{{Short description|English music producer and educator}} {{Multiple issues| {{coi|date=April 2025}} {{Third-party|date=January 2026}} }} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ski Oakenfull | image = Ski by Dobie Edit 1.jpg | caption = Ski Oakenfull by Dobie (musician) in 2024 | birth_name = Dominic Oakenfull | origin = Sevenoaks, Kent, United Kingdom | genre = {{hlist|house|electronica|ambient|acid jazz}} | occupation = Music producer, keyboard player, educator | years_active = 1990-present | label = {{hlist|Primaudial Records|Columbia|Barely Breaking Even}} | website = {{URL|www.skioakenfull.com}} }}
'''Dominic''' '''"Ski" Oakenfull''' (best known as '''Ski Oakenfull''') is an English music producer, keyboard player, and educator. His nickname "Ski" was given by his bandmates in The K-Creative who named him after the dance music artist Adamski.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooke |first=James |date=2019-03-13 |title=Watch Adamski and Ski Deconstruct 'Killer' ft. Seal |url=https://plus.pointblankmusicschool.com/watch-adamski-team-with-ski-to-deconstruct-his-no-1-global-hit-killer-ft-seal/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=pointblank Music School's Blog |language=en-US}}</ref> for pointblank Music School.
== Career ==
=== Collaborations === Ski Oakenfull was a member of The K-Creative,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rhodes |date=2024-05-28 |title=Ski Oakenfull Reinvents Classic Sounds with the Rhodes V8 Pro |url=https://rhodesmusic.com/ski-oakenfull-reinvents-classic-sounds-with-the-rhodes-v8-pro/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Rhodes Music |language=en-GB}}</ref> who signed to Gilles Peterson's record label Talkin' Loud in 1991,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=Feb 2022 |title=Feature in Computer Music Magazine Feb 2022 [Full unedited interview] |url=https://www.skioakenfull.com/blog/skioakenfull/20220109-725 |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=www.skioakenfull.com}}</ref> and their single ''Feed The Feeling / Three Times A Maybe'' reached #58 in the UK Singles Charts in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1992-03-07 |title=FEED THE FEELING/THREE TIMES A MAYBE |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/perception-and-k-creative-feed-the-feelingthree-times-a-maybe/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Official Charts |language=en}}</ref> After the group disbanded, Oakenfull was a member of Raw Stylus, and then played keyboards with Galliano until 1997,<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Foster |first=Lee |date=April 2001 |title=Ski Oakenfull - Life Changes |url=https://archive.org/details/muzik071_april_2001_2/page/n53/mode/2up?q=ski |journal=Muzik |issue=71 |pages=55}}</ref> and again on their 2024 album ''Halfway Somewhere''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clements |first=Steve |date=2024-06-30 |title=Galliano Interview |url=https://brightonsource.co.uk/features/galliano-interview/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Brighton Source |language=en-US}}</ref> He has also performed with Incognito,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rick |first=Nowlin |date=30 March 2006 |title=For the record - INCOGNITO 'Eleven' (Rice/Narada Jazz/ Virgin/EMI) |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |pages=W-16}}</ref> Kylie Minogue,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Can't Get You Out Of My Head on SNL {{!}} Ski Oakenfull Official Website |url=https://www.skioakenfull.com/videos/cant-get-you-out-of-my-head-on-snl |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.skioakenfull.com}}</ref> The Bays, and Milton Jackson.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sumsuch |first=Will |date=2023-02-23 |title=Milton Jackson: The Mixdown Interview |url=https://5mag.net/features/the-mixdown/milton-jackson-the-mixdown-interview/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=5 Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Solo work === Oakenfull released his debut album ''Life Changes'' in 2000.<ref name=":2">{{Citation |title=Life Changes - Ski Oakenfull {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/life-changes-mw0000537713 |access-date=2025-03-02 |language=en}}</ref> ''Muzik'' rated it 4/5 and praised its mix of house, disco, soul and jazz-funk music styles.