Releases
Artist profile: Miss Djax
Miss Djax is the alias of Saskia Slegers. Not only an excellent deejay, but also the founder of Djax Records in 1989.
Djax (and its variety of sub-labels) must undoubtedly be considered as one of the most important dance labels in the world. At the back of the book '1989 - 1999 Djax Records The Power of the Underground' James Hymann, (MTV Europe) calls it 'one of the decade's crucial labels' and further 'one of the world's most talked about labels'. No surprise then, Djax received many awards being best record label.
The first signing of Djax Records was the hardcore rap act 24K (No Enemies 1990). A couple of months later the first techno release (Terrace - 916 Buena Avenue) followed on the famous Djax-Up-Beats label.
The year 1991 can be looked at as the starting point of the Djax succes story: Saskia visited Chicago and Detroit where she met many talented techno producers. With Djax-Up-Beats she created an European outlet for producers like DJ Rush, Mike Dearborn, Claude Young and Paul Johnson by releasing their tracks on this imprint. Music was not the only thing Saskia picked up in Detroit; draftsman Alan Oldham is responsible for Djax’s unique character with his very special drawing skills. The year 1991 had more surprises, as Saskia signed the Dutch hardcore hiphop act Osdorp Posse and with this signing she launched a complete new movement: Nederhop.
Miss Djax had her international breakthrough when she played at the notorious Mayday rave in Berlin in 1992. With her hard and uncompromising techno set she made great impression on the many promoters present and she played the mainstage at all big international parties from that day on.
In 1993 Miss Djax was declared ‘DJ of the Year’ by Frontline (nowadays Raveline) Magazine. In the years that followed her name was always in the international top 10.
For four years in a row, 1995 till 1998, the Djax Records truck took part in the Love Parade float with 1998 being the absolute highpoint when the 20 meters long red/silver Djax rocket, with 20.000 watt of techno terror on board, started at pole position! Miss Djax also played two times at the Victory Tower at Love Parade.
In 1999 Saskia celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Djax Records by publishing her amazing book ‘The Power of the Underground’. This was also the year that Saskia recieved ‘De Veer’ award for her contribution to the Dutch Music Industry.
In 2004 Miss Djax released her first mix album 'Djax-It-Up' to celebrate the 15-year anniversary of her successful label.
2005 saw the release of her album RAW that included floorfillers such as ‘Sick of U’ with vocal support of DJ Rush. Miss Djax promoted her RAW album with a European live tour.
2008 has been a succesful year for Miss Djax as both 'Hell's Bells' and 'Headbangin' became Record of The Month in Raveline Magazine and her album 'Inferno' got super reviews. 'Still Dominating' and 'Headbangin' rocked the dancefloor all over the world. Furthermore she mixed and released the hardtechno album 'Kick Down Volume 1'. Her European ‘Inferno Tour’ started August 30th at Qbase festival where she hosted her own area. The tour took her all over Europe again.
Being a true vinyl purist the artwork always has been very important to Miss Djax. The beautiful artwork on the latest Miss Djax records is from the hand of Ed Repka, the same man who illustrated the great album covers for Megadeth (Peace Sells a.o.) and many more.
In 2009 Saskia celebrated the 20th anniversary of Djax Records by releasing the amazing DVD 'Underground Nation', which contains 90 minutes of pure underground club culture. At the Djax 20th anniversary party she received a gold award for 1.3 million records sold in 20 years of Djax. Further she received a gold award for 40.000 sales of the album Afslag Osdorp by Osdorp Posse. In 2010 'Stereo Destroyer' and ‘Respect’ smashed the dancefloors. In 2011 Miss Djax will host various Djax It Up stages at festivals like Ground Zero and Free Your Mind.
