View source for High Contrast

{{Short description|Welsh musical artist (born 1979)}}
{{for multi|the visual property of contrast|Contrast (vision)|the Gábor Szabó album|High Contrast (album)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = High Contrast
| image = High Contrast AKA Lincoln Barrett.JPG
| caption = High Contrast in Miami, Florida (2011)
| background = non_performing_personnel
| birth_name = Lincoln Barrett
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1979|9|18}}
| birth_place = [[Penarth]], [[Vale of Glamorgan]], Wales
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Drum and bass]]
* [[liquid funk]]
}}
| years_active = 2000–present
| label = {{flatlist|
* [[Hospital Records|Hospital]]
* [[3Beat Records|3Beat]]
}}
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
* [[Danny Byrd]]
* [[Underworld (band)|Underworld]]
* [[Taxman]]
* [[Utah Saints]]
* [[Adele]]
* [[Netsky (musician)|Netsky]]
}}
| website = 
}}

'''Lincoln Barrett''' (born 18 September 1979), better known by the stage name '''High Contrast''', is a Welsh electronic music producer, [[Disc jockey|DJ]] and [[record producer]]. He produces [[drum and bass]] music, and his 2009 album ''[[Confidential (High Contrast album)|Confidential]]'' reached [[British_Phonographic_Industry|BPI]] gold certification (100,000 units sold in the UK).

==Career==
===Early work===
Barrett was born in [[Penarth]], near [[Cardiff]], and grew up more interested in [[film]]s and film soundtracks than rock or pop music; he cites [[Wendy Carlos]]'s [[A Clockwork Orange (soundtrack)|''A Clockwork Orange'' soundtrack album]] and the [[Vangelis]] [[Blade Runner (soundtrack)|soundtrack for ''Blade Runner'']] as defining musical influences. Whilst studying film making in [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], he heard [[J Majik]]'s ''Arabian Nights'' which turned the then 17-year-old Barrett on to drum and bass music. Barrett used to work in Cardiff's only [[electronic music|electronic]] [[record shop]], Catapult. A short time after he began to make music, he was given a DJ residency at Cardiff's drum and bass night, named Silent Running. During his residency at Silent Running, Barrett played alongside artists such as [[Grooverider]] and [[London Elektricity]].

===2000s===
In June 2002, Barrett's debut [[album]], ''[[True Colours (High Contrast album)|True Colours]]'', was released on [[Hospital Records]], with "Return of Forever" and "Global Love" finding their way into the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=252}}</ref> His second album was ''[[High Society (High Contrast album)|High Society]]''.

On 6 April 2003, High Contrast was featured on the [[BBC Radio 1]] ''[[Essential Mix]]'' show. His mix included [[liquid funk]] mostly from the Hospital Records [[Record label|label]]. On 9 January 2005, this Essential Mix was replayed on Radio 1 when another drum and bass artist, [[Andy C]], was unable to deliver his mix. In October 2005, Barrett launched his own record label, The Contrast. The first single, "Days Go By" / "What We Do" was released in early November 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Contrast-Days-Go-By-What-We-Do/master/419447|title=The Contrast - Days Go By / What We Do|website=Discogs.com|access-date=6 July 2020}}</ref>

In 2007, he delivered his second effort, selected as "Essential Mix of the Year" by [[Pete Tong]].<ref>{{cite web|author=BBC |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/essentialmix/tracklistingarchive.shtml?20071007 |title=Radio 1 - Essential Mix - Tracklisting |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=27 June 2016}}</ref> His third album ''[[Tough Guys Don't Dance (High Contrast album)|Tough Guys Don't Dance]]'' was released in October 2007. The second single from the album, "If We Ever", was supported on [[BBC Radio 1|Radio 1]] by [[Annie Mac]], [[Zane Lowe]] and [[Jo Whiley]] helping it to reach number 1 in the DnB chart, number 1 in the dance chart and number 4 in the Indie chart.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}

In 2008, High Contrast remixed the #1 single "[[No Way to Say]]" for [[Japan]]ese pop singer [[Ayumi Hamasaki]]'s remix album, ''[[Ayu-mi-x 6: Silver]]''. He also made successful remixes of "[[Hometown Glory]]" by [[Adele]] and "[[Pjanoo]]" by [[Eric Prydz]], which were later included on the album, ''[[Confidential (High Contrast album)|Confidential]]''. He played them during his take over for the [[Rob Da Bank]] show on BBC Radio 1 in January 2009.

