Maceo Plex is a US electronic music producer and DJ associated with house, tech house, deep house, electronica, techno and electro. He begins making music in 1993, first drawing on techno, electro and house, and becomes known in early rave culture. By 1997 he is working more with hardware-based composition, influenced by artists including Model 500, Kenny Larkin, Idjut Boyz and Convextion.

Aliases and development

He later records and performs under several names, including Mariel Ito and Maetrik, before focusing more fully on the Maceo Plex identity. Under the Maetrik name, he tours widely and plays clubs such as Rex, Cocoon, Fabric and Womb. In 2010 he begins to move away from the darker, more complex Maetrik material towards a more groove-led sound.

Labels and releases

Maceo Plex releases music on several labels over time, including Treibstoff, Dumb Unit, Cocoon, Audiomatique, Modern Love and Mothership. He also works with Crosstown Rebels, where the full-length album Life Index appears, alongside the single Vibe Your Love. The album presents his move towards a more soulful, funk-influenced style. His label Ellum Audio is also associated with him.

Style and influences

His music is described in terms of feeling, funk and a blend of mechanical and human elements, with a strong emphasis on house music. The influences named in connection with his later development include Parliament-Funkadelic, Moodymann, Atjazz, Isolée and Luomo. He relocates from the United States to Valencia, Spain, where the change of environment is linked with a sunnier, more relaxed phase in his work.