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Home , Artifakts (bc), Dimension Intrusion, Jeff Mills, John Acquaviva, Josh Wink, Kenny Larkin

WordsRichie Richie Hawtin and Thomas H Green Photos www.alexanderkoch.com 0123456789 Hawtin 0123456789 new horizons

Richie Hawtin has always been at the leading edge of innovation in all aspects of . Now more than ever, he’s searching for fresh horizons and new

joe pli mm e r worlds to conquer. Who better to launch the first ever Mixmag Live?

[[1L]] MARCH 2012 RICHIE HAWTIN

Plastikman @ Brixton Academy,

from his lively blue eyes. He’s in dance music’s warlock, derive from his family’s move on November premier league these days, an immediately 14 1979 from the Northamptonshire village of recognisable name atop bills at clubs, and Middleton Cheney to LaSalle, , Canada, festivals and someone who is these days recognised when he was nine years old. even in the least likely of places. “My main memory of Middleton Cheney is a “I took a vacation on the coast of Morocco with strong sense of extended family, cousins, aunts, my girlfriend,” he says in his relaxed Canadian uncles, a very close-knit family, everyone getting accent, “walking though streets without pavements, together regularly,” he says. “That’s why the Canadian so far away from our world – and someone was like, move was such a big change: becoming isolated, ‘Are you Richie Hawtin? Can I get your autograph?’.” introverted. The ‘DJ Richie Hawtin’ aspect of me He laughs – “But it’s alright, people who come up are reflects what I remember of myself before I went long term fans, not ‘I know that guy’s face from a to Canada: having all these people around, being 0123456789 magazine.’ It’s a nicer sort of fame.” in elementary school, the cool kid in class who 0123456789 s : Ann De m eule ee te r ch a n d boot As Richie Hawtin he is the DJ who brings everyone talked to. Then suddenly I was the weird t to party, a long-term regular on the decks at foreigner who spoke differently. That was the Cocoon, inventor of minimal, and the man who beginning of my introverted side. I found a On stage in Brixton Academy a giant alien startlingly pre-empted modern DJ technology on his connection to the rest of world again electronically: N ASH, Wa y: craft of spinning light is taking off. Or is it a wild, astounding ‘Decks/FX’ mix series, showing everyone Plastikman, hiding behind machines.” luminescent fairground carousel? Whatever it is, it’s the possibilities and even helping design some of the Hawtin wasn’t the only one isolated by the move. playing Plastikman’s bass-addled 2003 loon tune kit involved. As Plastikman, symbolised by a sinister His father, a robotics technician, buried himself in ‘Ping Pong’. Behind this retina-frying semi-circular psychedelic sprite logo, he is an electronic musician music and technology and encouraged his son’s LED curtain – for that’s what it really is – glimpses of par excellence, maintaining an underground agenda interest in it. Hawtin’s younger brother Matthew was a silhouetted figure can sometimes be seen, flitting of techno propulsion and avant-garde dissonance also a beneficiary and has gone onto be actively back and forth between banks of kit, controlling over six (and two compilations). As the involved in Hawtin’s career, both in music and artistic the whole audio-visual experience. For over 20 business mind behind Records and Minus he design, as well as his own art career. Hawtin years Plastikman has been messing with our heads, has nurtured a plethora of talent into the limelight, describes him as “team leader on Plastikman live, making us dance. Once, long ago, he was a baldie, from Speedy J in the early 90s to Gaiser in the ‘Arkives’ [box set] and richiehawtin.com over the last with glasses, drum machines and a relentless 2010s. He does all this, paradoxically, by always two years.” His parents are also actively on side, u m en et Um b ra , t r ou s e rs : N be 9, J ewelle strobe, twisting brains to mush, but now he’s changing and always staying the same. Last autumn, attending the Sónar festival every year as well as gone visually interplanetary on his year-long for instance, many were shocked when DJ/ multiple other events, including Bestival and - sh i r t : L Plastikman 1.5 tour. producers Magda, Troy Pierce and , the [laughs], “my mum was in the booth dancing with “Yes! YES! YEEEAAAH!” screams a pop-eyed, core of Minus, the ones who originally came with Magda on the Terrace at Amnesia.” pogoing man, closely followed by a female voice, Hawtin from via New York to Berlin, left to am i r Do ma , T and soon all is a sea of whistles and whoops. The form their own Items & Things label. man behind the curtain, the wizard of odd, the “You try and stay in control, but evolution is techno phenomenon causing this commotion from always around us,” says Hawtin, completely sanguine. one continent to the next, is Richie Hawtin, a true “Minus started in ’98 but really didn’t get going until original and dance music perennial. He has, he will we found a group of people I wanted to support and tell us, reached the end of one era, but is about to develop. Marc Houle, Magda, Troy Pierce, even on a take off into the next chapter – into the future and different level, – these are people I onward to new horizons. If anyone can, Hawtin can. felt connected to on a friendship basis. I believed in their artistic ideas, and wanted to introduce them to iven the noise he’s capable of making, the world. There’s a point in artistic development

Richie Hawtin, 41, is a calm presence. He where you must move away – at some bittersweet D ar e s H ai r / M ake-up Ci el ichie wea rs sh i t: sits on a sofa backstage before his gig at moment you have to graduate, take everything

