Josh Abrahams

{{short description|Australian musician|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{About|the Australian musician also known as Puretone|the US record producer with a similar name|Josh Abraham}} {{Use Australian English|date=February 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = Josh Abrahams | image = JoshGAbrahams.jpg | caption = Abrahams c. 2000 | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | alias = Puretone, The Pagan, Bassliners | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1968}} | birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | origin = | genre = | years_active = 1990–present | label = Shock, Worldwide Ultimatum, Festival, EMI | current_member_of = Future Sound of Melbourne, s:amplify }}

'''Josh Abrahams''' (born 1968) is an Australian musician who emerged from the underground dance music scene in the early 1990s. He has performed and recorded under the stage name '''Puretone''' and is also known as '''The Pagan''' and '''Bassliners'''.

Abrahams is a composer, producer, bass guitarist and electronic artist and has worked as a writer, music director and producer on albums and film soundtracks, and in television and theatre.<ref name="McF">{{cite encyclopedia|last=McFarlane |first=Ian |author-link=Ian McFarlane |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop |title=Encyclopedia entry for 'Josh Abrahams' |url=http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=1037 |access-date=3 June 2009 |year=1999 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=St Leonards, NSW |isbn=1-86508-072-1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803092255/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=1037 |archive-date=3 August 2004 }}</ref> His single, "Addicted to Bass", with singer Amiel Daemion, peaked at No. 15 in February 1999.<ref name="AusCharts" />

==Early life== Abrahams was born in 1968 in Melbourne and started as a bass guitarist and singer in covers band Havana Moon in 1990.<ref name="McF"/>

===1990–1995: Future Sound of Melbourne=== {{main|Future Sound of Melbourne}} In 1990, Abrahams formed the techno group, Future Sound of Melbourne (FSOM) with drum and bass producer Davide Carbone and acid house DJ Steve Robbins. They released a number of singles and EPs on the Shock Records imprint, Candyline Records in Australian and released tracks on Belgium's underground dance-music label, Two Thumbs Records. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1996, Future Sound of Melbourne won the ARIA Award for Best Dance Release for their album, ''Chapter One''.<ref name="ARIA1996">{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=1996 |title=ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 1996: 10th Annual ARIA Awards |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) |access-date=30 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214142950/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=1996 |archive-date=14 December 2007 }}</ref> During this period, Abrahams also released several dance singles under various artist names including The Pagan and Bassliners. In 1995, Abrahams left Future Sound of Melbourne to become a solo artist,<ref name="AllMPure">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p528527|pure_url=yes}}|title=Puretone > Overview|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=3 June 2009}}</ref>

===1996–2001: solo career, "Addicted to Bass" and ''Sweet Distorted Holiday''=== {{main|Sweet Distorted Holiday}} In 1996, Abrahams was signed to Carl Cox's label Ultimatum and released his debut album ''The Satyricon'' to critical acclaim.<ref name="McF"/> The album did not chart into the ARIA Top 50,<ref name="AusCharts">Australian (ARIA) chart peaks: *Top 50 peaks: {{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Josh+Abrahams|title=Discography Josh Abrahams|publisher=australian-charts.com|access-date=3 June 2009}} *Top 100 peaks to December 2010: {{cite Ryan|page=7}} *"Headroom": {{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/9ehjEFX.gif|title=Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 13 September 2016|publisher=Imgur.com|access-date=13 September 2016}}</ref> although a track from the album, titled "The Joker", appeared on the soundtrack for the film ''Hackers''.<ref name="Hack">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113243/soundtrack|title=Hackers (1995) – Soundtracks|publisher=IMDb|access-date=3 June 2009}}</ref>

After briefly creating a pop band called the Edison Project and releasing the single "Don't Be Afraid", Abrahams returned to solo work and signed to Festival Records in Australia in 1997. Film director Baz Luhrmann became interested in Abrahams' work, and asked him to co-produce some tracks for Luhrmann's album ''Something for Everybody'', one of which became the 1998 UK No. 1 single, "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)".

