A-Trak

Alain Macklovitch
Born	Alain Macklovitch (1982-03-30) March 30, 1982 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Occupation(s)	DJ, music producer, industry executive
Years active	1997–present
Known for	President of Fool's Gold Records, member of Duck Sauce, touring DJ for Kanye West

Alain Macklovitch (born March 30, 1982), professionally recognized as A-Trak, is a Canadian DJ, music producer, and industry executive. Emerging prominently in the late 2000s, he is celebrated for his advanced turntable techniques and versatility across various musical styles. As the president of Fool's Gold, a label he co-founded in 2007, he has played a pivotal role in nurturing talents such as Kid Cudi, Danny Brown, and Flosstradamus. Additionally, he forms one half of the DJ duo Duck Sauce alongside Armand Van Helden, with their track "Barbra Streisand" earning a Grammy nomination in 2012.

Spanning over twenty years, A-Trak's career began with his achievements as a World Champion turntablist and as the original touring DJ for Kanye West. He has been acknowledged by Rolling Stone as one of the 50 Most Influential Figures in EDM, earned the title of Global Ambassador of DJ Culture, and appeared on the covers of Billboard and Complex magazines.

Early life

Born in Montreal on March 30, 1982, Alain Macklovitch grew up in the neighborhood of Outremont. His mother, Lison, was a professional translator with roots in the Moroccan Jewish community, while his father, Elliot Macklovitch, worked as a linguistics professor and machine language researcher of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. His elder brother David "Dave 1" Macklovitch is known for being part of the electro-funk group Chromeo. Although his family observed Judaism casually, Alain underwent a bar mitzvah. At eighteen years old, he journeyed to Morocco with family members to explore their ancestral origins. During the early 2000s, he pursued part-time studies in physics at McGill University.

A-Trak’s fascination with music began around age ten after exposure to early 1990s hip hop acts like the Beastie Boys and Cypress Hill, whose cassette tapes his brother brought home. He started practicing scratching techniques on his parents’ turntable and soon dedicated himself to mastering turntablism under the guidance of Montreal DJs such as Kid Koala and DJ Devious.

1997–2002: Champion scratch DJ

At just 15 years old in 1997, A-Trak quickly rose to prominence by winning the DMC World DJ Championship, becoming both the youngest victor ever and the first Canadian to claim the title. Immersed in Montreal’s turntablism and hip hop scenes, he gained international acclaim throughout the 1990s for his technical prowess during the golden era of scratch DJing. From 1997 through 2000, he competed worldwide and made history as the first DJ to secure victories in all three major competitions (DMC, ITF, Vestax), accumulating five World Championship titles. After stepping away from competitive DJing in 2000, he continued to perform at prominent events including Coachella’s inaugural festival in 1999.

In 1997, alongside his brother Dave and creative director Willo Perron, A-Trak co-established Montreal’s Audio Research record label. This imprint specialized in releasing turntable-focused and hip hop records predominantly on 12" vinyl until its closure in 2011. During this era, A-Trak also devised a notation system for scratching techniques which he showcased at Skratchcon 2000 and later published through Tablist Magazine.

Obscure Disorder and DJ Collectives

In 1995, A-Trak, along with his brother Dave 1 and hip hop artists Troy Dunnit, Eclipse, and Logik, established the hip hop group Obscure Disorder as an extracurricular initiative. This collective was active within Montreal's underground hip hop community throughout the late 1990s and began releasing tracks via Audio Research Records starting in 1997. They put out several singles before disbanding in 2002.

A-Trak held honorary membership in the influential DJ crew Invisibl Skratch Piklz and was also part of The Allies, collaborating with artists such as DJ Craze, DVLP, Infamous, Spictakular, and J-Smoke. The Allies produced the album D-Day in 2000 and competed as a turntable team between 1998 and 2000.

2002–2007: Touring Career

Following his departure from the competitive DJ circuit, A-Trak shifted focus to touring as a DJ supporting various artists, performing at clubs and festivals worldwide, and releasing DJ mix compilations. His first headline tour, the Sunglasses Is A Must Tour, launched in spring 2006, signaling a transition toward more dedicated music production.

Collaboration with Kanye West

In 2004, Kanye West enlisted A-Trak to serve as his touring DJ. Their initial meeting occurred earlier that year at a modest record store in London where West was promoting John Legend. Over the subsequent three years, A-Trak worked closely alongside West, appearing on MTV specials, the Grammy Awards, multiple MTV Video Music Awards ceremonies, and large-scale stadium concerts. He accompanied West on his first two headlining tours from March 2004 through April 2006. A-Trak contributed scratching elements to West’s albums Late Registration (2005) and Graduation (2007), notably shaping the sound of the latter. His most prominent credit is on the 2005 hit single "Gold Digger." By late 2007, A-Trak parted ways with West to concentrate on launching his own record label.

