Rhythmism.comPortrait: Jon Hopkins @ Mutek 2010 | Electric Zoo
by rhythmism
Thursday, May 27th 2010, 12:31 PM
Opulent, cinematic, and seductively moody, the music of London’s Jon Hopkins combines the ethereal scales of Brian Eno’s ambient adventures with dark, cushioned rhythms reminiscent of Boards of Canada. A composer and pianist who taught himself the tricks of the contemporary home studio, he released his first album, Opalescent, in 2001, and has since released two more, the latest being 2008’s Insides. That album elevated Hopkins’ status among the electronic cognoscenti, eventually earning him a place on major indie label Domino Records. A rarity among modern electronic composers, Hopkins has an uncanny ability to locate and fully develop the emotional core of his composition, lending his work a transcendental and often moving feel. Such is the pull of Hopkins’ music that Coldplay used his track “Light Through the Veins” to bookend their 2008 album Viva La Vida, and the British composer went on to spend six months with the band on the road. Jon Hopkins will be playing at Mutek 2010 in Montreal and Electric Zoo on New York's Randalls Island Park.
NAME: JON HOPKINS
CITY/COUNTRY: LONDON/UK
WEBSITE: WWW.JONHOPKINS.CO.UK
TWITTER: @JON_HOPKINS_
FACEBOOK: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JONHOPKINSMUSIC
Have you played at MUTEK before? If this is your first time what are your impressions of this avant-garde electronic music festival?
No it's my first time. Looking forward to it, the line-up looks awesome, Ben Frost, King Midas Sound, Nathan Fake I've wanted to see for ages
Best DJ moment of 2010 so far
Every time the sound doesn't stop in the middle is the best time
Obsolete item you can't part with
There is some cheese in my fridge that is old but I don't want to throw it away as it might get better
Best recent gift
My friend got me a toy keyboard that we're going to open up and make angry
Next big purchase
None for now. I recently bought an entire new studio after 9 years with the same one
Best producer of 2010
Love the production on the Gonjasufi album.
What you miss most about home when abroad
My house, my bed, my own cooking, for about a day, then I get sick of it.
Indispensable travel item
Electric razor. My beard grows in a very weird pattern so I have to keep it in check.
Favorite touring memento
In Moscow a very strange woman came up to me during soundcheck and gave me a flower and a jar of red caviar. She was nice though.
What’s on your drink rider
Vodka for before the show, beer for during, vodka for after.
iPhone or Blackberry?
I have an old Nokia that works fine.
What’s on your iPod playlist
At the moment, some Bibio, Nosaj Thing, Martyn, Steve Mason, Jonsi & Alex
Favorite city/club to play
I tend to play more rock venues, concert halls and festivals than clubs. San Francisco shows have so far been awesome fun.
Favorite city/country for holiday
Tokyo/Japan, or somewhere in the Caribbean. Or Sicily. Or Scotland if the sun is out
Hobbies
Main interests beside music are food, drink and nature stuff. Otherwise hanging with friends, parties, reading, films, exploring, walking etc etc
Personal hero
David Lynch
Favorite book
Moon Palace, Paul Auster, or Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates by Tom Robbins
Guilty pleasure artist/record
The records of Don Henley.
What did you want to be when you were a kid
Amazingly, exactly what I am now. I am lucky.
Least favorite day job before DJing?
Playing piano in a hotel lobby on Sundays when I was 18. Getting ignored by old ladies while they ate their sandwiches. Not even being allowed to eat the same sandwiches.
Fictional character you identify with
The Lost Boys.
One thing you should always do
Drink before playing live.
One thing you should never do
Kill someone
New for you in 2010
Next single "Vessel" out in August, with Four Tet and Nathan Fake remixes. Also the first film with a solo soundtrack of mine is out in a few months. It's called "Monsters".
Upcoming tour dates
I'm not really on tour as I'm working on my next album, but have a few festivals this summer:
06/10 France @ Les 3 Elefants
06/27 N. Ireland @ Celtronic Festival
07/23 Switzerland @ Stone Hill Festival
08/19 Portugal @ Boom Festival
09/5-6 New York @ Electric Zoo
June 2-6, 2010
MUTEK 2010
International Festival of Digital Creativity and Electronic Music
Montreal, QC Canada
www.mutek.org
Saturday & Sunday, September 5-6, 2010
Made Event presents
ELECTRIC ZOO
Saturday, September 4th
THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS
Paul van Dyk • Benny Benassi • ATB • Richie Hawtin
Major Lazer • Kaskade
Sunday, September 5th
ARMIN VAN BUUREN
Above & Beyond • John Digweed • Fedde Le Grand
Boys Noize • Bassnectar
**********
A-Trak • Adultnapper • Aeroplane • Afrojack • Chris Lake • Chuckie • Claude VonStroke • D. Ramirez • Davide Squillace • Diplo • Dirty South • Dixon • Erol Alkan • Flying Lotus • Funkagenda • Gareth Emery • Jon Hopkins • Joris Voorn • LA Riots • Laidback Luke • Marco Carola • Markus Schulz • Martin Buttrich • Martyn • Matthias Tanzmann • Paco Osuna • Paul Kalkbrenner • Rusko • Steve Aoki • Steve Bug • The Glitch Mob • Tom Middleton • Victor Calderone • Wolfgang Gartner + more to be announced!