G the Brixton Academy, a lean figure in a you’ve learned, and stand up for your own ideals. am il a So thin grey jumper, dark jeans and baseball boots, That’s really where we’re at with Minus.” “You try to stay in control but emanating a friendly but businesslike manner. Hawtin rarely talks specifics and is useless for Around him on the walls are large framed photos juicy anecdotes or gossip. He speaks in terms of of bands, such as The Clash and Faithless, who concepts, broad ideas and occasional metaphors, have rocked the venue. His hands reach for his very much his own censor. He is, however, happy to evolution is all around us” blonde fringe, a gentler variation on the severe, analyse himself, reckoning that Richie Hawtin, the asymmetrical cut of a few years back, and push it party DJ, and Plastikman, the shadowy studio C joe pli mm e r , Sty l i s t: photo:

1970 1972 1979 1986 1987 1988 1989 timeline June 4 1970: Richard Sole sibling and occasional Moves to LaSalle, Ontario, Attends Sandwich Starts buying records in Starts being paid to DJ, Meets and hits it off with Canadian DJ Michael Hawtin born in collaborator, Matthew, born. Canada. Michael Hawtin Secondary High, by night Detroit and begins DJing $20 ‘gas money’ per gig. (born , 1963). The duo The evolution of Banbury, Oxfordshire, to takes a job at General tuning into seminal under the name Richie Rich Starts producing his own record a mix for ’s radio show, Michael & Brenda Hawtin, Motors. LaSalle is a suburb Detroit radio broadcasts in a basement club called mix shows for Detroit’s start recording together and form Plus 8 Richie Hawtin a music-loving robotics of Windsor just over the by The Wizard (aka ) and Duane ‘In-the-Mix’ Bradley. Is The Shelter, as the warm-up 96.3 FM radio station. Records which becomes one of the technician and a Detroit River, across the drawn to the music of trinity , Kevin for Scott ‘Go-Go’ Gordon. 1990s’ most vital techno labels, releasing teacher, respectively. US border from the city of Saunderson and Derrick May. Sneaks into The Music Institute, , Speedy J and others, as well as Hawtin and the same name. The Majestic, St Andrew’s Hall, and other key Detroit clubs. Acquaviva’s Cybersonik collaboration with Daniel Bell.

[[1L]] MARCH 2012 www.mixmag.net www.mixmag.net march 2012 [[2R]] RICHIE HAWTIN

he teenage Hawtin was famously into inspirations Detroit techno in the mid-80s, becoming a DJ, setting up Plus 8 with John Richie introduces the people exploring new horizons T Acquaviva and setting the techno world “My mum was on the terrace at alight with Plastikman’s birth on the ‘’ single and ‘’ in 1993, the latter arriving in a reasonably realistic, the timing Matthew Hawtin ‘Dimensions’) cover that looked like blotter acid. was Swiss clock perfect and showcases his work from 1993 “‘Sheet One’ as an album transcends ‘Spastik’,” the programming and sound to the present and shows Amnesia, dancing with Magda” design possibilities went well Matthew’s collaborative says Hawtin, ruminatively. “‘Spastik’ wasn’t on the beyond what any mere mortal relationship between art and CD version of ‘Sheet One’, and most people I know drummer could create. electronic music. Elements of who are Plastikman freaks sat at home listening to I knew it meant that drummers repetition, symmetry, colour, that album. The idea wasn’t to make a load of stripped techno style pioneered by Hawtin and would be the first musicians to textures and reduction are singles, it was to get back to the immersive revelled in by all at Minus. It was a phase that get placed the endangered explored within Matthew’s electronic album experience.” energised clubland; clubs became sexier and CLIFF species list. I would have to artwork, where many of the Hawtin ruled 90s techno from his base in Windsor, more hedonistic seemingly overnight, the cheesiness MARTINEZ evolve or die, so I began the ideas run parallel with the Ontario, via Detroit, his public image that of the apparently stripped out as dance music went back process of gradually re-thinking development and progression 0123456789 Former Red Hot Chilli ultimate techno boffin, shaven-headed, serious, with to its percussive roots. 0123456789 Peppers’ drummer behind and re-tooling my skills. I of the music released on my the soundtrack to Drive eventually landed in the world labels Plus 8 and Minus. glasses. Things changed after the millennium. His “It was easier for me than for some of the artists I was first introduced to the of film composing, where I’ve The exhibition runs until long-term relationship ended, he moved to New tied into it,” he says, “because as it exploded in work of Cliff Martinez via his managed to hold obsolescence February 26 at Red Gallery, York for 10 months then headed for Berlin where he 2004–5 I was already fifteen, sixteen years into my beautiful soundtrack to at bay for 23 years. 3 Rivington Street, London grew his hair, lost the glasses and threw himself career. We’d had conversations in the early 90s Steven Soderbergh Solaris I still have an intense love/ EC2A, or go to www.red wholeheartedly into the party lifestyle. about minimalism with Plastikman, Jeff Mills, Robert remake, and you can hear his hate/fear/respect relationship gallerylondon.com for info. “I felt so pigeonholed into techno, IDM, artificial Hood, so it was like, just enjoy the ride, let people newest work on the sound- with technology. The speed, www.mhawtin.com intelligence – it was a reaction against all that,” he put their stamps on it and introduce it to more track to the movie Drive. power and creative possibilities explains. “So that’s who you think I am? That’s what people than before.” of music-making in the He was originally more you think I look like? Well, fuck you, let’s play with connected to the rock scene, computer age are what make working on the first Red Hot being an electronic musician that. The move to Berlin was a crossover moment. inimalism’s moment as the Chili Peppers album. A so magical and compelling. But Troy, Magda, moving over there in force, what buzzword du jour passed, but Hawtin chance introduction to a drum I know it won’t be long before everyone was seeing was me coming out of my shell, remained as popular as ever, his machine changed the course some 12-year-old creates a a whole bunch of us having fun together and not M residencies at Cocoon and association of his career... masterpiece on his iPhone really caring about what was going on outside that with tempering the dark twitchiness of his Richie: I read that in the early that sells a billion copies or circle, just the mission we were on. It was more Plastikman persona with an unexpected joie de vivre. 1990s you were introduced wins an Oscar for best score. I CARSTEN public, more fun and just kind of explosive.” Hawtin’s status is solid with the new generation of to an early sampling drum keep up with technology not NICOLAI Fortunately for him, what was “going on outside American electronic musicians. The day before we machine while working with just because I’m constantly in German modern artist

