Important Information

Purveyors of the finest house music and all round party people, The Shapeshifters have been at the forefront of dance music since 2003.
As DJs, producers and label owners, they've set the pace with their unique kind of nocturnal grooves, and there's no sign of it slowing down with the forthcoming release of their ‘Nikki Beach - In The House' compilation for Defected Records.
Add to this a selection of hot new productions, including collaborations with Frankie Knuckles, as well as a packed DJ schedule, and 2011 looks set to be another vintage year. The Shapeshifters are the London-based DJ and production duo of Simon Marlin and Max Reich.
Their meeting is well documented: Simon was DJing in Sweden and was introduced to Max.
Max was working in a record store in Gothenburg.
In his role as A&R for Downboy Recordings, Simon was also looking for new talent and Max was producing at the time as Fused.
It wasn't long before Fused were signed to the Downboy.
As a project Fused was relatively short-lived but Simon and Max remained friends and began working together.
In 2003, The Shapeshifters were born. At this time, both of the guys had reached a musical crossroads and wanted to do things on their own terms.
They decided to go into the studio together and see what came out: the result was ‘Lola's Theme'.
It went on to become a major worldwide hit on Positiva and set the stage for The Shapeshifters.
‘Lola's Theme' also set the precedent for the way the guys work in the studio: let the music come together naturally and forget about genres.
Simon's roots are in funk and soul, while Max comes from a techno background and it's this fusion that makes The Shapeshifters sound so dynamic and exciting. ‘Lola's Theme' was first released on their own Nocturnal Groove imprint and the label remains a vital part of The Shapeshifters equation today.
Originally launched as a platform for the new sound Simon and Max were creating, Nocturnal Groove now has over 50 releases to its name, and has become a home of established names and new artists in equal measure.
The label is part of their passion for house music and is helping to keep the scene vibrant.
Amongst the artist roster on Nocturnal Groove, you'll find the likes of Frankie Knuckles, Martijn ten Velden and K-Klass alongside emerging talent such as Roy McLaren, Jason Chance, Sonny Wharton and Danism and there is nothing released on Nocturnal Groove that you won't hear in a DJ set from The Shapeshifters. The Shapeshifters and Nocturnal Groove also run ‘Nocturnal' - a successful club night and was a vital part of London's nightlife for several years running long-standing residencies at The End/AKA and Turnmills.
The party is close to the guys' hearts and they won't do another one in London until they've found the right venue.
However, that hasn't stopped them taking ‘Nocturnal' on the road, of course, and they've played all over the world, often with young guys from the label in support and live visuals playing an important role.
Outstanding parties in recent months include Tube in Belgrade (Serbia) and Ambasada Gavioli in Izola (Slovenia), and some exciting plans for ‘Nocturnal' events are in the pipeline. The spirit of acid house runs through ‘Nocturnal' and it's all about unpretentious clubbing.
The Shapeshifters pride themselves on being DJs who select great records and the longer they have to play, the better.
Technical trickery never overshadows the vibe of the night and creating a musical experience the crowd can really get into.
‘Nocturnal' has also allowed The Shapeshifters to remain true to their roots in underground house music while also enjoying significant commercial achievements.
Following the success of ‘Lola's Theme', The Shapeshifters spent three years with a major label releasing several singles, numerous high profile remixes and their debut album - ‘Sound Advice.
By 2006 it was time for a change and a new musical focus in a period when the music industry itself was going through momentous changes and major labels losing interest in house.
Up stepped Defected and…