In 1998, Abrahams released his second studio album, ''Sweet Distorted Holiday'' which included the song "Addicted to Bass", with Amiel Daemion which was released in October 1998 and peaked at No. 15 on the ARIA singles chart. The third single, "Headroom", another collaboration with Daemion, peaked outside the ARIA Top 100. Abrahams also had top 50 chart success in New Zealand.<ref name="NZCharts">{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Josh+Abrahams|title=Discography Josh Abrahams (New Zealand)|publisher=charts.nz|access-date=3 June 2009}}</ref> At the ARIA Music Awards of 1999, Abrahams set the record for the number of ARIA nominations for an independent artist with six nominations, winning two.<ref name="ARIA1999">{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/1999 |title=ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 1999: 13th Annual ARIA Awards |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) |access-date=22 March 2020}}</ref>

In 2000, Abrahams released "Rollin'", which peaked at number 58 in Australia.<ref name="ARIA Charts">{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue569.PDF |title=ARIA Report 569 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue569.PDF |archive-date=20 February 2002 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===2001–2008: Puretone, film, television and theatre=== In 2001, Abrahams produced songs for Daemion, including the platinum-selling single "Lovesong" and the gold-selling album ''Audio Out''. In 2001, Abrahams collaborated with Baz Luhrmann and co-produced the ''Moulin Rouge'' film soundtrack.

In 2002, Abrahams composed and produced original music for a feature film by Paul Currie titled ''One Perfect Day'', set in the Melbourne dance music scene.

In 2002, Abrahams changed his stage name and began releasing music under '''Puretone''', to avoid confusion with the similarly named US record producer, Josh Abraham. As Puretone, Abrahams released "Addicted to Bass" internationally, which peaked at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. He also released "Stuck in a Groove", once again featuring Daemion on vocals, which peaked at No. 26 in the UK. Both tracks were taken from Puretone's studio album, ''Stuck in a Groove''.

In 2003, Abrahams wrote and produced the original music score for the film ''One Last Ride'', produced by director Ang Lee. He began composing music for television commercials, such as the 'Go for It Girl' campaign for Portmans clothing, a song entitled "Melt with You" for Baileys Irish Cream and the LG technology campaign. In 2005, TV jingles were Abrahams' main focus, along with writing more of his own original music. In 2007, he composed, arranged and recorded large-scale orchestral jingles for a series of three TV commercials for Ask Dot Com. In 2009, he arranged and recorded a version of "My Favourite Things" for a series of Dove TV commercials, and in 2010 he composed and recorded the theme song for the global Tourism Australia advertising campaign.

Abrahams was the music director and pianist for the Soubrettes' ''Cabaret Tingel Tangel'' at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2004. He spent July and August 2006 running the nightclub in the first Spiegeltent (a travelling European music and theatre venue) to tour in the US, then returned to this venue as music director for the theatrobatic show ''Desir'', premiering in the New York Spiegeltent in August 2008.

In 2008, Abrahams teamed up with Kaz James, co-writing and producing seven songs for James' debut solo album ''If They Knew''.

