Chez Damier, a Chicago native with ties to Detroit's Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, is known for his classic New York garage sound. Starting his career in the late '80s, Damier DJed alongside legends like Frankie Knuckles and May and co-wrote tracks for Inner City. By 1997, a series of EPs on Balance led to a signing with French label Distance, solidifying Damier's reputation in the garage scene.