Randall’s Island Park
Open Air Festival
11am-11pm Each Day, All Ages
$122 Two Day Passes Available
www.MadeEvent.com
www.ElectricZooFestival.com
NAME: JON HOPKINS
CITY/COUNTRY: LONDON/UK
WEBSITE: WWW.JONHOPKINS.CO.UK
TWITTER: @JON_HOPKINS_
FACEBOOK: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JONHOPKINSMUSIC
Have you played at MUTEK before? If this is your first time what are your impressions of this avant-garde electronic music festival?
No it's my first time. Looking forward to it, the line-up looks awesome, Ben Frost, King Midas Sound, Nathan Fake I've wanted to see for ages
Best DJ moment of 2010 so far
Every time the sound doesn't stop in the middle is the best time
Obsolete item you can't part with
There is some cheese in my fridge that is old but I don't want to throw it away as it might get better
Best recent gift
My friend got me a toy keyboard that we're going to open up and make angry
Next big purchase
None for now. I recently bought an entire new studio after 9 years with the same one
Best producer of 2010
Love the production on the Gonjasufi album.
What you miss most about home when abroad
My house, my bed, my own cooking, for about a day, then I get sick of it.
Indispensable travel item
Electric razor. My beard grows in a very weird pattern so I have to keep it in check.
Favorite touring memento
In Moscow a very strange woman came up to me during soundcheck and gave me a flower and a jar of red caviar. She was nice though.
What’s on your drink rider
Vodka for before the show, beer for during, vodka for after.
iPhone or Blackberry?
I have an old Nokia that works fine.
What’s on your iPod playlist
At the moment, some Bibio, Nosaj Thing, Martyn, Steve Mason, Jonsi & Alex
Favorite city/club to play
I tend to play more rock venues, concert halls and festivals than clubs. San Francisco shows have so far been awesome fun.
Favorite city/country for holiday
Tokyo/Japan, or somewhere in the Caribbean. Or Sicily. Or Scotland if the sun is out
Hobbies
Main interests beside music are food, drink and nature stuff. Otherwise hanging with friends, parties, reading, films, exploring, walking etc etc
Personal hero
David Lynch
Favorite book
Moon Palace, Paul Auster, or Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates by Tom Robbins
Guilty pleasure artist/record
The records of Don Henley.
What did you want to be when you were a kid
Amazingly, exactly what I am now. I am lucky.
Least favorite day job before DJing?
Playing piano in a hotel lobby on Sundays when I was 18. Getting ignored by old ladies while they ate their sandwiches. Not even being allowed to eat the same sandwiches.
Fictional character you identify with
The Lost Boys.
One thing you should always do
Drink before playing live.
One thing you should never do
Kill someone
New for you in 2010
Next single "Vessel" out in August, with Four Tet and Nathan Fake remixes. Also the first film with a solo soundtrack of mine is out in a few months. It's called "Monsters".
Upcoming tour dates
I'm not really on tour as I'm working on my next album, but have a few festivals this summer:
06/10 France @ Les 3 Elefants
06/27 N. Ireland @ Celtronic Festival
07/23 Switzerland @ Stone Hill Festival
08/19 Portugal @ Boom Festival
09/5-6 New York @ Electric Zoo
June 2-6, 2010
MUTEK 2010
International Festival of Digital Creativity and Electronic Music
Montreal, QC Canada
www.mutek.org
Saturday & Sunday, September 5-6, 2010
Made Event presents
ELECTRIC ZOO
Saturday, September 4th
THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS
Paul van Dyk • Benny Benassi • ATB • Richie Hawtin
Major Lazer • Kaskade
Sunday, September 5th
ARMIN VAN BUUREN
Above & Beyond • John Digweed • Fedde Le Grand
Boys Noize • Bassnectar
**********
A-Trak • Adultnapper • Aeroplane • Afrojack • Chris Lake • Chuckie • Claude VonStroke • D. Ramirez • Davide Squillace • Diplo • Dirty South • Dixon • Erol Alkan • Flying Lotus • Funkagenda • Gareth Emery • Jon Hopkins • Joris Voorn • LA Riots • Laidback Luke • Marco Carola • Markus Schulz • Martin Buttrich • Martyn • Matthias Tanzmann • Paco Osuna • Paul Kalkbrenner • Rusko • Steve Aoki • Steve Bug • The Glitch Mob • Tom Middleton • Victor Calderone • Wolfgang Gartner + more to be announced!
Randall’s Island Park
Open Air Festival
11am-11pm Each Day, All Ages
$122 Two Day Passes Available
www.MadeEvent.com
www.ElectricZooFestival.com
