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THE DanceBEAT HISTORY
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The DanceBEAT project has existed for a good number of years. It all started back in Örebro sometime during 1988, in the pioneering days of today`s Swedish dance music scene. From the start, John Francis set up DanceBEAT in an attempt to create an active independent record company having special relationship with producers to deliver high-energy dance music.
Today the label profile is weighted towards Dj’s and therefore has a preference for release on vinyl. One might say DanceBEAT is a Dj-friendly record company. Also with a commitment to showcase new artist and an on-going relationship with Sweden`s most dynamic remix Dj’s and producers, the project is on the cutting edge of Sweden’s modern dance music.
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DanceBEAT first release was in 1988, a 12" maxi single by a girl group called DEL`.This was the first recording of Ann Consuelo and her twin sister Gladys del Pilar. The track was a crude attempt to introduce hip-hop/house feelings onto the Swedish dance floor. Interesting facts about the track: The song "Always On My Mind" was written by Frankie La Mote, from Carolina USA, Sweden’s soul guru who some after arriving in Sweden in the late 70’s, started and led the country’s first successful soul group, Shine. The programming on the track was done by Nick Nice. Probably his first production. Nick Nice, soon after this production, landed himself with the great Stonebridge, Dr Alban, Dennis PoP and others. As for the girls. They went on to do successful solo projects for Swemix, Sony DancePool and Dr Alban.
After discovering that Sweden was not yet in a dancing mood, nor ready for hip-hop and it seemed that the heat of the driving beats of programmed dance music was not going to melt the nordic ice, one more commercial dance track called "Hotter Than Soca" sung by Helena Petersson, was released on DanceBEAT. The track, a tropical/soca/salsa inspired groove, got some good exposure on the Swedish national radio, listed and shown on the then TV Pop Chart programme, Listan.
After that release it was good night from DanceBEAT Records.
In 1991 the project turned into a management/production/publishing house. Developing new acts together with some of the foremost new progressive producers such as Douglas Carr, Anders Hansson, remix Dj’s and major record companies dealing with dance music in Scandinavia. Through this project and John Francis Management discovered and developed Ardis who he signed to Stockholm Records. Her first single release was a top ten seller. Her debut album went gold and have sold up to 100,000 copies. That same year the management side of the project also signed True-D, Sweden first breakthrough female rapper, to Stockholm Records.
By 1995 the mood changed and more success came with acts placed with majors. John Francis Management in partnership with Anders Hansson signed Shikisha, an wonderful blend of afro-euro-dance project, to Sony Music.
It was also around this time John Francis with his DanceBEAT Records made a consorted attempt to go back to its "roots" as an active independent record company with as special relationship with producers and artists to deliver high-quality dance music.
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