===2010s===
He played at the 2011 [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]]. Barrett currently is a resident DJ at the following clubs: Aperture at [[Clwb Ifor Bach]] (The Welsh Club) in Cardiff; and at Roxy in Prague. He was also on regular rotation at [[Fabric (club)|Fabric]] in London.

High Contrast played a key role in selecting and producing the music for the Athletes Parade at the [[2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony]]. Half a dozen tracks by High Contrast were played and are present in the event's official soundtrack, ''[[Isles of Wonder: Music for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games|Isles of Wonder]]''.

In July 2014, High Contrast's new single with [[Clare Maguire]] "Who's Loving You" was announced. A double release, 'Part 2'<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/highcontrast/whos-loving-you-part-2 |title=Who's Loving You (Pt. 2) by HIGH CONTRAST {{pipe}} Free Listening on SoundCloud |website=Soundcloud.com |access-date=27 June 2016}}</ref> was Special Delivery on [[Annie Mac]]'s [[BBC Radio 1]] show,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0495c2b |title=BBC Radio 1 - Annie Mac's Friday Night, High Contrast Special Delivery & More Ibiza News! |website=Bbc.co.uk |date=18 July 2014 |access-date=27 June 2016}}</ref> followed by 'Part 1'<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/claremaguire/high-contrast-clare-maguire-whos-loving-you-part-1 |title=High Contrast & Clare Maguire - Who's Loving You (Part 1) by Clare Maguire - Hear the world's sounds |access-date=7 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010231535/https://soundcloud.com/claremaguire/high-contrast-clare-maguire-whos-loving-you-part-1 |archive-date=10 October 2014 }}</ref> as "Hottest Record in the World" for [[Zane Lowe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0256fq0 |title=BBC Radio 1 - Zane Lowe, Blink-182, High Contrast & Clare Maguire - Who's Loving You (Part 1) |website=Bbc.co.uk |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=27 June 2016}}</ref>

In 2015, he remixed the R&B track "Muhammad Ali" by the group Faithless. The same year, the mix was included in the group's '2.0' remix album release, and also incorporated into the second half of their live performances of the song.

He signed with [[3Beat Records|3Beat]] in April 2016 and released his first single on the label, "Remind Me".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/high-contrast-signs-to-3beat/064500 |title=High Contrast signs to 3Beat {{pipe}} Music Week |access-date=16 April 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505050011/http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/high-contrast-signs-to-3beat/064500 |archive-date=5 May 2016 }}</ref>

In 2017, a new song, titled "Shotgun Mouthwash", was featured on the ''[[T2 Trainspotting]]'' soundtrack.

High Contrast's remix of "The One" by [[Jorja Smith]] was Nominated for a Grammy at the [[62nd Annual Grammy Awards]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ukf.com/news/high-contrast-has-been-nominated-for-a-grammy-award/25713|title=High Contrast has been nominated for a Grammy Award|first=Dave|last=Jenkins|website=Ukf.com|date=21 November 2019|access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref>

=== 2020s ===
On 13 November 2020, he released the album titled ''Notes From The Underground''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-high-contrast-notes-underground|title=Album: High Contrast - Notes From the Underground|date=3 December 2020|website=Theartsdesk.com|access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref>

On 24 June 2022, he followed up with the album titled ''True Colours'' for the first time on his own label Highly Contrasting.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mixmag.net/read/high-contrast-true-colours-remix-album-20th-anniversary-news|title=Album: High Contrast - True Colours|date=24 June 2022|website=maxmag.com|access-date=17 March 2024}}</ref>