===2009–present: S:amplify=== {{main|samplify}} In 2009, Abrahams reunited with his friend Davide Carbone and together they formed the music production house s:amplify. Under this new moniker, Abrahams and Carbone teamed with Carl Cox to co-write and co-produce Cox's album ''All Roads Lead to the Dancefloor'',<ref name="CarlCox">{{cite web|url=http://www.dmcworld.net/features/entry/features/carl-cox-|title=DMC World|access-date=23 August 2011}}</ref> released in 2012. This trio also provided remixes for Moby, Miguel Bosé<ref name="MiguelBose">{{cite web|url=http://noticias.terra.es/2010/genteycultura/1129/actualidad/miguel-bose-reune-a-los-mejores-djs-del-mundo-en-un-nuevo-disco.aspx|title=Terra Noticias|access-date=23 August 2011}}</ref> and Gilles Peterson, among others. As part of s:amplify, Abrahams and Carbone provided complete sonic branding packages for Melbourne TV network Channel 31, and the Melbourne public transport company Metro Trains Melbourne, as well as composing music for Tourism Australia,<ref name="TourismAustralia">{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/tourism-australia-unveils-new-tv-ad-campaign/story-e6frg996-1225873532955|title=The Australian|access-date=23 August 2011 |first=Simon|last=Canning|date=31 May 2010}}</ref> Alienware,<ref name="Alienware">{{cite web|url=http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/263935,the-light-fantastic-alienware-invades-australia-with-area-52-live-action-show.aspx|title=PC Authority|access-date=23 August 2011}}</ref> and the International Cricket Council. S:amplify have also produced several tracks for various artists including the recent cover version of "Wuthering Heights" by Robyn Loau.<ref name="RobynLoau">{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/robynloau|title=Robyn Loau|website=Facebook |access-date=23 August 2011}}</ref>

In 2011, s:amplify were featured on the front cover of the April issue of ''Music Tech'' magazine<ref name="MTMinterview">{{cite web|url=http://samplify.com.au/news/s-amplify-mtm-interview |title=Music Tech Magazine Interview |access-date=23 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724041910/http://www.samplify.com.au/news/s-amplify-mtm-interview |archive-date=24 July 2011 }}</ref> and released two sound design packs through Loopmasters which have received several positive reviews.<ref name="samplifyreview">{{cite web|url=http://www.loopmasters.com/article/review/573/Music_Tech_Review:_S:amplify_Patchworx|title=MTM s:amplify review|access-date=23 August 2011}}</ref> S:amplify also provided the sound design for the Japanese synthesizer KDJ One<ref name="KDJone">{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/01/14/kdj-one-is-a-gigantic-game-boy-with-an-audio-workstation-inside/|title=Engadget|access-date=23 August 2011}}</ref> and were appointed musical directors for the City of Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks show.<ref name="cityofsydney">{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye/About/TheTeam.asp|title=City of Sydney|access-date=23 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807150840/http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye/About/TheTeam.asp|archive-date=7 August 2011}}</ref> The 2011/2012 12-minute NYE Fireworks show on Sydney Harbour showcased 24 Australian songs including original composition from Abrahams and Carbone.<ref name="sydneymorningherald">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/about-town/right-on-the-music-and-promising-to-be-a-cracker-of-a-show-20111229-1peeb.html|title=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=13 January 2012 |date=30 December 2011}}</ref>

Since around 2015, Abrahams has been working with Johnny "Galvatron" as part of the video game studio Beethoven & Dinosaur to compose music for ''The Artful Escape'' (November 2021).<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/features/2016/3/30/11332360/the-artful-escape-of-francis-vendetti-kickstarter-johnny-galvatron-interview | title = WHY ONE DEV GAVE UP THE ROCK STAR LIFE FOR A KICKSTARTER PROJECT | first = Allega | last = Frank | date = 30 March 2016 | access-date = 17 June 2017 | work = Polygon }}</ref> Since 2017, he has performed, recorded and toured with YID!,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Greg |date=2022-02-21 |title=YID! TO BRING THEIR JOY TO WOMADELAIDE |url=https://australianmusician.com.au/yid-to-bring-their-joy-to-womadelaide/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Australian Musician Magazine}}</ref> also producing (with Simon Starr, as the Kvetch Brothers) their second album, ''Zets!''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-30 |title=YID! "ZETS!" Album Launch |url=https://www.memomusichall.com.au/memo-gig/yid-zets-album-launch/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Memo Music Hall |language=en-AU}}</ref> Alongside Abrahams and Starr other musicians were Husky Gawenda, Gideon Preiss, Audrey Powne, Cheryl Durongpisitkul, Alex Burkoy and Willy Zygier with two of his daughters Alma and Syd Zygier.<ref name="RRR Zets!">{{Cite web |url=https://www.rrr.org.au/events/yids-sophomore-album-launch |title=Events: YID!’s - sophomore album launch |website=Triple R 102.7FM |date=December 2022 |access-date=29 January 2025 }}</ref>

