Alex Santos also known as Alex S, born in Coimbra on April 26, 1975. Is a Portuguese DJ, musician and music producer. He began his DJ journey in 1990, being one of the pioneering producers of electronic dance music made in Portugal. He is the eldest son of writer and professor Ademar Santos.
The DJ
At just 15 years old, Alex Santos has his first job as a DJ in a bar in São Pedro de Moel (Leiria). From then on he never stopped, with the city of Leiria (the city where he lived) as the backdrop for his residences as a DJ. Over time, the success of his productions made Alex Santos go international, playing in well-known clubs such as The End (London), Neighborhood (London), Sobe Live (Miami), Essential (Riga), S.Q. (Poznan) or Sage Club (Berlin). In Portugal, he has played all over the place, having been one of the guest DJs at Rock In Rio Lisboa 2006.
The producer
In 1994, with the pseudonym “Urban Dreams”, Alex Santos became, along with Underground Sound of Lisbon and The Ozone, one of the pioneering producers of electronic dance music made in Portugal. After a few albums released on a more alternative circuit, Alex S made a foray into the world of Pop music and produced “ Isso Na Lua ” by “Os Lunéticos”, a band he was part of between 1995 and 1997. In 1998, he released the CD “Urban Dreams Productions” and becomes the first Portuguese DJ/music producer to record an album with original music.
To this day, Alex Santos has been one of the most prolific producers of Portuguese electronic music. He has collaborated with artists, national and international, as diverse as Tracey Thorn, Rui Da Silva, Melanie C, Michael Gray, Dennis Ferrer, Funky Green Dogs, Silence 4, David Fonseca, Corvos or Paulo Gonzo, to name just a few. In 2007, Alex Santos was invited by English singer Tracey Thorn (Everything but the Girl) to compose and produce a song for the singer’s second solo album, “Out Of The Woods”. The song is called “Grand Canyon” and was the third single to be taken from the album.
Collaborations and groups
Darkmountaingroup and Delicado
His collaborations with DJ Luís Leite gave rise to two projects: “Delicado” and “Darkmountaingroup”. With the first, they produced one of the most played dance music songs in Portugal in 2001, “The Sound Of Fashion”. With the second, Alex S and Luís Leite produce “Lose Control”, one of the most played electronic music songs internationally in 2006.
Rodamaal
In 2002, Alex Santos created, with French DJs Rocco and Manoo, the Rodamaal project. After a first album released on the French label “Jazz Up Recordings”, Rodamaal signed on to the English label “Buzzin’ Fly Records”, owned by the well-known DJ, producer and musician Ben Watt (Everything But the Girl). Themes such as “Música Feliz” or “Insomnia” become quite popular on the international dance music circuit. In 2007, Rodamaal remixed the song “Church Lady” by well-known producer Dennis Ferrer.