2007–2014: Mainstream Emergence

Transitioning from a touring turntablist to a solo artist and music executive, A-Trak became an influential figure during the surge of electronic dance music in the late 2000s and early 2010s. His original productions, widely acclaimed remixes, and astute label management played key roles in expanding his successful record label. Starting in 2010, he became a staple presence at international EDM festivals and remained one of the few leading DJs to consistently incorporate turntable techniques and scratching into live performances.

In 2012, A-Trak appeared on the cover of Billboard magazine alongside Diplo and Skrillex. Additionally, he featured twice on URB magazine covers as well as appearing on BPM and Status magazine covers during this timeframe.

Original Tracks and Remix Work

A-Trak released significant remixes in 2007 for Architecture in Helsinki’s "Heart It Races," Scanners' "Bombs," and Digitalism’s "Idealistic." Occasionally releasing bootlegs and remixes under the pseudonym Trizzy, he also delivered original singles like "Say Whoa" through the French label Kitsuné. In 2008, he collaborated with Nike on the soundtrack for Running Man: Nike+ Original Run, while also releasing singles such as "Mastered (Me & My Sneakers)" featuring Lupe Fiasco and "Running Man." That same year included partnerships with Laidback Luke on "Shake It Down" and co-producing "Like The Dancefloor" featuring Natalie Storm with DJ Zinc. His remix of Boys Noize’s track "Oh!" attracted notable attention.

In 2009, A-Trak issued his full-length DJ mix album Infinity + 1. His subsequent solo effort was the Tuna Melt EP, released in 2012 via Fool's Gold Records; its accompanying video received a nomination for Best Cinematography at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Between these projects, he released tracks such as "Ray Ban Vision" featuring CyHi Da Prince (2010), "Warrior" with Mark Foster and Kimbra for Converse’s 3 Artists, 1 Song initiative (2012), and "Money Makin'" alongside Dillon Francis (2012). He also produced remixes for Daft Punk’s "Robot Rock" (2009), Sébastien Tellier’s "Kilometer" (2009), Justice’s "D.A.N.C.E." (2010), The Rapture’s "How Deep Is Your Love" (2011), and Surkin’s "Never Let Go" (2012). His remix of Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ "Heads Will Roll" from 2010 achieved commercial success and featured on the soundtrack for Project X (2012).

In 2013, A-Trak teamed up with GTA, Laidback Luke, and Oliver to release popular remixes of Phoenix’s "Trying to Be Cool" and Kavinsky’s "Odd Look." That February saw the release of his video for the Fool's Gold Records remix of "Piss Test," featuring artists such as Jim Jones, Juicy J, and Flatbush Zombies; it was directed by Shomi Patwary.

Beginning in 2008, A-Trak performed at premier festivals including Coachella, Glastonbury, Primavera Sound, Lollapalooza, and Australia’s Parklife. He headlined tours like the 10,000LB Hamburger Tour alongside Bacardi B-Live performances. In 2010 he toured with drummer Travis Barker due to their shared connection with DJ AM. That year also included appearances at major EDM festivals such as Ultra Music Festival, Electric Daisy Carnival, and Electric Zoo. Throughout the following decade into 2014, A-Trak maintained a strong festival presence with headline tours like The Magic 8 Ball Tour in 2011 along with repeat performances at Ultra, Electric Zoo, and Coachella.

Origins of Fool's Gold

After moving to Williamsburg, he co-established Fool's Gold Records in 2007 alongside Nick Catchdubs and artist Dust La Rock. Both A-Trak and Catchdubs, experienced DJs, curated an eclectic lineup that helped elevate notable hip hop and electronic musicians. A-Trak has mentioned that he does not take a salary from the label, considering it primarily a platform for creative expression. Since 2010, he has regularly performed at Fool's Gold's Day Off events, which occur roughly four times per year.

In 2011, A-Trak introduced Fool's Gold Radio on SiriusXM’s Electric Area channel, a show that aired for several years. That same year, he inaugurated a Fool's Gold retail store in Williamsburg. Although the shop closed in early 2017, it reopened on May 20 at a larger venue nearby.

Duck Sauce

In 2009, A-Trak teamed up with Armand Van Helden to create the disco house duo Duck Sauce. Their track "Anyway" was released in October under Ministry of Sound. Duck Sauce gained international acclaim, topping charts in twelve countries and reaching number one on the US Dance Billboard charts with their hit "Barbra Streisand." Their 2011 single "Big Bad Wolf," which features wolf howls, debuted on BBC Radio.

Prior to their first album, Duck Sauce released singles such as "It's You" and "Radio Stereo." Their debut album, Quack, was released in 2014. The duo has graced the cover of DJ Mag twice, most recently in March 2020. That year also saw their return with two new singles—"Smiley Face" and "Captain Duck"—marking their first releases since 2014.

2014–present: Expanded collaborations and initiatives

With the rise of EDM placing A-Trak among the leading figures in electronic music during the 2010s, he has consistently developed his skills as both a producer and music executive, earning recognition as an "elder statesman of the culture." From the early 2010s onward, he has been a prominent presence at major electronic music festivals worldwide. In August 2019, he joined the advisory board of Beatsource, the largest record promotion platform in the United States catering to open-format DJs with curated global label music. Additionally, he holds an investment stake and minority partnership in Montreal-based SAINTWOODS, a company managing venues, marketing services, and a fashion line.