== Discography == ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS <ref name="AusCharts"/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| NZ <ref name="NZCharts" /> |- ! scope="row"| ''The Satyricon'' | * Released: 1996<ref name="McF" /> * Label: Worldwide Ultimatum Records * Formats: CD | — || — |- ! scope="row"| ''Sweet Distorted Holiday'' | * Released: 1998 * Label: Prozaac Recordings * Formats: CD | 59 || 50 |- ! scope="row"| ''Stuck in a Groove'' (as Puretone) | * Released: 2002 * Label: Festival Mushroom * Formats: CD | — || — |- |}

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:19em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="6" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS <ref name="AusCharts"/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| GER <ref name="AusCharts"/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| NZ <ref name="NZCharts"/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SWI <ref name="AusCharts"/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK <ref name="UKCharts">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/11651/puretone/|title=Puretone on Official Charts|website=Official Charts|date=22 March 2020}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| U.S. Dance <ref>{{cite magazine|title=Hot Dance Music: Club Play|magazine=Billboard|volume=114|issue=42|page=44|date=19 October 2002}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| "Scenes from the Satyricon Part I"<ref name="McF" /> |rowspan="2"| 1995 | — || — || — || — || — || — | |rowspan="2"{{n/a|Non-album singles}} |- ! scope="row"|"Scenes from the Satyricon Part 2"<ref name="McF" /> | — || — || — || — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Thrill Seeker" |rowspan="2"| 1998 | — || — || 49 || — || — || — | |rowspan="3"| ''Sweet Distorted Holiday'' |- ! scope="row"| "Addicted to Bass" (featuring Amiel Daemion) | 15 || — || 27 || — || — || — | * ARIA: Gold<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-1998.htm|title= ARIA Charts Accreditations 1998 Singles|website=ARIA|date=1999|access-date=22 March 2020}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| "Headroom" (featuring Amiel Daemion) |1999 | 146 || — || — || — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Rollin" |2000 | 58 || — || — || — || — || — | |{{Non-album single}} |- |colspan=9|Credited as '''Puretone''' |- ! scope="row"| "Addicted to Bass" (re-release) |rowspan="2"|2002 | 50 || 58 || — || 60 || 2 || 1 | * BPI: Platinum |rowspan="2"|''Stuck in a Groove'' |- ! scope="row"| "Stuck in a Groove" | — || — || — || — || 26 || 4 | |- ! scope="row"| "Addicted to Bass" (Dom Dolla Relapse)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/dom-dolla-remix-puretone-addicted-to-bass-release-92033/|title= Dom Dolla Officially Releases Remix of Puretone's "Addicted to Bass"|website=Rolling Stone Australia|date=6 March 2026 |access-date=12 March 2026}}</ref> | 2026 | — || — || — || — || — || — | | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |- |}

==Awards== ===ARIA Music Awards=== The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Abrahams has won two awards from six nominations.<ref name="ARIA1999"/>

{{awards table}} |- | rowspan="6"| 1999 | rowspan="2"| "Addicted to Bass" | Single of the Year | {{nom}} |- | Best Video (Craig Melville and David Curry) | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="3"| ''Sweet Distorted Holiday'' | Best Male Artist | {{nom}} |- | Best Dance Release | {{won}} |- | Best Independent Release | {{won}} |- | Josh Abrahams for ''Sweet Distorted Holiday'' | Engineer of the Year | {{nom}} {{end}}

===APRA Awards=== The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually. Abrahams has been nominated once.

{{awards table}} |- | 1999 | "Addicted to Bass" | Song of the Year | {{nom}} |- {{end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|1243069|Josh G. Abrahams}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abrahams, Josh}} Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:ARIA Award winners Category:Australian dance musicians Category:Australian electronic musicians Category:Australian record producers Category:Musicians from Melbourne