BIOGRAPHY

He made a huge success of Antwerp’s "LA ROCCA" over a period of 10 years.

Returning to Brussels, he became resident DJ at ‘Who’s Who’s Land’(RIP) alongside the now world famous Junior Jack. This was his regular spot until 2002.
He was responsible for setting up guest appearances by, among others, vocalist Duane Harden and percussionist Edmundo Carneiro from Saint Germain.

Aside from his Belgian career, he had a pretty hefty European schedule, playing the well-established clubs like D! club (Ch), Pacha (Es), Rex (Fr), Amnesia (Es), Queen (Fr), Fuse (Be), Café d’Anvers (Be)…

Needless to say he also played alongside many of the world’s greatest Dj’s. some were friends, others just passing through… Roger Sanchez, Sven Vath, Laurent Garnier, DJ Hell, Scratch Massive, Charles Shilling, Derrick May, Marshall Jefferson to name but a few.

Eric was responsible for introducing the club compilation concept to Belgium with “LA ROCCA” vol. 1 through 10

Neither was he ignored in the production world. Labels like R’&’S, Music Man, PIAS…

The next logical step was, of course, his own label “Accor”, which saw the light in 1994. The label was highly acclaimed thanks to tracks such as “Calvin Stones” (# 1 in the Benelux club chart – licensed in France, Germany, Spain and Greece) and “Scottie Deep” remixes.

Later he founded his second label “Afrotraxx”, in collaboration with PIAS. It attracted the attention of lots of Dj’s including Sneak, Jon Cutler, At Jazz, Stonebridge…

“Afrotraxx” inspired his first album “Blast’n’Powa presents Mangorama”.

Other labels released tracks of his work (Noise Traxx, Discomatic, Sony Music…) can be found on a whole series of compilations (Bangkok 2002, Le Prince Maurice, Casio G-shock Dj culture, Nu jazz…) and it doesn’t end there, the communication company “Kiube” invited him to compile a electronic lounge album and his band “Astrolounge” (lounge concept - Dj & jazz musicians) is an equally successful endeavour.

Since 2004 Eric released a bunch of tracks for the Belgian company Lowlands (Distribution and Records labels – www.lowlands.be, home of 'Vive La Fête') under two different monikers: Eric “Powa" B and “The Backlash”

"The Backlash" is an electro-punk project with Julian K that’s kicking up a storm in the UK.
(Charted in the Ministry of Sound’s vital vinyl at #5. Subject of an article in The Face and is currently charted by quite a few UK Dj’s. (Sven Vath for ex.is wild about Eric’s work).

Their live performances are quite something and well worth checking out.

2005 will see the release of his first solo album ‘Minute Mind’ (Due to be released in Feb 2005 -See discography)

Eric is available for both DJ and live set.

Playlist (Feb.05)

1- CHEMICAL BROTHERS-"ELECTRONIC BATTLE WEAPON"-ASTRALWERKS
2- ROBAG WRUHME-"K.T.B"(ORIGINAL)-SONAR KOLLEKTIV
3- SUPERPITCHER-"HAPPINESS "(MICHAEL MAYER MIX)-KOMPAKT
4- ERIC POWA B-"INSANITY V2.0"(LP MIX)-SURPRISE
5- SWEET LIGHT-"ABUSATOR"-FREAK'N'CHIC
6- LE DUST SUCKER-"MANDATE MY ASS"-PLONG
7- FRANK MARTINIQ-"WIZKAZ EP"-SENDER
8- THE BACKLASH-"DANCE OR DIE"-SURPRISE
9- BARCODE-"NEW BEAT DATA"-DIRTY DANCING RECORDS 003
10- ERIC POWA B-"THE TRAP"-SURPRISE
11- NID&SANCY-"SLEAZE BOOGIE"(MUNK REMIX)-SURPRISE
10- ERIC POWA B V/S N.BATES-"KONTAKT/IMPAKT"-X-RATED
11- H-MAN-"MANGA"-GIANT WHEEL RECORDS
12- ROMAN FLUGHEL-"GEHT'S NOCH?"-COCOON RECORDINGS
13- RUEDE HAGELSTEIN-"SWEATY BALLS"-FREUND INNEN 06
14- MATHEW JOHNSON-"DECOMPRESSION"-MINUS INC
15- DJ KOZE/GEBR.TEICHMAN-"SPEICHER 25"-KOMPAKT
16- ALEX SMOKE-"SIMPLE THINGS EP"-VAKANT
17- CHATEAU FLIGHT-"LES ANTIPODES"( JOAKIM REMIX)-VERSATILE
18- SLAM-"THIS WORLD"(WHIGNOMY BROS AND ROBAG WHRUMEBUKKELFIPPS REMIX)-SOMA
19- THE BACKLASH-"TAKTIK"-SURPRISE
20-MU-"PARIS HILTON"-MAURICE FULTON MIX-OUTPUT

New solo album! To be released on 28th of Feb 2005!

SURPRISE 029LP - ERIC 'POWA' B : Minute Mind -2xLP
SURPRISE 029CD - ERIC 'POWA' B : Minute Mind -CD

One of the Belgian electronic dance music pioneers ERIC POWA B redefines what we call ELECTRO!.
The man is a DJ all right: in the early 80's he was ERIC B during funky new-wave nights from Blitz to Knokke; together with OLIVIER PIETERS they dominated new beat at Bocaccio or spearheaded La Rocca on Saturdays 10 years in a row, right up to Who's Who's Land, if you know what I mean...