On 23 February 2024, he released a single with two songs ''Anti/Thesis Vol. 1''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jungledrumandbass.co.uk/news/high-contrast-antithesis-vol-1-0|title=Single: High Contrast - Anti/Thesis|date=23 February 2024|website=JungleDrumAndBass.Co.Uk|access-date=17 March 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
His father, [[Paul Barrett|Paul "Legs" Barrett]], used to manage [[Shakin' Stevens]]. His mother, [[Lorraine Barrett]], was the [[Welsh Assembly]] member for [[Cardiff South and Penarth (Assembly constituency)|Cardiff South and Penarth]] until May 2011.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''[[True Colours (High Contrast album)|True Colours]]'' (2002)
* ''[[High Society (High Contrast album)|High Society]]'' (2004)
* ''Tough Guys Don't Dance'' (2007)
* ''[[The Agony and the Ecstasy (album)|The Agony and The Ecstasy]]'' (2012) (UK #45)
* ''Night Gallery'' (2017)
* ''Notes from the Underground'' (2020)
* ''Restoration'' (2024)

=== Compilation albums ===
* ''[[FabricLive.25]]'' (2005)
* ''Watch the Ride - High Contrast'' (2008)
* ''Hospitality Presents This is Drum + Bass'' (2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hospitalrecords.com/artists/highcontrast/ |title=Hospital Records |access-date=7 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711210558/http://www.hospitalrecords.com/artists/highcontrast/ |archive-date=11 July 2007 }}</ref>
* ''[[Confidential (High Contrast album)|Confidential]]'' (2009) (UK #68), [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]]: Gold<ref name=BPI>{{cite certification|region=United Kingdom|artist=High Contrast|access-date=9 January 2022}}</ref>
* ''[[Isles of Wonder (album)|Isles of Wonder]]'' (2012)
* ''Derestoration'' (2025)

=== EPs ===
* ''The Road Goes On Forever'' (EP) (2012)
* ''Questions'' (EP) (2017)

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Single
! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="UKsingles">Peak chart positions in the United Kingdom:
{{cite web
 |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/brookes%20brothers%20featuring%20chrom3/ 
 |title=BROOKES BROTHERS {{!}} Singles 
 |publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]] 
 |access-date=11 August 2013 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709143355/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/brookes%20brothers%20featuring%20chrom3/ 
 |archive-date=9 July 2014 }}
</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2001
! scope="row"| "Make It Tonight" / "Mermaid Scar"
| — 
|
| rowspan="4"| ''[[True Colours (High Contrast album)|True Colours]]''
|-
! scope="row"| "Passion" / "Full Intention"
| — 
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2002
! scope="row"| "Return of Forever"
| — 
|
|-
! scope="row"| "Global Love"
| 68 
|
|-
| 2003
! scope="row"| "The Basement Track"
| 65 
|
| rowspan="4"| ''[[High Society (High Contrast album)|High Society]]''
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2004
! scope="row"| "Twilight's Last Gleaming"
| 74 
|
|-
! scope="row"| "Angels and Fly" <br /><small>(featuring NoLay)</small>
| —
|
|-
! scope="row"| "Racing Green" / "St. Ives"
| 73
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2005
! scope="row"| "When the Lights Go Down" / "Magic"
| — 