that circle” was a huge interest in minimal, a stark N ASH y: met he had dinner with Skrillex, who’d been working Red Hot Chili Peppers. What search of that certain some- Richie: Science, mathematics new possibilities did this give thing that’s never been heard and technology all play key with Ray Manzarek of The Doors. Skrillex was you, and would you say it before, but I also know that if roles in your work. All of these thrilled because his parents love The Doors, and changed the path of your I don’t; I run the risk of going fields strive to discover, create Hawtin was reminded of how chuffed he’d been to career? Do advancements in the way of the brontosaurus. and explore new ideas and introduce his own father to John Peel, years before. technology still influence your possibilities. How important Hawtin is watching as America and electronic music current works? are their new ideas in the slowly fall for each other… Cliff: The first Red Hot Chilli inspiration of your new work? “America has a moment with electronic dance

Pepper album was recorded Carsten: I follow up new wen s t r ou e rs : Ts ubi, J ewelle music when it connects with rock ’n’ roll,” he says. in 1983 and was produced by developments and the latest “Things that are having success now are fast, furious, Gang Of Four guitarist Andy outcomes of scientific Gill. Andy introduced me to a explorations, especially aggressive – like if Nirvana made electronica. I don’t Linn , which, in fundamental research like think it’s so much different than in the early 90s hindsight, was a pivotal they do at the CERN, for when I went on the Rave New World Tour with moment for me. Andy wanted example. It serves as a source Cybersonik [Hawtin, Acquaviva and Daniel Bell], to use it to impart a modern Matthew of inspiration for me, since doing his [madly fast] song ‘1000’, The Prodigy sound to the album, but in Hawtin raised questions in science kicking it with breakbeat drum ’n’ bass, a little more deference to me as drummer, Modern artist exploring the usually also touch on dayglo but a fucking rock ’n’ roll show. The problem suggested that I do the relationship between art philosophical issues that was there was no big home-grown talent. Now there programming. Like a silent film and electronic music reach the very core of our is: , Skrillex, kids who grew up in North star facing the dawn of talking Much of my interest in perception of the world. pictures, I was both fascinated modern art came from the This opens up a creative America, hitting off like you’ve never seen before. and threatened by this influence of my brother of thought and Now, 15-year-olds who were listening to rock, plus powerful, groundbreaking Matthew. A current exhibition imagination to produce new hip hop, and now dubstep, are having an epiphany.”

gizmo. The sounds were (Red Gallery & Minus present ideas for works of art. RH sh i r t a n d oe s : Ri c k O joe pli mm e r ichie wea rs t- photo: All of which raises the question of what’s next for

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 Drops out of the University of Plus 8 launches spin-off Hawtin and other second-gen First two Release of second album ‘Musik’, plus Effectively banned from the Pursues techno Sets up Minus. ‘Decks, EFX & 909’, Hawtin’s Windsor where he was studying labels Probe and Definitive. Detroit DJ/producers such as Plastikman a collection of early tracks called US for 18 months, he tours to its logical First release is sonic ode to DJing, demon- film. Hawtin releases production Hawtin records under aliases , Jeff singles, ‘Spastik’ ‘’. Hawtin and the rest of the world which stripped-down the third strates what modern DJing debut (with Acquaviva), the such as Robotman, Chrome, Mills, etc, are now and ‘Krakpot’ Acquaviva’s warehouse parties now changes his musical outlook. conclusios on Plastikman LP, can be. Tours it with dance- ‘Elements of Tone EP’ under the moniker Circuit Breaker and Xenon. kings of techno. Hawtin’s are released,as well as legendary and celebrated on !K7 Puts half-finished Plastikman Concept 1 12”s. ‘Consumed’, followed by floor-wrecking results. His States of Mind. Hawtin records as F.U.S.E ‘Substance Abuse’ by F.U.S.E. warehouse parties are Detroit’s key events. ‘Sheet One’ album. His ‘X-Mix’ CD. First volume of ‘From Within’, an ambient album ‘Klinik’ on hold. Plays Helps invent ‘ [bc]’ created from installation for a French whose ‘Approach And Identify’ lays a blue- becomes a European F.U.S.E. debut album ‘’ is Mixmag Live CD set music project with Peter Namook. Hawtin held at at Glastonbury, which the shelved ‘Klinik’ album. millennial exhibition is based print for ‘intelligent techno’, later called IDM. hardcore rave staple. the first in ’s Artificial Intelligence series. pioneers the use of effects the US border, accused of working illegally. proves a watershed gig. along the way. Plus 8 Records on hiatus. on the hiss and crackle of vinyl.