He made quite a few dancerecords whether as composer, producer or editor on tons of record labels (PIAS or Accorr...) and under a pile of aliases (of which CALVIN STONE is just one...). But since 1998, ERIC BEYSENS is ERIC POWA B and rediscovering himself through a spicy album, picking up the nrg of Eric B, that definitely changed Belgian dancemusic as a matter of turntables. So, for the first time in twenty years the world can enjoy electro again, coming from a generation born under the wings of Kraftwerk, Gary Numan, New Order or Depeche Mode... Here ERIC POWA B re-finds his personal structures but also his guardian angels and his demons which made him able to release the party beast inside during almost 25 years! On Surprise (home of Vive La Fête, Mascotte, The Backlash, Sickboy...) he returns with eleven sonic, independent music pieces made of contrasts, anger, enthusiasm and electronic respirations and still forming one whole. To be listened to without prejudice...

THE BACKLASH
'Magnificent 7' - SURPRISE 014 (CD) - SURPRISE 015 (12')

NOW THAT’S WHAT WE CALL ELECTROCLASH !!
Oh well ! These are strange times; All combinations of different styles in the melting pot. The symbol bank is full. So let’s toy with the icons … As always new genres are hyped one day, and dissed the next. Electroclash is very fast becoming Electroca$h. But, - hey! Music lover! – do not despair : the Real Electroclash is re-invented right here, right now, with this record : it’s an electro track combined with a song by The Clash. Yes, indeed, that’s what we call Electroclash. Magnificent 7 by The Backlash is an homage to all great things in popular music since the heyday of punk. It should be played very loud in a very dark club. It’ll set the dancefloor on fire. And it will surely put a smile on your face. Pogo, anyone ?

THE BACKLASH
'SexAndDrugsAndRockAndRoll + VLF Rmx!' - SURPRISE 017

The toying with the icons of course continues with a second draft, after the much acclaimed "Magnificent 7" as a tribute to the Clash and the heyday of punk in general. For this one, we ask the listener/party goer to BLOCK your HEADS with this homage to IAN DURY and his major global hit, bringing the 80's hit back to the dancefloor of today. It was an anthem back in the days and well, it will probably stay that way, also in the future... The remix comes courtesy of VIVE LA FÊTE in the guise of VIVASULFER, again featuring Quinte aka VIKTOR VOLTA... File under ELECTROCKANDROLL.

ERIC POWA B
'Cash' - SURPRISE 018

Eric"Powa"B started as DJ in the 80'S (La Gaieté in Brussels, 55 and Bocaccio in Gent). He is the famous DJ who made the success of La Rocca in Antwerp (Belgium) and was one of the originators of New Beat and New Wave. He has created, hosted and mixed the compilations of La Rocca. As producer, we can remember his productions from the late eighties on the labels R&S and Music Man. Now he's back to collect some cash! After his outings with The Backlash he's going solo now with a playful, clubby electro-tune that will burn floors all over. Watch this guy as he's productive as ever. Buy now, pay now ... cash!!!!!

ERIC POWA B
'Freeze' - SURPRISE 021

ERIC “POWA” B is definitely back with already his second solo 12” on the sweet home-label of Vive La Fête. This is indeed the follow-up of the “Cash!” floor(s)mashfiller and his contributions as one half of THE BACKLASH (“Magnificent7”, S*xanddrugsandrockandroll”).
“Freeze” has definitely got the sound of Detroit meets Chicago, but in a very hypnotic, enticing way, for a dancefloor willing to go wild. The tune is a real builder in a kind of “French Kiss” way; the flip features the Radio Edit , transformed into “Squeeze”.
“Flashing Lights” is the third track and that one goes acid house with a real electro twist crushed into the grooves…
ERIC POWA B is a child of the 80’s & 90’s dance generation who’s got floorfood tattooed on his chest, the sound of now in his pocket and the clubs where you dance in his head… Back in the days he was famous for jockeying discs in La Gaietè in Brussels and 55 and Bocaccio in Gent; but he also made the success of LA ROCCA, influenced new beat and produced on labels like R&S and Music Man.
“Welcome to the ‘Powa’ world where Lil’ Louis meets Josh Wink…”
“Kick out the cash, mothaf*ckers, and F R E E Z E !”

THE BACKLASH
'Shave our Soul' - SURPRISE 024

Third 12inch from infamous THE BACKLASH (a.k.a. ERIC ‘POWA’ B and JULIAN K) after acclaimed and successful 'covers' of The Clash’ track "Magnificent 7" and Ian Dury's “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll”, in both cases bringing the sound of the 80’s heroes back to today’s dancefloors…
Here and now returning with their first original composition on SURPRISE into a blending of triggered voices, shockingly hitting beats, sharply cutting edged sounds and deliriously mad acid breaks as a recipe for a damn good floorcocktail.
Just picture Front 242 meeting up with Nitzer Ebb and your 9/10 there, while the clubfloor is shred to pieces...
Featuring Vocal, Instrumental and De-Constructed versions, making a must-have DJ-tool…

ERIC POWA B
'The Trip' - SURPRISE 025

The mythical Belgian DJ called ERIC POWA B (one half of THE BACKLASH) returns with his third single, definitely worthy of its name.
"The Trip" is just what it says: an extremely hypnotic electro thang with a rock gimmick attached, destined to get your adrenaline pumping in a powerful way.
Flipside has "The Trap", a more electro cold wave cut, bringing to mind some releases of A Split Second.
Tested in several clubs (most notably on the Dirty Dancing clubnights in Brussels), these tracks are able to not just set the floor on fire but to let it explode!
***NOTE THAT IS THE VERY FIRST ‘MOVING’ RECORDCOVER***
***FIND OUT THE PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCE*** ***DISCOVER THE TRIP!***