Rennie Foster

Profile:

Rennie “Dubnut” Foster has been a well respected figure in the Canadian music and art community since he was just a teenager. He influenced many as an early pioneer of the Hip-Hop/B-Boy movement and later the House Music and Techno/Rave scene with his uncompromising underground spirit and dedication to breaking ground with everything he puts his mind to; whether he was making music for the local CHUM television network, judging the DMC DJ contest or fighting for the right to dance at City Hall. Although he was known for his talent on the dance floor, with a mic or a can of paint, it was behind the turntables and in the studio that Rennie brought his relentless fusion of Hi-Tech Funk and Soul to a global audience.

Rennie fell in love with the techno oriented Tokyo club scene after visiting Japan several times to play. He has since relocated to Tokyo where he now resides with his Japanese, twin daughters who are the main source of inspiration for this dedicated single father and full time vinyl pilot.

Over the last few years Rennie has been making himself heard with a well received string of vinyl singles and remixes; both as a solo artist with labels such as Subject-Detroit, Monoid, Synewave, Rewired, Soiree, F...U! Com, etc., as well as with partner Kan Shinomura as Futago Technologies. The Japanese word Futago means twins. Kan is also a father of twins, born only hours apart from Rennie`s children. This is the kind of fate that has guided the Futago Tech. project to great success so far; including the creation of their own "Futago Traxx" imprint, releasing their original Fusion of Detroit and Tribal influenced sounds alongside artists such as Jamie Anderson, Ben Sims, Mark Williams, Damon Wild, Rue East and Oliver Ho, a.k.a. Raudive. The Futago Technologies unit has also released on labels like IngomA and Teknotika, including the heavily played Samedi remixes championed by Derrick May and so many others.

Now, with the rise in popularity of digital DJ technology and changes in the way music is being played and purchased, Rennie has launched another label, “Dirty Works”, dedicated to bringing the spirit of vinyl and roots of underground dance music into the digital age. Dirty Works fuses the refined “minimal” elements of modern club sounds with the R.A.W. (Rock Any Warehouse) vibe of filthy Chicago House, Detroit Techno and early rave records.

Rennie’s many releases have received stellar reviews in magazines and websites such as DJ, XLR8R, Loud, Traxx, Mixer, littledetroit.net, DJ Times, and Mixmag. They also receive regular charting and support from major figures such as Dave Clarke, Laurent Garnier, Jeff Mills, DJ Bone and Kevin Saunderson. Even if you haven’t yet heard Rennie’s name, chances are you have danced to one of his records. Rennie has showcased his unique and highly technical DJ style in clubs and venues all over North America, Europe and Asia, holding his own alongside a diverse range of top players from Frankie Knuckles to Daniel Bell to Grandmaster Flash and a long list of other big names.
All in all, Rennie Foster is a hard working purveyor of high quality techno and house based music, a dedicated student of dance music’s rich history and a steadfast believer in the bright future of electronic music.