[[1L]] MARCH 2012 www.mixmag.net www.mixmag.net march 2012 [[2R]] RICHIE HAWTIN

The Roden Crater, Arizona

Hawtin and Plastikman? We’ve heard rumours of Plastikman 2.0 and a project called ‘Control’. Hawtin inspirations says he’s not ready to talk about that; we should ring him in three weeks. He gets up, slim and fit and Richie introduces the people exploring new horizons ready to hit the machinery: years of late nights and week-long studio sessions seem to have left him trim. “I train,” he admits. “I swim, or do some type of sport multiple times a week. If you don’t keep yourself refined how are your ideas going to be? If your body goes to shit, everything goes to shit.” And he’s off to slay London.

hree weeks later, Hawtin is in a hotel in LA on the end of a phone. He’s Liine DAVE CROSS DAVE SMITH been checking out the annual NAMM The company redefining how & 60 WORKS INSTRUMENTS T (National Association of Music Merchants) people interact with sound exhibition, investigating the latest sonic technologies. 0123456789 Designer of custom devices guru known as 0123456789 Liine was set up two years ago for DJs and musicians the ‘Father of MIDI’ He sounds excited. He’s taking two months off to let to further develop GRIID and While at Cornell University Dave Smith’s instruments are inspiration percolate, to develop new twists to what KAPTURE, both of which were Dave Cross became fixated part of the reason I’m involved he does, but is he ready to tell us about Control? used during the Plastikman on the technical aspects of in electronic music today. In “The name has already developed away from that,” Live tour. Currently Liine is electronic music and DJ culture, 1990 we had our first under- he answers, “But what I’m seeing at these electronic developing new REMIIX iOS later writing his honours thesis ground hit with Cybersonik’s shows is incredible new ways to control software. apps, has just introduced an on the history of the mixer. ‘Technarchy’. That record There are so many possibilities, and not learning IOS version of Lemur and introduced Plus 8, Daniel Bell, With 60 Works, Dave now helps how to use them will mean you’re just another kid continues with its long-term musicians and DJs create John Acquaviva and me to the on stage looking like they’re checking their emails.” goal to redefine the way custom devices to empower world, and we haven’t looked people interact with sound. I their workflow. Instead of a back since. The key to it was Hawtin always works amid a flux of ideas, floating asked Liine developer Nick “one size fits all” approach, he Dan’s blistering bassline. It was them until the ones he requires crystallise. Plastikman Bugayev to explain more. creates hand-made solutions created with one of Dave 2.0 will return at the beginning of 2013, and much of Nick: With traditional to help unlock your creative Smith’s early keyboards, the this year will be spent in the studio creating new instruments like the guitar or Sequential Circuits Pro-1, and Since the mid-90s I’ve had a potential. www.60works.com Plastikman material. Will it be the stranger, more James Turrell’s work piano, the mechanical aspects since then my studio has never thoughtful fare of, say, 1998’s ‘Consumed’, or simply fascination with art and artists are fixed and predefined and james on the crater is been without a Dave Smith lethal space-age dancefloor crunch? who have developed ideas I you need to adapt your body synth of some kind. Dave is a feel connected to. This is what still ongoing “My head’s more into the sound and feeling of (through years of practice!) to legend in the world of music drew me to Anish Kapoor, whose work play music. But with electronic and technology. He was early techno right now,” Hawtin replies, “visceral, inspired ‘Consumed’, and it’s what draws music nothing is predefined. responsible for the first poly- energetic, primal, basic and more physical – but I turrell me to James Turrell, with whom I’d like We have an opportunity – a phonic and micro-processor- don’t expect that to take me down the path of a full- to develop a project. duty I would go so far to say – controlled synth, the Prophet on dance album. In the final Plastikman 1.5 show in James works purely with light; he does to put ideas and concept first 5, and he introduced the Italy I started to play one song at half speed, at 60 Richie on the incredible these installations called skyspaces which and then adapt the interface concept of multi-timbrality for instead of 128 BPM. The Italians are my biggest Skyspace-designing artist are rooms where you can sit or lie down to fit the idea. That’s one of ROGER LINN electronic instruments. He market but they love 4/4 techno and don’t usually and look upwards and there’s a hole in the the reasons I’m so interested Drum machine pioneer currently runs Dave Smith deviate too far from that. They went mad for this who’s still creating in his 80s ceiling where he frames the sky in such a in working with touchscreens Instruments and is still way that you get deep, rich colours during In 1979 Roger Linn introduced weird, half-time syncopated tempo and it really – it’s an interface which is a creating some of today’s most sunrise or sunset. They’re about a slow, the world first’s drum machine brought me back to the feeling of Plastikman: hundred per cent dynamic. using digital samples. Later he sought-after electronic subtle movement of colour, temperature rhythmic, experimental and infectious but not typical Whatever the structure of designed one of the most used instruments, such as the and feeling. Once you let yourself go, your song, performance or sampling drum machines ever, Evolver, Prophet 08 and the boom-boom-boom. That’s what I want to capture in you get sucked much deeper into the live set, a touchscreen inter- Akai’s MPC series. Now, he’s new Tempest drum machine, that studio, that’s at the heart of Plastikman and experience. It’s like standing in front of a face can change to fit exactly looking to the future with the developed with Roger Linn. that’s what’s missing from dance music today. Which painting: the longer you stay there, the what you need. In electronic amazing ‘LinnStrument’: Richie: Is the future bright for is why it’s time for Plastikman to come back.” more detail you see. It’s like my work too, music the design of the Roger: LinnStrument captures electronic music? You see, somehow what his contemporaries are I hope, where subtle interplay in my sonic instrument can be subservient each finger’s subtle movements Dave: Kids who started with doing doesn’t seem to matter to Richie Hawtin. He landscape draws you in deeper. artists of his generation, in his late 80s, to the demands of the concept. free software synths are Thirty years ago James bought an in three dimensions for fine has never, and will never, take the easy or obvious running out of money, trying to complete a I want our products to reflect discovering analogue hardware, extinct volcano in the Arizona Desert, the project he’s been working on for 30 years. control of expression, pitch route; he really is doing it his own way, staying on the that. Offering tools and and timbre. With this level of and hearing the difference. Roden Crater, and he’s slowly carving it Over the last thousand years, when men front line, oblivious to passing trends, always looking software to make this type of control, musicians will be able We’ve been able to design real out to create a natural skyspace so people have created things that are larger than experience accessible is one to approach the expressiveness analogue instruments at a for new horizons, new worlds to conquer. can come in, meditate and view the sky. To themselves, that will exist for longer than way I see Liine achieving that reasonable price compared to “I’m happy to be the guy who was doing this ten, him it can be a transformative experience. their lifetimes, it showed us – and shows us of traditional instruments like A view of goal. It’s a technological and violin, sax, clarinet or guitar. the old days. RH twenty, thirty, years ago and still doing it,” he agrees The world today can be so instantaneous, still – how incredible the human race can be also pedagogical approach.” the sky www.rogerlinndesign.com davesmithinstruments.com emphatically, “Yeah, I live what I do.” thomas h green but here you have one of the last great when it sets its mind to something. RH

