Throughout the 2000s, Damian Lazarus was at the forefront of the U.K. dance music scene. Early in the decade, he was head of A&R for City Rockers; he mixed both volumes of the label’s Futurism compilations. In 2004, Lazarus set up Crosstown Rebels; he put together CR mixes like Rebel Futurism Session One (2004) and Session Two (2005), as well as Crosstown Rebels, Vol. 1 (2006). He also mixed for other labels, including Soma, for whom he assembled the second volume in the Sci-Fi-Lo-Fi series. Shortly thereafter, he stepped out as a producer. His first full-length, Smoke the Monster Out, was issued in 2009. DJ’ing was not placed to the side; he released Fabric 54 a year later. ~ Andy Kellman