London born singer/songwriter and DJ Maxine Hardcastle
is not restrained by genre, having written soulful/ funky house
tracks for Hed Kandi and The Ministry of Sound as well as a number
of smooth jazz releases, reaching #1 on the US Billboard chart.
It would be difficult not to claim that
music runs thought her veins - her father, the legendary 80s
popster Paul Hardcastle, made his mark revolutionising the sound
of pop with the record '19', with subsequently Simon Fuller named
the company '19 Management'. Mr. Hardcastle continues to dominate
the American charts with countless hit albums. If that wasn't
enough to claim artistic heritage, Maxine's brother Paul Jr.
is a saxophonist and songwriter who is currently jamming to the
loyal dance music crowds of Ibiza. Louis Hardcastle, her grandfather,
was a credible jazz / soul musician performing his way around
the world until the fine age of 80.
So
it's no surprise that Maxine has
spent her youth immersed in all things musical, finding time
also to . train in classical, ballroom and Latin dancing and
gaining a diploma in theater arts at the famed 'Italia Conti
Academy'. She sang in the Spice Girls Movie, danced on
S-Club television, appearing in the series I-Dream, and sang
live at the Royal Albert Hall as well as co-writing and performing
on 'Hardcastle 4' - and all that before the age of 18!
Maxine
has concentrated on writing and producing her own solo material,
teaching herself digital music production and setting up her
own studio, and teaching herself a professional music program.
From an early age she was determined to become musically
self-sufficient and be able to be involved involved in each step
of making music.
Maxine wrote her first house track 'It's
Gonna Happen' in 2007, which was snapped up by global label/club
brand Hed Kandi, released on the 'Summer Sampler' and 'Beach
House 2007', following up with 'Another Chance' to Wez Clarke's
instrumental on which she also played keyboards. The track smashed
dancefloors everywhere and Hed Kandi obliged again for her second
signing, releasing the track on several albums including 'A Winters
Taste', 'Kandi Lounge', 'Beach House 2008', 'Live Verbier' and
'American' Ministry of Sound Album. Established producer Richard
Earnshaw provided a remix on further albums. Two further tracks
were signed with Hed Kandi proving very successful - 'Walking
With A Smile', originally written by Maxine is a soul/funk number,
was remixed by Wez Clarke into the catchy house track that now
features on several albums. 'Bringing Me Back', was released
on the 'Beach House 2009' album and several albums Stateside.
The 'Mr. Vasovski Mix' was released on Discopolis records and
featured on 'Born To Dance Presents Essential House Miami Twenty
Ten'. Maxine performs her tracks live in venues all over
the world, including Pacha London, Pacha Lithuania, Russia and
The Maldives.
As Miss Hardcastle breezed through the
audition for dance/pop sensation 'Alice DJ' her work with other
producers at Violent Music sparked a fascination with Ableton
Live throwing her headlong into the world of digital DJing. Composing
her own remixes/bootlegs she showcased her favourite house and
electro tracks to audiences weaving her live vocal talents into
her set. Maxine may be relatively new blood on the DJ scene but
she has already sparked a lot of industry interest - not many
DJs we know leave the decks looping and get down onto the floor
to sing in the crowd.
Recent highlights include touring for
'Pink Poison' in Lithuania, as well as appearances at Egg London,
Kuredu Island Maldives, Dreamers Marbella, Dance Crusade festival,
Mac Store Regent Street, The National Polo Championships 'Sandbanks
Rocks' alongside Dane Bowers and Brandon Block, and has played
beside Kiss 100 DJs and Ibiza Residents and has billed at highly
respected club nights Dance Aid, Blow, Miss Moneypennies, Wired,
Be Sombody, Femme Fatale, DiscoTech, MotherFunkers, Pukka Up,
Undetected, Dirtbox, 
Tutti-Frutti, and the Thursday Night Project
Away
from the decks and dance scene Maxine
finds relaxation from the hard beats and hectic life of a DJ
by writing accoustic, easy listening music. She has co-written
and performed on several of her fathers #1 smooth jazz albums
and recently co-wrote and sang the track 'A Different Kind Of
Love' with American artist Nate Harasim, voted 'Up and Coming
Smooth Jazz artist of the Year. The track features on his album
which is due to be released shortly.