BIOGRAPHY
A Perrenial Architect
A perennial and innovative presence in soulful music and arts, Ron Trent originally wanted to be an architect. Much as the purpose of good architecture is to improve the quality of life for the people around and in it, the musical career that Ron has led as an architect of house music takes that ethos to the dancefloor.
Taking cues from his father, who ran a record pool in the late 1970s, diligently studying and collecting records provided the foundations and confidence to start DJing and producing music as a teenager. The ecstatic and driving Altered States, released aged 14, remains a landmark in the
history of electronic music. Under the direction of the noted house & RnB production team of Hula & Fingers - canonical figures in the modern Chicago music scene - Ron developed his skills as a producer and musician, incorporating his training as a percussionist into developing his keyboard skills. His partnership with Chez Damier in the early 1990s created the template for Prescription, a label with a signature palette indicative of its nature - a soulful house sound with organic electronics and emotive grooves.
Moving to New York soon after, Ron quickly gained respect playing for Body & Soul at Shelter, and hosting his own events at the legendary downtown Manhattan nightclubs Vinyl and Shine. His Giant Step residency at Shine fused neo-soul, jazz-funk, and diverse international influences into a similarly signature dance formula. Along with his own extensive back catalog, Ron has produced and introduced several key players across soulful music of all genres and borders, including Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Moodymann, Tony Allen, Amp Fiddler, Chucho Valdes, Peven Everett, Jody Watley, and 4hero among others. His labels Electric Blue and Future Vision provide outlets for more experimental productions and commercial reinterpretations that all still bear his unique imprint. A continual champion of his home city, Ron founded SODA in 2016 to “perpetuate and preserve the legacy of underground music through cultural and educational events for future generations ahead.” SODA was instrumental in the creation of the Silver Room block party and the Move Your Body house music festival, giving local artists a necessary international platform. His earlier co-curation of the Move Your Body exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Centre - about the history and effects of Chicago house - culminated in the 2019 release of a history of the legendary MusicBox club.
Expansions
Ron's sound expanded in 1997 with the release of the dance classic "NCame U." With writing partner Anthony Nicholson, famed vocalist D'Bora, and Peven Everett on Trumpet, this record launched Ron onto the NYC Dance Scene. After moving to NYC in the early 90s, Ron quickly gained respect as a DJ/Producer by playing for Body and Soul at Shelter and Hosting his own events at the Legendary Nightclub Vinyl in Downtown Manhattan.
Ron's DJ and Production skills would eventually lead to his collaboration with Giant Step Records, creating a new sound that would lead the way for the future of Giant Step (The Club) and Giant Step (The Label). In 2000, Ron started his highly popular weekly residency with Giat Step at the venue "Shine," bringing forth a fusion of Neo-Soul, Jazz Funk and World Music whilst merging it into a dance formula.
With Ron's vast knowledge of music and Giant Step's thirst for the cutting edge, the event became one of the top-rated nights in NYC. Ron's in-house productions on the Giant Step/Sony Label, featured artists such as Amel Larrieux, Jody Watley, Anastacia, Donnie, Carl Hancock Rux, and Lina, just to name a few.
His Productions lead to working with other greats including Tony Allen, Chuco Valdes, Papa Weba, 4Hero, Amp Fiddler, Groover Collective as well as various other World Artists. DJ Compilations include: "Giant Step Sessions" (Giant Step), "Music Reflections (R2 BBE), "Afro Blues" (King Street), "Deep&Sexy 2" (Wave Music), "Abstract Afro Journey" (King Street).
In addition to Prescription, Ron Trent created two further imprints which broadened the scope of his music production spectrum. Electric Blue Recordings feature more experimental sound, pushing the envelope and complementing the already established prescription sound.
Future Vision records was created as a platform to combine various artists with the signature Ron Trent production. Ron has also built up a quite a reputation within the music industry circles with his unique interpretations and reformulations of commercially popular tracks on his remixes, such as 'honey' by Erykah Badu and 'spring summer feeling' by Jill Scott.
Outside of running record labels, Prescription, Future vision, Electric Blue Recordings, and Music and Power, the last few years have seen Ron Trent making his presence known internationally:
From regularly gracing the decks at Berghain in Berlin and making appearances at ADE in Amsterdam to playing for serious audiophile and music connoisseurs in both London (Need2Soul, Boiler Room, Brilliant Corners) and Japan (Air, Circus) ...Just to name a few.
Now based back in Chicago, Ron Trent's musical quest for knowledge and tones continues. Having been featured on red bull music academy numerous times and co-curating the multimedia exhibit 'move your body - the evolution of house music' at the Chicago cultural centre in the summer of 2015, 'soda' is an organisation Ron Trent founded in 2016 with the aim of perpetuating and preserving the legacy of underground music through cultural and educational events for future generations ahead.
Under his new moniker WARM, Ron’s forthcoming album What Do The Stars Say To You brings forth artists he thinks of as part of his DNA, known for fusing styles and worlds into unique creations, and having them share their creative energy through the frameworks he builds for them. Jean-Luc Ponty, Ivan Conti & Alex Malheriros (of Azymuth), Gigi Masin, and Khruangbin all feature in what feels like an expansion of the adventurous and luxurious albums that influenced his musical journey back before he made Altered States. Their music, designed for harmonizing with spirit, nature, and urban life, is a logical progression for an artist who’s creativity and spirit has cemented his role as a shining force for his scene, his city, and this music.
After five years focused primarily on the U.S., Ron Trent is set to make his long-awaited return to global touring in 2025. To mark this next chapter, he has teamed up with Rush Hour for the release of Lift Off, a new album showcasing music recorded over the past decade.
Nearly 35 years after his groundbreaking Afterlife EP, Lift Off captures Trent’s ever-evolving artistry, driven by his desire to “let the imagination speak for itself.” The album reflects the wide-ranging influences that have shaped his distinctive sound, offering a dynamic blend of expansive instrumentals, inspired collaborations, and vocal-driven compositions crafted with specific artists in mind.
A shift from his 2022 downtempo masterpiece What Do The Stars Say To You (as WARM), Lift Off ventures into fresh sonic territory, reaffirming Ron Trent’s legacy as a pioneer of deep, soulful, and boundary-pushing music.