Gavin Hardkiss

Gavin Bieber was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and moved to the US to attend the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1991. After graduation he and Scott Friedel, who wasn't actually his brother despite the shared stage name, packed turntables into a car and drove to San Francisco, where they founded the record label Hardkiss Music with Robbie Hardkiss that same year.

Hardkiss Music helped define a new strain of Californian dance music through the '90s, releasing work from Gavin as Hawke, Scott as God Within, Robbie as Little Wing, and other artists including Rabbit in the Moon, T Tauri, and Symbiosis. Their compilation Delusions of Grandeur reached No. 1 on Rolling Stone's alternative chart, and the label operated until 1997, when the group pursued a deal with Columbia Records.

As Hawke, Gavin released the albums Namaquadisco in 1998, recorded at San Francisco's Hyde Street Studios, and Heatstroke in 2000 on Six Degrees Records, followed by Love Won Another, Plus Plus Plus, and Love In Stars. Hardkiss Music reopened in 2014, and he's continued producing and DJing internationally, remixing artists including Youssou N'Dour, Mazzy Star, and Elton John.