czachos

Chris Zachos
San Francisco, CA, USA
http://www.facebook.com/czachos



In 7th grade, Detroit-born Chris Zachos heard “People Are People” by Depeche Mode on the radio. It was at that moment that music became everything to him. With synthpop and new wave at his core, Zachos soon embraced the Industrial/EBM movement. Bands such as Ministry, Nitzer Ebb, Skinny Puppy, and Front 242 gave synth the edge that he craved. At age 16, Zachos began sneaking into iconic Detroit dance clubs such as The Shelter, City Club, and Todd’s, as well as the Ann Arbor institution, The Nectarine Ballroom.

In 1990, Zachos was given the opportunity to intern at 88.7 CIMX in Windsor, Canada. The radio station was experimenting with their pop format. From 8PM – 12AM Monday – Friday, the station played “alternative” music. The new format was a hit, so much so that CIMX switched full-on to their new format in 1991. So you could say, Zachos had a hand in bringing “alternative” music to mainstream Detroit radio.

Aside from the acid house and rave movements of the early ‘90s, the electronic music scene, in Zachos’ opinion, went down the crapper. He had moved to Boston, and alternative rock dominated the clubs. The new drum ‘n’ bass sub-genre was not filling his synth void. If it were not for a handful of talented electronic acts such as The Prodigy, Propellerheads, Moby, and The Chemical Brothers, Zachos probably would have given up on electronic music for good.

By the saving grace of God, in 2001, “Electroclash” had reared its queer and questionably fashionable head. The sound of the ‘80s was en vogue again. Zachos found himself taking Amtrak trains down to NYC on a monthly basis to be a part of Larry Tee’s “Berlinsburg” in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. From out of nowhere, the trend was flooded by new artists, including Felix Da Housecat, Miss Kittin, Tiga, Fischerspooner, Ladytron, and Adult. By 2003, the “clash” part of “electroclash” fell to the ground in a carnage of skinny ties and fauxhawks, but “electro” remained alive and well. And it was “electro” that brought Zachos to the next major turn in his life: a career change. With spending so much time immersed in the music scene, why not try to make a buck out of it?

In September 2003, Zachos moved to Park Slope, Brooklyn and began working on his M.A. in Music Business at New York University. Mid-way through his stint at NYU, he was offered a full-time position at consumer research firm NPD to study consumer digital music behavior. In September 2007, Zachos moved to San Francisco to be a part of Yahoo!’s Digital Media Group. In May 2008, MySpace reached out to him, and he has been working in the company’s music division ever since – working most recently as MySpace Music's Senior Web Analyst.

Music Is My Passion. Playlists Are My Art.