Stand Out Selector, aka Steffen Franz is well known as a dancehall innovator. As a DJ/Producer/Remixer and the owner of PSM Recordings, he has been bringing his conscious reggae vibes to throngs of people from New York to the Hawaiian islands (and San Francisco in between). A New York City native, SOS moved to Maui, Hawaii in 1991, where he broke the freshest dancehall tracks to scores of local people, as well as tourists from around the globe, at Studio 505, a nightclub co-owned by Stephen Stills. During that time he also managed and produced Marty Dread & Culture Shock, easily the most popular reggae band in the islands. July of 1993 brought him to San Francisco, after spending the previous six months commuting back and forth between California & Maui, making connections and playing in such venues as Miss Pearl's Jam House & The Kennel Club among others. It was these connections that made the July move possible. Together with former partner Stefan G. (renowned video/multimedia specialist), Positive Sound Massive a brand new concept in global soundsystems, was formed. PSM, as a soundsystem, features an array of international vocalists, rappers, toasters and musicians, along with rapper Wookie J., whom SOS imported from Maui. Over the past few years, SOS has DJed at hundreds of shows throughout California, Nevada, Washington, New York and recently in Australia & New Zealand, where he played opening and break sets for the Beastie Boys "Hello Nasty" World Tour. He has produced three dozen multi-artist stageshows and the Nicodemus "Dancehall Giant Tour", as well as the last two Barrington Levy west coast tours. He has remixed tracks for artists such as: Barrington Levy "Work" (MCA), Capleton "Wings of the Morning" (Def Jam/RAL), Beenie Man "Tear off Mi Garment" (Island JA); as well as produced tracks for artists such as Nicodemus, Ras Michael, Barrington Levy, Rocker-T., Jamalski, Wookie J., Jr. Robby, DJ Collage, Sister Sara and SF local hip hop group New Dealers. Since forming PSM, SOS has been employed as Reggae Buyer for Rough Trade Records in San Francisco, and as Reggae Editor for American Music Press, a bay area music monthly. From 1994 through 1998, Steffen was the Production Manager for the Paradise Lounge and Transmission Theater in San Francisco and still found time to write and review for independent publications. Since leaving The Paradise Lounge in the summer of 1998, he has tour managed Mix Master Mike, traveling the globe on both of Mike's solo tours as well as with the Beastie Boys. Stand Out has also tour managed Linton "Kwesi" Johnson and Lee "Scratch" Perry. SOS also fronts an alternative rock group called Crocodile Tears, plays bass in a stoner rock band called Not For Not, as well as is a member of "biL" a dancehall, surf, hip hop, who-knows-whatelse conglomeration of excellence. Check out "Magic Thumper"... He is also a proud member of Poetz4Peace, an International "Supergroup", from the island republic of Cyprus This has been an exciting time for SOS
as he has now opened a management company called aptly Positive Sound
Management. Partnering with PSMR A&R director Byron Schostag,
PSManagement now represents Rocker-T. exclusively and has been
consulting with a great number of other well known and up and coming artists.
Look for an ever expanding stable of artists and bands in the years ahead.
If you are interested in being considered for management, please contact
SOS SOS continues to DJ and select at parties all over the west coast. He can be found most weekends out on one-off shows with Mix Master Mike or DJing on reggae shows with the likes of Shinehead, Jah Yzer and Rocker T or rockin' out with biL or Not For Not just to name a few.
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