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2010 2011 2012 Performs at the first Detroit Pushes ‘Decks EFX’ concept further with Splits with long-term Plastikman Throws himself into the development of ‘DE9: Transitions’ is a third ‘Minimal’ is now a huge buzz- Minus Presents Contakt In March, at the Timewarp Plastikman Live 1.5 Tour The future… Electronic Festival in May to ‘DE9: Closer To The Edit’ mix CD which jams girlfriend and moves from album ‘Closer’ Minus, building the careers of Heartthrob, journey into what DJing can word, headed up by Minus, tours internationally, a live Festival in Mannheim, continues. In February the Richie kicks a crowd of 200,000, with in 100 tracks. Tours it using boundary-pushing Ontario, to New York. Begins appears, a Troy Pierce, Magda, and Gaiser, among be, again with over 100 whose tours are roadblocked. show featuring Hawtin, Germany, Plastikman unveils box set, ‘Arkives 1993–2010’, off the year Juan Atkins, Derrick May Final Scratch technology, pioneered by John a particularly hedonistic curiously others. Plastikman Live at Mutek Festival tracks, this time mixed using Produces ‘9’20”’ with Italian Magda, Troy Pierce, Marc a visually astonishing new live appears. Landmark gig for as the star and other techno originators. Acquaviva and himself. Begins the transition phase of his life. Becomes personal marks beginning of collaborative work with software and accompanied composer Enzo Cosimi for Houle, Gaiser, Heartthrob, incarnation, going on to wow Anish Kapoor at Paris’s Grand of our first from vinyl to digital as DJs say goodbye to resident at Cocoon in album which even features Ali Demirel, Derivative Inc and Timewarp. The by a DVD. Releases ‘The the Winter Olympics opening JPLS, Ambivalent and festivals around the world. Also Palais. Richie is one of the ever Mixmag their record cases. Hawtin and Acquaviva and mixes their ‘Sounds of his voice. He sets up a show pushes the boundaries and technology Tunnel’ single under his own ceremony in Turin. Enters Barem accompanied by a releases Plastikman ‘greatest first artists to visit Japan Live concept. set up N2it to promote new technology. the Third Season’ comp. secondary office in Berlin. of live electronic performance to new levels. name along with surreal video. global superstar DJ league. spectacular LED show. hits’ collection, ‘Kompilation’. after the earthquake.

