Junkie XL
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This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2011) |
| Junkie XL | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Tom Holkenborg |
| Also known as | Junkie XL, JXL |
| Born | December 8, 1967 |
| Origin | Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands |
| Genres | Electronica |
| Instruments | Keyboard instruments, guitar, drums[1] |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Labels | Artwerk |
| Associated acts | A Forest Called Mulu Mambo Jambo Nerve Weekend at Waikiki[1] |
| Website | www.junkiexl.com |
Tom Holkenborg (born December 8, 1967 in Lichtenvoorde, Gelderland, Netherlands), better known as Junkie XL or JXL, is a Dutch multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer. He uses the name JXL in cases where the term "Junkie" might cause offense.[2]. Says Holkenborg of his name, “I called myself Junkie XL from the point of view that once you’re completely overworked, you never want to go there again. The ‘XL’ stands for expanding limits; broadening up your vision.”
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Biography [edit]
Classically trained by his mother—herself an accredited music teacher—Holkenborg started playing piano when he was four year old, drums when he was eight, and guitar at 12. Already influenced by the psychedelic-pop of Pink Floyd and King Crimson, he took up the bass by age 14. After taking a job at a local music store selling keyboards and other digital gear, he began to have an appreciation for the combination of electronic and organic sounds. It was shortly after he discovered synthesizers that he joined the Dutch New Wave ensemble Weekend at Waikiki as a multi-instrumentalist and producer, touring extensively with the band even through parts of the former Soviet Union from 1988 - 1991. . In 1993, Holkenborg then produced the second metal album Almost a Dance by Dutch band The Gathering. He then expanded his horizon further to form the industrial rock band Nerve with vocalist Phil Mills and released 2 full-length albums in 1994 and 1995. During this period, Holkenborg built his music repertoire by freelance producing and quickly landed projects for bands such as Sepultura, Fear Factory, and Dog Eat Dog, as well as for video games, movies, and TV spots.
Holkenborg’s solo efforts include 1998’s Saturday Teenage Kick, 2000’s Big Sounds of the Drags and 2003’s Radio JXL: A Broadcast from the Computer Hell Cabin. The latter counted collaborations with Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan, Gary Numan, Robert Smith from The Cure, and Public Enemy’s Chuck D.. The U.S. release included his breakthrough remix of Elvis Presley's moderately successful 1968 single "A Little Less Conversation" for a 2002 Nike World Cup Commercial. The updated version unexpectedly[citation needed] catapulted Holkenborg into the spotlight. The song became a No. 1 hit in more than twenty countries. Today and Booming Back at You (BB@Y) are his latest solo efforts.[when?]
Holkenborg is known as a talented remixer, drawing critical acclaim with remixes of tracks by Britney Spears, Bloc Party, Michael Bublé, Coldplay, Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan, Rammstein, Scissor Sisters, Justin Timberlake, and the aforementioned Fear Factory. With an extraordinary[peacock term] work ethic, which routinely includes fourteen-hour days in his studio,[citation needed] Holkenborg keeps extremely busy creating the music for video games. He has contributed music to Sims theme music for the computer game The Sims 2, the soundtrack for the Xbox racing game Forza Motorsport, and the soundtrack for futuristic Xbox racing game Quantum Redshift. He has also provided music for the films Kingdom of Heaven, Domino, and DOA: Dead or Alive. His song "Today" was featured as one of the tracks on EA's Burnout: Legends, apparently[clarification needed] before the album was released. "Today" is also on EA's Burnout: Revenge. He also produced a remix of the God of War II theme. Holkenborg remixed Yonderboi's "People Always Talk About The Weather" in exchange of Yonderboi's remix of Today. His cover of the Siouxsie And The Banshees song "Cities in Dust", which featured Lauren Rocket, is also on EA's Burnout: Paradise.
Holkenborg is responsible for the SSX Blur original soundtrack, along with contributions to many of the other SSX games in the franchise, and EA's Need For Speed: Pro Street.
As of 2007, he is signed to Artwerk, the new Los Angeles-based label formed by Electronic Arts and Nettwerk One Music.[3]
In September 2007, Holkenborg joined the ArtEZ School of Music as its special teacher of Composition & Music Design.[4] He now lives in Malibu, CA.
Holkenborg's single "More" was released in Fall 2007.[5] Both Joost van Bellen and Gerald van der Kaap[6] have been shooting the video for the clip in New York together with female singer Lauren Rocket. "More" is also featured on the soundtrack of Need for Speed: ProStreet.
Tom Holkenborg remixed the Eagles of Death Metal's "Don't Speak" for the 2008 Nike advert "Take it to the Next Level".[7] On August 17,[year needed] his manager confirmed to a Dutch magazine that Junkie XL has written and produced 3 tracks for Britney Spears' upcoming album. He also added that it is still unknown whether the tracks will be on the record.
His song "Dark Territory" was included on the later generations of the now defunct Zune portable media player.
Discography [edit]
- Saturday Teenage Kick (1997)
- Big Sounds of the Drags (2000)
- Radio JXL: A Broadcast from the Computer Hell Cabin (2003)
- Today (2006)
- Booming Back at You (2008)
- Synthesized (2012)
Featured games [edit]
- The Need for Speed (1995)
- Test Drive 5 (1998)
- Need for Speed: High Stakes (1999)
- Demolition Racer: No Exit (2000)
- Gran Turismo 3 (2001)
- Quantum Redshift (2002)
- TD Overdrive (2002)
- EVE Online (2003)
- Need for Speed: Underground (2003)
- The Sims 2: Nightlife (2005)
- Forza Motorsport (2005)
- Destroy All Humans! (2005)
- Burnout Revenge (2005)
- Burnout Legends (2005)
- The Matrix: Path of Neo (2005)
- Infected (video game) (2005)
- Need for Speed: Carbon (2006)
- Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova 2 (2007)
- God of War 2 (2007)
- SSX Blur (2007)
- FIFA 08 (2007)
- Need For Speed: ProStreet (2007)
- Burnout Paradise (2008)
- FIFA Street 3 (2008)
- Mirror's Edge (2008)
- The Sims 3: Late Night (2010)
- The Sims 3 (console) (2010)
- FIFA 09 (2008)
- Tap Tap Dance (2008)
- UEFA Euro 2004 (2004)
- Saints Row The Third (2011)
- The Sims Freeplay (2011)
References [edit]
- ^ a b Muzikant – Tom Holkenborg. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
- ^ IMO Records. "JunkieXL Biography", IMO Records' Retrieved on 29 February 2011.
- ^ "Junkie XL signs to computer game related record label". Side-line.com. 1999-02-22. Retrieved 2012-03-25.
- ^ "Junkie XL becomes professor at College". Side-line.com. 1999-02-22. Retrieved 2012-03-25.
- ^ "Junkie XL goes for a fuck more". Side-line.com. 1999-02-22. Retrieved 2012-03-25.
- ^ "geraldvanderkaap.com". geraldvanderkaap.com. Retrieved 2012-03-25.
- ^ "New Junkie XL remix for Nike advert". Side-line.com. 1999-02-22. Retrieved 2012-03-25.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Junkie XL |
- Junkie XL official website
- Junkie XL at the Internet Movie Database
- JunkieXL YouTube Video Page at YouTube
- JunkieXL Interview with Alchemy SBS Radio 2008
- "JunkieXL – Mass Consumption", JIVE Magazine, May 2, 2005
- Interview with Garrett Shatzer for Onbeat, 2006
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