<ref name=":1" /> All Music rated it 3/5, and described it as "bringing back to life one of club/dance's most trendy circuits dating back to the early '90s."<ref name=":2" /> The album featured single ''Where Did The Love Go?'',<ref>{{Cite journal |date=19 May 2001 |title=REVIEWS - FOR RECORDS OUT ON 28 MAY 2000 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2001/Music-Week-2001-05-19.pdf |journal=Music Week |pages=10 |issn=0265-1548}}</ref> and ''Fifths'', with the latter becoming the most played unplaylisted track on MTV Europe at the time.<ref name=":1" /> He also produces and releases music under the alias Ayota,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ayota {{!}} Ski Oakenfull Official Website |url=https://www.skioakenfull.com/ayota |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=www.skioakenfull.com}}</ref> a project that explores ambient, downtempo, and Japanese-influenced electronic soundscapes, blended with field recordings and vocals. The project's debut album, ''Helicopter Cuts'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=068 – Ayota – Helicopter Cuts - AmbientExotica.com – Music Reviews of Ambient, Vaporwave & Tiki Exotica Albums |url=http://www.ambientexotica.com/ambrev068_ayota_hc/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=www.ambientexotica.com |language=en}}</ref> was released in 2007<ref name="Helicopter Cuts, by Ayota">{{Cite web |title=Helicopter Cuts, by Ayota |url=https://third-ear-recordings.bandcamp.com/album/helicopter-cuts-2 |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=third ear recordings |language=en}}</ref> on Third Ear Recordings in Japan where it became the Tower Records ambient album of the year.<ref name="Helicopter Cuts, by Ayota"/>
=== Education work === In 2012 Oakenfull began teaching at pointblank Music School, and later became a Certified Trainer<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ski Oakenfull {{!}} Certified Training {{!}} Ableton |url=https://www.ableton.com/en/certified-training/ski-oakenfull/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.ableton.com |language=en}}</ref> of music production software Ableton Live.<ref name=":0" /> He is now Head of Education and Curriculum<ref>{{Cite web |last=Flores-Trevino |first=Greta |date=2023-02-03 |title=Ski Oakenfull, Head of Education & Curriculum, Certified as an Official Ableton Trainer - |url=https://plus.pointblankmusicschool.com/ski-oakenfull-head-of-education-curriculum-certified-as-an-official-ableton-trainer/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=pointblank Music School's Blog |language=en-US}}</ref> at the school, where he oversees the design and management of its music degree programmes. Oakenfull is also widely recognised for his in-depth breakdowns of iconic tracks known as 'deconstructions'<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Selection of Ski's Tutorial Videos {{!}} Ski Oakenfull Official Website |url=https://www.skioakenfull.com/tutorials |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.skioakenfull.com}}</ref> which he often presents live at festivals and conferences such as IMS,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beamish |first=Ben |date=2020-07-09 |title=Point Blank's Ski Oakenfull Deconstructs Avicii's "SOS" at IMS College Malta |url=https://edmhousenetwork.com/point-blanks-ski-oakenfull-deconstructs-aviciis-sos-at-ims-college-malta/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=EDM House Network |language=en-US}}</ref> Sonar+,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=XLR8R |date=2018-07-13 |title=Watch Ski Oakenfull Breakdown "Feel Good Inc." by the Gorillaz |url=https://xlr8r.com/news/watch-ski-oakenfull-breakdown-feel-good-inc-by-the-gorillaz/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=XLR8R |language=en-US}}</ref> ADE,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The producer's guide to ADE 〰 |url=https://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/en/news/ade-lab-a-guide-to-up-your-producing-game/1855001/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=ADE |language=en}}</ref> and AVA.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AVA London 2025 {{!}} 20th - 22nd March |url=https://avafestival.com/london2025/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=AVA Festival 2025 {{!