[[1L]] MARCH 2012 www.mixmag.net march 2012 [[2R]] RICHIE HAWTIN

years. I never thought I’d get to this Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Katy Perry Aphex place. No one cared what Skrillex was Twin and artists such as Black Eyed Peas doing. Dubstep wasn’t popular when and are releasing I first started to make it; it was still electronic pop influenced by house, event horizon very underground.” techno, rave, trance and good old This may not be the electronic fashioned UK synth-pop.” music that I play, but does that mean Electronic music now occupies has watched the ‘EDM’ explosion in North America over the it’s not relevant or, at the very least, a multiple levels simultaneously, each Richie Hawtin great doorway into the ever-expanding exciting and each demanding a world of EDM for the uninitiated to different kind of understanding and past couple of years. But, he wonders, is it really a good thing? Here he asks some of step through? I asked techno pioneer appreciation. I asked David Guetta for Derrick May what he thought about his thoughts, a man who has taken this 0123456789 the biggest figures in dance music from past and present – including Derrick May, the growing popularity of electronic sound to the top of the US Billboard 0123456789 music in the US, and he summed it up charts but is now held responsible by , Skrillex and David Guetta – what they make of the rise of rave in the US nicely: “I can only imagine the many for the scene’s current mainstream fascination and excitement of people; focus. “I think the popularity of EDM is hearing this music for the first time wonderful for all of us,” he told me, “no after never having had any thing close matter if we play or produce crossover Movement I’m a pretty optimistic to it all their young lives.” music or more underground sounds. Festival, person, but for some reason Man, I can identify with that! I can The success of our scene makes all of Detroit over the past year I’ve been a remember hearing my first Derrick us stronger. Why would we be afraid of little concerned by the explosion in May record in 1987, and thinking I was such a positive change? There will popularity of EDM in the US. Perhaps listening to music from the future! always be both scenes, and I think they because our sound hasn’t been central Damn it, I’m starting to wish I was one need each other for EDM to stay strong.” to this new wave of interest, perhaps of those kids having their first electronic Minus alumni Magda sees things from because many of the artists leading music experience at a Skrillex concert. a similarly optimistic perspective: “The this next wave in the US are half my Sonny was born in 1988: the year after current interest in dance music has a lot age and inspired by rock and r’n’b that Derrick May record had caused to do with the trickle-down effect from rather than Kraftwerk, or perhaps it’s me to become so obsessed with commercial pop/dance collaborations. just me being overly protective of a electronic music that I spent half a If you turn on the radio nowadays, genre of music I’ve spent the past 25 year locked away in the basement more than half the songs you hear are years of my life supporting. But thanks trying to learn how to DJ with one dance-influenced. This opens up the in part to the time I’ve spent on this Technics SL-1200 turntable! How did EDM world to people who may never article and the series of conversations he get so good so fast? have been exposed to it otherwise. I’ve had with friends and colleagues, I’m Sonny’s early days of touring were Magda Skrillex They start to dig deeper and are able feeling more optimistic about it now. with the rock band From First To Last, to discover other forms of EDM.” So where should I start? Well, let having switched to electronic music Our musical tastes continue to me pick on Skrillex right away. Like it only a few years ago. But this early develop over time as we become or not, Skrillex, aka Sonny Moore, is schooling on tour seems to have exposed to new and inspiring artists. For the man of the moment, and is defining taught him a few things about how to every Robin S there’s an . For many people’s first electronic music engage and entertain a crowd – a every Skrillex there’s an Underground experience. Sonny is a ‘one-man laptop crowd who, like him, were bought up in Resistance. Doorways are opened, and powerhouse’ who brings as much an age where hip hop, r’n’b and grunge it’s up to us to take that step through energy to his concerts (these are not dominated US radio and when pop and continue our journey of musical your typical old-school club nights) as music had started to absorb many of discovery and enlightenment. any rock band would have done in the ideas from those early pioneering “Fads come and go,” agrees Josh their heyday: blistering melodies, bass- techno and house records. Madonna Wink. “We’ve all seen that, and lines that vibrate you to the core, and incorporated Derrick May-inspired electronic music constantly changes, stops, starts, and stutters that make hand-claps and hi hats, and hip hop which is a great thing. The more people me trip over my own feet when I try to records used Cybotron and Juan get to know about something doesn’t dance to them (hence the current Atkins samples, and other more radio “The tracks dominating EDM in the always mean the worst-case scenario.” EDM trend of head-banging and crowd friendly house tracks. “New York In some people’s minds I’ve changed surfing to show your appreciation!) house meant the most to me,” US seem to be schizophrenic” and I’m no longer the underground As someone who grew up dancing to remembers Sonny. “Robyn S I know techno artist I was at the start of my music in long, dark warehouse sessions from childhood – I grew up with that.” career. But from my perspective there’s with his eyes closed, I’m still not sure What a mish-mash of inspiration, Derrick May been a slow, natural development in what I think about all of this, but it has references, sounds and ideas. It’s no both my ideas and aspirations. And with an energy that is extreme and wonder that the tracks currently so many other creatively driven and undeniably engaging. dominating EDM in the States seem to talented artists involved in electronic Two years ago I’d never heard of be nearly schizophrenic. Is this how you music, it’s no wonder EDM has become Skrillex, so the first thing I asked him successfully bring EDM to the masses larger and increasingly more popular. was how long he had been in his in North America, by fusing the best Liz Miller, who’s spent the past 15 years s ki oj c ie ch ow basement practicing... bits of hip hop, rock, techno and house? involved in the electronic music scene and “I’ve been touring since I was 16,” “Hip hop has long used loops and is the managing director of relaunched says Sonny, “so eight years. Not many sounds from techno (Missy Elliot/ Warners imprint , home to some people know that. People think I just Timberlake),” points out former of the biggest acts in EDM including stumbled on some bandwagon, but I NovaMute label manager Seth Hodder, Skrillex, Chuckie and Martin Solveig,

slept on floors and made no money for Dougl asW m h o r ton, to “and the current pop queens Beyoncé, sees it this way: “Increased exposure

