Sidestepper

by Jason BirchmeierThe project of British producer Richard Blair, Sidestepper fuses a Latin aesthetic with the late '90s electronic dance music aesthetic, resulting in a dancefloor-friendly hybrid that presents a refreshing alternative to the often formulaic sound of electronic dance music. Blair first fostered his passion for Latin sounds while living in Colombia. Later, once he moved to the U.K., he found substantial interest and influence in the fledging British club scene, driven by DJ-spun electronic dance music records. Since few were exploiting the merger of these two sounds, Blair did just that, resulting in a fresh sound showcased first in late 1999 on the Logozo EP. A year later, a full-length album titled More Grip was released.