|
| rowspan="2" {{Non-album single}}
|-
! scope="row"| "Days Go By" / "What We Do"
| — 
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2007
! scope="row"| "Everything's Different" / "Green Screen"
| — 
|
| rowspan="3"| ''[[Tough Guys Don't Dance (High Contrast album)|Tough Guys Don't Dance]]''
|-
! scope="row"| "If We Ever" / "Pink Flamingos"
| — 
|
* BPI: Silver<ref name=BPI/>
|-
! scope="row"| "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" / "Forever and a Day"
| — 
|
|-
| 2011
! scope="row"| "[[The First Note Is Silent]]" <br /><small>(featuring [[Tiësto]] and [[Underworld (band)|Underworld]])</small>
| 48 
|
| rowspan="3"| ''[[The Agony and the Ecstasy (album)|The Agony and the Ecstasy]]''
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2012
! scope="row"| "The Agony and the Ecstasy" <br /><small>(featuring Selah Corbin)</small>
| — 
|
|-
! scope="row"| "The Road Goes On Forever"
| — 
|
|-
| 2013
! scope="row"| "Spectrum Analyser" / "Some Things Never Change"
| — 
|
| rowspan="3" {{Non-album single}}
|-
| 2014
! scope="row"| "Who's Loving You" <br /><small>(featuring [[Clare Maguire]])</small>
| — 
|
|-
|  rowspan="2"| 2016
! scope="row"| "[[How Love Begins]]" <br /><small>(with [[DJ Fresh]] featuring [[Dizzee Rascal]])</small>
| 58 
|
|-
! scope="row"| "Remind Me"
| — 
|
* BPI: Silver<ref name=BPI/>
| rowspan="5"| ''Night Gallery''
|-
| rowspan="4"| 2017
! scope="row"| "Shotgun Mouthwash"
| — 
|
|-
! scope="row"| "Questions" <br /><small>(featuring Boy Matthews)</small>
| — 
|
|-
! scope="row"| "The Beat Don't Feel the Same" <br /><small>(featuring Boy Matthews)</small>
| — 
|
|-
! scope="row"| "Save Somebody" <br /><small>(featuring [[Callum Beattie]])</small>
| — 
|
|-
| 2018
! scope="row"| "God Only Knows"
| — 
|
| rowspan="2" {{Non-album single}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2019
! scope="row"| "Days Go By (2019)"
| — 
|
|-
! scope="row"| "Going Up"
| — 
|
| rowspan="5"| ''Notes from the Underground''
|-
! scope="row"| "Snare the Blame"
| — 
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2020
! scope="row"| "Time is Hardcore" <br /><small>(featuring [[Kae Tempest]] and [[Anita Blay]])</small>
| — 
|
|-
! scope="row"| "Rhythm is Changing" <br /><small>(featuring LOWES)</small>
| — 
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2021
! scope="row"| "Met Her at a Dance in Leicester" <br /><small>(featuring UK Apache and Ady Suleiman)</small>
| — 
|
|-
! scope="row"| "Bourgeious Imagery" <br /><small>(with Alan Fitzpatrick)</small>
| — 
|
| ''Machine Therapy''
|-
! scope="row"| "Don't Need You" <br /><small>(with Bou)</small>
| — 
|
| rowspan="5" {{non-album single}}
|-
| 2022
! scope="row" | "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"
| —
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2023
! scope="row" | "Can't Give You Up"
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | "You Don't Understand"<br /><small>(feat. Jamie McCool)</small>
| —
|
|-
| rowspan="5"| 2024
! scope="row" | "Anti/Thesis: Vol. 1"
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | "Be No Rain"
| —
|
| rowspan="4"| ''Restoration''
|-
! scope="row" | "Loved You So"
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | "Happy People"
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | "Remember Me"
| —
|
|}