}} Tickets & Line-Up |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Record label === Oakenfull is also label manager and owner of Primaudial Records,<ref>{{Cite book |title=Music Week directory, 2014 : the comprehensive guide to the UK music industry and Associated Service Companies |publisher=Music Week |year=2014 |isbn=9780957106109 |edition=44 |pages=43}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Primaudial Records {{!}} First in sound |url=https://www.primaudialrecords.com/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=www.primaudialrecords.com}}</ref> an independent label he founded in the early 2000s to release his own material and selected projects by other artists. The label has served as a platform for Oakenfull's creative output, ranging from house to ambient and jazz.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
== Select discography ==
=== Solo albums === {| class="wikitable sortable" !Date !Title !Record label |- |2000 |''Life Changes'' |Columbia France |- |2005 |''Rising Son'' |Barely Breaking Even / Pony Canyon |- |2021 |''Short Circuits'' |Primaudial Records |}
=== Solo singles, EPs and compilation tracks === {| class="wikitable sortable" !Date !Title !From album !Record label |- |1994 |''Ain't Gonna Justify feat. Chezeré'' | - |Black on Black |- |1994 |''Realise Your True Potential (with Ife Piankhi)'' |''One Hell Of A Storm (Versemongers Meet Soundcreators)'' |Tongue & Groove |- |1997 |''Montreux à Marseille'' |''Sun Sun: Ceci N'Est Pas Une Compilation'' |Columbia |- |1998 |''Tress-Cun-Deo-La feat. Valerie Etienne'' |''Sun Sun: Ceci N'Est Pas Une Compilation'' |Columbia |- |2000 |''Fifths (Including Jazzanova remix)'' |''Life Changes'' |Columbia / INCtraxx |- |2000 |''Undercover'' |''Life Changes'' |Columbia |- |2001 |''Where Did The Love Go? feat. Marc Anthony'' |''Life Changes'' |Columbia |- |2003 |''Slo Fix'' |''Italian Style Volume 2'' |Jalapeno |- |2007 |''Heavenly feat. Chi Turner (Yam Who? Mix)'' |''12 Inches of Pleasure Part II'' |Barely Breaking Even |- |2007 |''New Orleans Under Attack EP'' | - |Primaudial Records |- |2007 |''Illuminations EP'' | - |Primaudial Records |- |2007 |''Live at Maida Vale EP'' | - |Primaudial Records |- |2007 |''Winter feat. Valerie Etienne''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Winter {{!}} Ski Oakenfull Official Website |url=https://www.skioakenfull.com/discography/ski-oakenfull/winter |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=www.skioakenfull.com}}</ref> |''Winterhouse compilation'' |Starbucks |- |2008 |''The Look of Love feat. Valerie Etienne''<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Look Of Love {{!}} Ski Oakenfull Official Website |url=https://www.skioakenfull.com/discography/ski-oakenfull/the-look-of-love |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=www.skioakenfull.com}}</ref> |''The Look of Love compilation'' |Starbucks |- |2009 |''Love Meeting Love feat. Valerie Etienne'' | - |Primaudial Records |- |2009 |''Love Meeting Love feat. Valerie Etienne (Remixes)'' | - |Primaudial Records |- |2010 |''Thousand Knives EP'' | - |Primaudial Records |- |2020 |''Terms and Conditions''<ref>{{Citation |title=Various - Who Sampled Presents Digging The KPM Vaults |date=2020-12-01 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/24651416-Various-Who-Sampled-Presents-Digging-The-KPM-Vaults?srsltid=AfmBOorlukvZSxwNfORePts2zQiw9Q7ysIo7PB_3MvnC_Puo1iTN4zO0 |access-date=2025-04-09 |language=en}}</ref> |Digging the KPM Vaults |KPM |- |2025 |Fujicolour EP | - |Primaudial Records |}
== Charts == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" !Date !Release !Chart ! scope="col" |Peak position |- |2001 |''Where Did The Love Go?'' |Club Chart Top 40 (UK) |18<ref>{{Cite journal |date=12 May 2001 |title=All The UK Dance Charts |journal=Music Week |pages=21}}</ref> |- |2005 |''So Beautiful feat. Chi Turner'' |Tokio Hot 100 (Japan) |87<ref>{{Cite web |title=SKI OAKENFULL FEAT. CHI TURNER |url=https://musicid.academicrightspress.com/search/result?artists[]=989925&artists[]=129911 |access-date=2 March 2025 |website=MusicID}}</ref> |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{official|http://skioakenfull.com}} * {{Discogs artist|artist=8290}} * [https://www.discogs.com/artist/624905-Dominic-Oakenfull Dominic Oakenfull] discography at Discogs
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oakenfull, Ski}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:English record producers Category:21st-century English educators Category:English keyboardists