ABOVE & BEYOND
Mixes for Aurora, Fragma and Delerium quickly followed and the success of these mixes put the boys in contention for a spec mix for Madonna in late 2000. Their mix of "What It Feels Like For a Girl" was such a hit in the Madonna camp that it produced the reaction "probably the best remix I have ever heard" from her management, and a request for another version to shoot the video to from Madonna and husband/director Guy Ritchie.
This unprecedented decision added serious weight to the Above & Beyond story, and soon the remix requests were coming in from allover the world. Most notable, perhaps, was their work with Japan's biggest pop star, Ayumi Hamasaki. The Above & Beyond remix of her song "M" was picked to be the lead single to promote an album of remixes from a "who's who" of world producers, including Push and Ferry Corsten.
The release of their debut single "Far From In Love" confirmed their position at the top table of trance. A firm favourite with Judge Jules and Dave Pearce at Radio One, this big, sad song still raises the roof at Gatecrasher, Godskitchen and Passion.
Above & Beyond's DJ career is going from strength to strength with popular dates at Passion, Ministry of Sound and Godskitchen in the UK plus regular trips to Canada, Japan, Singapore, Sweden, Holland, Russia, Australia and New Zealand.
The boys have returned to remixing recently, turning out a great twist on the international Number One Tomcraft's "Loneliness" for MOS and another exciting Madonna remix after the boys were asked back to add their magic to "Nobody Knows Me".
The name "Above & Beyond" was picked from a web-page stuck to the studio wall while the bike waited outside for "Chakra Home" the trio's first output. A certain Jono Grant (no relation) was advertising his brand of motivational training on the web and our Jono had come across the page while surfing the net. The words "Above & Beyond" were across the top of the web page Jono had printed out, and seemed to fit perfectly with the aspirations of Jono, Paavo & Tony - better quality trance.
Watch out for the new Above & Beyond single 'No One On Earth', featuring a sublime vocal from the lovely Zoe Johnston, out in the New Year and complete with a Gabriel & Dresden remix.
"Above & Beyond are on fire right now and everything they do goes down really well in my sets....I can't remember my last set that didn't have an Above & Beyond production in it. They sound great on the radio and rock any dancefloor" Armin van Buuren
"They are a great team and have released some great tunes" Paul van Dyk
"When an Above & Beyond production arrives in the post, I just know it'll end up in the box. The freshness of their productions stands out and I love the emotions they bring across in their vocal works." Ferry Corsten
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