www.mixmag.net www.mixmag.net march 2012 [[2R]] RICHIE HAWTIN

to the mainstream will mean love him. He doesn’t want our scene, and on a bigger scale than a bigger pool of upcoming to be a rock star. Aphex it was in the past. That can only be a talent. More ideas and Twin – he doesn’t put out positive thing.” different points of view will many releases or do I’m also encouraged by these add up to a broader range of marketing but he can still comments from the promoter of styles and artists, which, of turn up and rock it. If Detroit’s influential Movement spirit of course, means more fans, which people can connect with Festival, which stands out in America means new generations of the music that will always as a beacon of past, present and Loco Dice continued development.” speak louder than anything.” future thinking. “The national audience japan Twenty years ago I could It’s clear the underground is beginning to learn and understand have never imagined touring as guy playing records any more.” scene remains as strong as ever world- the roots and potential of EDM more 1 “I’m a bit of a Japan freak, quickly feeling very connected to YOUR NEW Plastikman to festivals on a bus with Now we have new ways of engaging wide. However, America remains the and more with its ever-growing and interested in the people, culture and customs upon ten people in tow: lighting and sound with our audience: stage design, a light biggest challenge, and there are now popularity,” says Jason Huvaere, “and my first trip nearly 20 years ago. That fascination fuels my technicians, stage managers, back-line show, LED and video walls producing a positive signs. Insomniac, the promoters that has resulted in an increase in interest in the Japanese national drink, sake. I’ve been studying in Japan under the Sake Education Council, and am HORIZONS cd support and all the components that new concert-like experience. These were behind Electric Daisy Carnival, are attendance and artist participation in have been common on conventional all key elements in the development of collaborating with my team to bring the Movement Festival every year.” now certified as a Sake Professional. Basically, that means rock tours for years. The development both our Contakt and Plastikman shows. a new experience to American We are in a ‘year zero’ scenario for I’ve learned a lot about the history of sake and how it’s Richie’s guide to your free cover CD: 0123456789 of the electronic music ‘show’ has In 20 years we’ve gone from club DJs to audiences. Loco Dice, a modern star many of the people in and around this made, and drunk enormous amounts of it along the way! new music from developing artists, each 0123456789 even taken us out of the entertainers: just look at the diversity of to emerge from the underground scene. The whole history of electronic following their own unique path in the where we once felt comfortable and live shows being offered by electronic scene, is also positive for the future. dance music is there to be referred to, 1. ISOJIMAN (Isojiman onto the main stages of festivals artists today. But is there still the possibility “It’s great to see electronic dance and knowingly or unknowingly drawn ever-expanding world of electronic music around the world. You might say that for electronic musicians to have success music experience another blossoming from. The possibilities are endless, Brewery, Shizuoka, est. 1830) Isojiman is considered to be one of the most popular sakes as the artists’ ideas and concepts have without a huge production behind them? in the USA,” says the German DJ and reminding me – once again – of what in Japan, yet it is not so easy to find it around. The natural 1. SRA ‘Phonomatik’ minimal groove into hypnotic, mind- developed, the scene and the music’s Can the underground still develop? producer. “EDM has finally become a excited me about electronic music in the water from Mount Fuji, the iconic mountain in Shizuoka Delayed sounds and voices take altering loops. If we had never left popularity have grown larger. Skrillex certainly thinks so. topic for mainstream media, festivals first place, and further challenging my own Prefecture, gives it such refined taste, and the rice is the us slowly from our reality and into the Packard building in Detroit “Now is the first time you’ve seen “Absolutely, man. Think about Burial: are bigger than ever and the club ideas of where electronic music should, premium A class Yamada Nishi from Hyogo Prefecture. that of the mix. Plenty of space after our Spastik party in 1994, this loads of artists putting on incredible no-one even knows what he looks like, scene is in fine shape. I feel there is a and can, go. There are plenty of reasons to 2 for the decays of sound and rhythm is what would be playing right now! and a simple, infectious bassline. live shows,” says Skrillex. “It’s not just a he doesn’t play shows, but people still great exchange of ideas going on in be optimistic. New horizons indeed. RH 8. Joran Van Pol 2. KAMOSHIBITO KUHEIJI (Banjo 2. Justin James ‘Untitled 2’ Brewery, Nagoya, Est. 1789) ‘Suck My Soul’ Picking up the bass/pace, Joran A new sake from a centuries-old family brewery, Kamoshibito Justin sent me his original version brings the swing back in with this Kuheijiis served at world-renowned restaurants in France, of ‘Suck My Soul’ and over a few low-riding groove that winds including the three Michelin-starred Restaurant Guy Savoy in days we discussed it by email, between techno and house and Paris. It is known for its revolutionary, white wine-like, smooth allowing it to develop into its shows that the Dutch sound is taste that is revolutionary to the sake industry. The spring current form. A no- nonsense still very much alive and well! water they use is two hours away from their brewery in looping techno throbber Nagano, and takes over 300 years to emerge from its perfected over the internet. 