Recent collaborations

Following several projects with Duck Sauce, A-Trak continued to work closely with artists affiliated with his Fool's Gold label. In January 2014, he collaborated with Cadillac to promote their updated logo alongside the 2015 ATS Coupe model. On November 25, 2014, he released the Push EP featuring the title track with Andrew Wyatt; this single was included in FIFA 15 and supported by a remix album featuring contributions from The Chainsmokers, Cazzette, René LaVice, and DallasK.

Throughout 2015, A-Trak put out multiple singles including a remix of Alesso’s "Cool" and "We All Fall Down" featuring Jamie Lidell. Remix versions were also produced by Volt & State, CID, and Jarreau Vandal. He appeared on Zhu’s Genesis Series EP with "As Crazy as It Is" and contributed to Disclosure’s Magnets [The Remixes] EP. Late that year saw the release of his single "Place on Earth," a collaboration with ZooFunktion issued through Spinnin' Records.

In 2016, A-Trak contributed "Only One," a collaboration with Ookay featured on Fool's Gold’s compilation Night Shift. On May 3, he debuted "Parallel Lines" featuring Phantogram on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 Radio show and embarked on an Australian tour alongside What So Not starting June 30. He also co-produced Kanye West’s track "Champions" with Lex Luger.

The year 2017 included releases like "Believe" featuring Quavo and Lil Yachty; collaborations with Baauer on singles "Fern Gully" and "Dumbo Drop"; production work on Princess Nokia’s "Kitana"; and guest appearances on songs by Calvin Harris and The Cool Kids. In 2018, A-Trak unveiled "Ride for Me," teaming up with Falcons, Young Thug, and 24hrs via Fool's Gold.

In 2019, two singles emerged: the disco-house number "Work It Out" in April and later that year "What Can I Do," a joint effort with Loods. He also issued VIP reworks through his A-Trak Bootleg Series—free releases intended for DJ performances—with speculation about a forthcoming larger compilation.

Beginning in 2020, A-Trak began officially collaborating with his brother Dave 1 from Chromeo under the name The Brothers Macklovitch. They released two singles: "Give Love to Get Some" and "I Can Call You."

Growth of Fool's Gold

As A-Trak's role expanded, so did the scope of his label. Additionally, on July 4, 2015, he introduced a weekly two-hour broadcast called Day Off Radio on Beats 1 via Apple Music Connect.

Goldie Awards Initiative

In 2017, A-Trak played a pivotal role in founding the Goldie Awards, designed to create a dedicated platform for DJ battles and modern scratch DJing. This yearly event, hosted in New York, prominently features A-Trak as a central figure.

Musical Style and Gear

A-Trak has served as an ambassador for brands like Serato Scratch Live and Rane DJ equipment, notably becoming the first artist to officially endorse Serato, which helped drive widespread acceptance of the software among DJs.

He is well-known for merging elements of rap and electronic music through projects such as his 2007 album Dirty South Dance, his production contributions for Kid Sister and Lupe Fiasco, as well as remixes for electronic acts like MSTRKRFT and Boys Noize. Some of his tracks distinctly maintain their electronic or hip hop roots, including "Piss Test" featuring Juicy J and collaborations with Tommy Trash on "Tuna Melt". His hip hop track "Ray Ban Vision" was featured in the 2012 movie Project X.

Personal Background

Following many years living in Brooklyn, Macklovitch moved to Los Angeles toward the end of 2014.

Honors and Recognition

In 1999, A-Trak received the Special Performance award at the YTV Achievement Awards. He earned a Grammy Award nomination in 2011 alongside co-producer Armand Van Helden for producing and mixing "Barbra Streisand". The 2012 Duck Sauce track "Big Bad Wolf" was nominated for Best Electronic Dance Video at the VMAs. His 2013 video "Tuna Melt" garnered an MTV VMA nomination for Best Cinematography. In 2017, he was nominated for DJ of the Year at the Electronic Music Awards, and in 2018, he won Regional Open Format Club DJ of The Year (Northeast) at the Global Spin Awards.

Grammy Awards

Year	Nominated Work	Category	Outcome	Ref.
2012	"Barbra Streisand" (with Duck Sauce)	Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording	Template:Nom

Rankings in DJ Magazine Top 100 DJs

Year	Highest Rank	Notes	Ref.
2017	124	Not Ranked
2018	136	Not Ranked (Dropped by 12)

Competitive Achievements

• 1997: Technics / DMC World Champion (youngest winner at age 15)
• 1998: Technics / DMC World Third Place
• 1999: ITF World Champion (Advancement category)
• 1999: ITF Western Hemisphere Scratching Champion
• 1999: Vestax World DJ Extravaganza Winner
• 2000: ITF World Champion (Advancement category)
• 2000: DMC Team Champion (alongside DJ Craze)

See also

• Disco Mix Club
• List of Quebec musicians
• Duck Sauce
• Fool's Gold Records