Alex Karbouris, known professionally as Alex K, is an Australian music producer, singer, songwriter and DJ. He is known for being one of the pioneers of the music genre 'NRG',[1][2] and his Ultimate NRG and Kickin Hard compilations.[3] He has sold over 600,000 albums worldwide,[4] and has remixed and written for over 200 artists across the globe.[5] Karbouris is one of Australia's highest selling hard dance exports.[6]
Alex Karbouris | |
|---|---|
 Alex K live @ Klubbed 2011, Sydney, Australia | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alexander Karbouris |
| Born | 29 November 1979 Sydney |
| Genres | NRG, pop, house |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, singer, producer, DJ |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | UMTV, All Around the World, Central Station Records, Hit After Hit |
| Website | alexkmusic |
Biography
edit1996–2004: Early life and career
editOriginally beginning his career in 1994 at community radio station 99.3FM, he joined Australian radio station, Wild FM, and was responsible for numerous megamixes that featured on the Wild CD compilations. He signed with Central Station Records in 1998, and released the first of many compilations titled Kickin Hard, under the alias 'Alex K'.[7]
2004–2011: Ultimate NRG
editKarbouris moved from his hometown Sydney, Australia to Liverpool, UK in 2004, and signed a record deal with Universal/AATW.[8] Despite the 'NRG' scene being viewed in the wider industry as a regional phenomena, largely assumed to be confined to the North West, Ultimate NRG 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and Ultimate NRG Megamix all achieved gold status in the UK, with over 600,000 sales.[9] Karbouris has had several chart hits with his productions, including "If you were mine", "Rise Again", and "Moving too fast". He has written and worked with many writers and producers, and had writing credits alongside Annie Lennox with his track "Angel in my heart".
His song "My Time", was featured and looped in the freeway chase scene of the movie Hancock in 2008.
He has remixed numerous mainstream and underground artists, including the Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, Lady Gaga, Nicole Scherzinger, Slinkee Minx and David Guetta.[10]
Personal life
editHis grandfather was Lee Gallagher, who formed the GTV-9 Showband and featured on the Graham Kennedy Show.[11] His auntie is Greek actress Marilena Karbouri, most known from the series Xehase Me.[12] Karbouris currently resides in Sydney, Australia, but tours Europe frequently.[13]
Discography
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS |
NZ |
UK |
US | ||||||||||
| Kickin' Hard 1 | 1998 | 2 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Kickin' Hard 2 | 2000 | 2 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Kickin' Hard 3 | 2001 | 1 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Kickin' Hard 4 | 2002 | 2 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Kickin' Hard 5 | 2003 | 1 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Kickin' Hard 6 | 2004 | 2 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| North Vs South | 2004 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Ultimate NRG 1 | 2006 | — | — | 1 | — | ||||||||
| Klubbed vol. 1 | 2006 | 10 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Ultimate NRG 2 | 2007 | — | — | 1 | — | ||||||||
| Klubbed vol. 2 | 2007 | 3 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Ultimate NRG 3 | 2008 | — | — | 1 | — | ||||||||
| Ultimate NRG 4 | 2009 | 8 | — | 2 | — | ||||||||
| Ultimate NRG Megamix | 2010 | — | — | 2 | — | ||||||||
| Ultimate NRG 5 | 2011 | 3 | — | 2 | — | ||||||||
| Kickin Hard 11 | 2011 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Alex K - Past 2 Present | 2012 | 17 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Maximum NRG | 2013 | 8 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Alex K - Unreleased | 2014 | 3 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released | |||||||||||||
References
edit- ^ Chart-toppers set to rock the rafters in Bedford St
- ^ "Scene Magazine – Article "Mixing it up – Kickin Hard 11" September 2011".
- ^ "Beat Magazine – Article "Still Kickin" – Beatflipbook September 2011". Archived from the original on 17 September 2011.
- ^ "Alex K". AATW Artist Profile. AATW Artist Bios. All Around the World (AATW). 6 November 2008. Archived from the original on 28 November 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
- ^ "Brisbane Music".
- ^ "Central Station Artist Profiles". Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "Official Website of Alex K".
- ^ "Scousenation DVD Interview – Released UK 2005".
- ^ "AATW Artist Info". Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- ^ "Discogs". Discogs.
- ^ "Archives".
- ^ "IMDB". IMDb.
- ^ "Official Website of Alex K".
- ^ "MusicWeek".