9. Whyt Noyz ‘Volcano’ mountain source. The rice they use is Yamada-Nishiki. Starting with a nearly typical 3. Matador ‘Lamana’ modern house groove, the Whyt NEW HORIZONS TECHNOLOGY The newest edition to our Minus/ Noyz boys quickly drop it out and 3. SOOKUU (Fujioka Clonk family, Matador isn’t messing take a left turn into uncharted and Richie rounds up some of the most exciting new tech around Brewery, Kyoto, est 1902) around. Here you hear the Matador disorientating territory. Infectious, 3 sound: a fine balance of melody deep and hypnotic and just what A very small brewery located in Fushimi in Kyoto, Fushimi the doctor ordered – if the doctor is nationally known for its refined water which gives Sookuu and technique that create grooves that bring us to those early morning was allowed to prescribe a heavy its silky taste. The brewery closed down in 1995 because dose of acid (house)! brewer /director Fujioka’s grandfather passed away, but trance-induced states we all crave. he reopened it in 2002. 4. Joop Junior 10. Joop Junior ‘Exclusive My Ass’ ‘Hipster Panic’ Straigh-up, no-messing techno Joop returns with that uncanny 4. JUYON-DAI (Takaki that hooks us in and transports us Dutch ability to fuse together the Brewery, Yamagata, to the Amnesia dancefloor where technical and melodic, and sucks we wait for the bass to kick and the us back into the void with our Japan, est 1615) hands in the air. Juyon-dai is most definitely one of the most hard to find CO2 blasts to take our heads off! sakes. The amount of production each year does not 11. SRA ‘Crash’ reflect the popularity of Juyon-dai, so many stores actually 5. Brian Gross ‘I Give You’ Releasing the tension and energy take part in a lottery in order to win the chance to buy Over the past few months new- ‘Crash’ gives us a moment to catch some! Juyon-dai means ‘the 14th generation’, reflecting comer Brian Gross has been our breath as the space opens 390 years of long history. up and the bass envelops us. 4 sending me new ideas nearly daily. With a step towards Minus and a nod to classic Marc Houle, 12. Matador ‘Dikspring’ LIVID INSTRUMENTS & MINUS TEENAGE ENGINEERING QUNEO 3D MULTI-TOUCH 5. JOKIGEN (Sakata Brewery, ‘I Give You’s offbeat notes give it Blending references to Lil’ Louis present the CNTRL:R OP-1 & OPLAB PAD CONTROLLER Yamagata, Japan est 1946) the power and momentum to and classic stomping techno, It doesn’t matter how powerful your computer and software Even though it was a beautiful machine I wasn’t so impressed I’m still not sure how to say it, but this is yet another option Sakata Brewery was established by five small breweries who drive directly onto the beat and Matador once again delivers a are if you don’t have the right interface to control it. With that with the functionality of the OP-1 when I saw it last year. But for your controller needs. With a nod in the direction of merged to produce the best quality local sake. The back onto the dancefloor. sign of things to come. in mind, Livid instruments and Minus set out to find the right with the new OS and expansion board update the OP-1 gets Roger Linn’s Linnstrument, the QuNeo offers a new angle on predecessor of Sakata Brewery was called Hashimoto ‘Just Kidding’ balance of size and function that could deliver what Minus the connectivity it deserves. It’s now the most beautiful and control pads and faders, with touch recognition in multiple Brewery, which was established in 1844. The high quality 6. Nsound ‘Lavitsh’ 13. Leo Choi All DJs have special records that artists needed for their live performances. Over a few months powerful portable midi-enabled keyboard synth there is. dimensions. Trigger pads with 127 levels of velocity, X-Y underflow water of Mount Ukai is used for Jokigen, and this Developing the classic Minus need to be played at just the right we discussed our needs in a private group, and Eight built-in synth engines, powerful effects, a four-track response and continuous pressure are just some of the ways brewery uses different types of rice such as Miyama-Nishiki, sound, Nsound delivers a pure moment. Dropping ‘Just Kidding’ slowly whittling it all down into the CNTRL:R. With encoders, recorder and USB/midi connectivity give you the power to the QuNeo takes your subtle physical movements into the Dewa-Chocho, Yamada-Nishiki and Koiomachi. groove. ‘Lavitsh’ is proof that knobs, buttons and faders to work with Ableton Live, Traktor, play around with your creativity on the go. The new OPLAB computer (via USB) and offers new possibilities of control all this Minus artist’s trips to at the Minus Bermuda afterhours Serato or any other piece of midi enabled software, we feel Musical Experimental Board lets you connect any electronic and expression. It’s powerful, compact and sexy! Interestingly, Columbia did not go unnoticed at Watergate last year twisted the CNTRL:R packs an incredible amount of power for its musical instruments, bringing together the beauty of Teenage Keith asked his customers to support the development of Thank-you to Yuuki Itoh, John Gaunter and Hoichi and some of their weirdness the room into a playground of portable size. Working with Ableton Live? Load the custom Engineering design and the openness of the “tinkering with the QuNeo with a Kickstarter.com microfinance project, Hasegawa for assisting with this article. Read more about seeped into the local population! melody. We’re all searching for Max4Live patches which I helped design and which take the electronics” DIY culture. With sensors called Flip, Tap and which is a great way for other independent inventors who Sake at John’s homepage: http://www.sake-world.com/ And those moments that make us CNTRL:R from controller to full-on intuitive sequencer and Poke and Midi, Sync and USB ports, it’s an electronic might also need the help of the public to bring interesting and further info at: http://www.hasegawasaketen.com/english/ 7. Nsound ‘Waterfall’ feel like kids again. RH 5 performance instrument! www.lividinstruments.com musician’s dream come true. www.teenageengineering.com inspired new ideas to fruition. www.keithmcmillen.com RH index.html RH Here Nsound develops from More info at m-nus.com

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