=== Remixes ===
{{Div col}}
* "What Do You Believe In?" by [[Rag'n'Bone Man]]
* "[[Pictures in My Head]]" by [[M.J. Cole]]
* "[[Edge of Seventeen]]" by [[Stevie Nicks]]
* "[[Kaleidoscope (Tiësto song)|Kaleidoscope]]" by [[Tiesto]]
* "[[Wall (song)|Wall]]" by [[Enter Shikari]]
* "[[Baggy Bottom Boys]]" by [[Jokers of the Scene]]
* "[[Ready for the Weekend (song)|Ready for the Weekend]]" by [[Calvin Harris]]
* "[[In for the Kill (Skream's Let's Get Ravey Mix)]]" by [[La Roux]]
* "[[Most Precious Love]]" by [[Blaze (band)|Blaze]] featuring [[Barbara Tucker]]
* "[[Hometown Glory]]" by [[Adele]]
* "[[Pjanoo]]" by [[Eric Prydz]]
* "[[Reload It]]" by [[Kano (rapper)|Kano]]
* "[[Time to Pretend]]" by [[MGMT]]
* "[[Something Good (Utah Saints song)|Something Good '08]]" by [[Utah Saints]]
* "[[Papua New Guinea (song)|Papua New Guinea]]" by [[Future Sound of London]]
* "[[I Found U]]" by [[Axwell]]
* "[[Weak Become Heroes|It's Too Late]]" by [[The Streets]]
* "[[Talk (Coldplay song)|Talk]]" by [[Coldplay]]
* "[[Gold Digger (Kanye West song)|Gold Digger]]" by [[Kanye West]]
* "[[Flashing Lights (Kayne West song)|Flashing Lights]]" by [[Kanye West]]
* "[[We Run This]]" by [[Missy Elliott]]
* "[[My Dreams]]" by [[London Elektricity]] featuring [[Robert Owens (musician)|Robert Owens]]
* "Remember the Future" by [[London Elektricity]]
* "[[Headlock (song)|Headlock]]" by [[Imogen Heap]]
* "[[Barcelona]]" by [[D.Kay]] & [[Epsilon]]
* "[[Hey U]]" by [[Basement Jaxx]]
* "[[Thugged Out Bitch]]" by [[Dillinja]]
* "[[Girls & Boys (Aquasky song)]]" by [[Aquasky]] and [[El Horner]]
* "[[Renegade Snares]]" by [[Omni Trio]]
* "[[Back for More (Influx Datum song)|Back for More]]" by [[Influx Datum]]
* "[[Karma (Comes Back Around)]]" by [[Adam F]] & [[Guru (rapper)|Guru]]
* "[[No More (Roni Size song)|No More]]" by [[Roni Size]] featuring [[Beverley Knight]] and [[Dynamite MC]]
* "[[No Soul]]" by [[Ils (producer)|ILS]]
* "[[Spaced Invader]]" by [[Hatiras]]
* "[[This Feeling (Blue Sonix song)|This Feeling]]" by [[Blue Sonix]]
* "[[Born Free (M.I.A. song)|Born Free]]" by [[M.I.A. (artist)|M.I.A.]]
* "[[Blue Orchid]]" by [[The White Stripes]]
* "[[Show Me Love (Robin S. song)|Show Me Love]]" by [[Robin S.]]
* "[[Run (Joel Compass song)|Run]]" by [[Joel Compass]]
* "[[California Love]]" by [[2Pac]] featuring [[Dr. Dre]]
* "[[Let Go for Tonight]]" by [[Foxes (singer)|Foxes]]
* "Love On a 45" by MJ Cole<ref>{{cite web |title=Love On a 45 (MJ Cole Remix) - Single by High Contrast |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/love-on-a-45-mj-cole-remix-single/1318792688 |website=Music.apple.com |access-date=7 August 2019 |archive-date=7 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807105404/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/love-on-a-45-mj-cole-remix-single/1318792688 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* "The One" by [[Jorja Smith]]
* "So Many People" by [[Two Door Cinema Club]]
* "[[Ultraviolet]]" by [[Freya Ridings]]
* "[[Leave a Light On (Tom Walker song)|Leave a Light On]]" by [[Tom Walker (singer)|Tom Walker]]
* "Sometimes the Going Gets a Little Tough" by Finn
* "Savage" by [[Mist (rapper)|MIST]]
* "The Difference" by [[Flume (musician)|Flume]]
* "Freedom" by [[Sub Focus]] & [[Wilkinson (musician)|Wilkinson]] featuring Empara Mi <small>(Remix vs. Sub Focus & Wilkinson)</small>
* "Mine Right Now" by [[Sigrid (singer)|Sigrid]]
* "[[Better Off Without You (Becky Hill and Shift K3Y song)|Better Off Without You]]" by [[Becky Hill]] featuring [[Shift K3Y]]
* "24/7" by NOISY
* "Lord It's a Feeling" by [[London Grammar]]
* "Paradise" by [[James Vincent McMorrow]]
* "Foreign Things" by [[Amber Mark]]
* "No Bad Days by [[Bastille (band)|Bastille]]
* "Stella" by Housty
* "listen up" by SOLOMON
* "Beyond Horizons" by [[Anna Phoebe]]
* "Definition Of Happy" by [[Nitin Sawhney]] feat. I Am Roze

{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070711210558/http://www.hospitalrecords.com/artists/highcontrast/ High Contrast official biography] at [[Hospital Records]].com
* [http://www.highlycontrasting.com/ High Contrast blog]
* {{Discogs artist}}
* {{Rolldabeats artist}}

{{High Contrast}}
{{BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix of the Year Award|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:High Contrast}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Penarth]]
[[Category:British drum and bass musicians]]
[[Category:Hospital Records artists]]
[[Category:Welsh record producers]]
[[Category:Welsh DJs]]
[[Category:Welsh electronic musicians]]