Reuben Wu
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Reuben Wu | |
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![]() Wu performing in April 2009 | |
Background information | |
Born | 6 September 1975 |
Origin | Liverpool, England |
Genres | Electronic, synthpop, new wave |
Occupation(s) | artist, photographer, musician |
Instrument | Synthesizers |
Years active | 1999–present |
Labels | Nettwerk |
Website | www www |
Reuben Wu (born 1975) is a British artist, photographer, musician, and industrial designer. He is also known as a keyboardist, songwriter, and producer for the electronic band Ladytron.[1]
Biography
Reuben Wu was born in Liverpool in 1975, the son of Hongkonger immigrants. He trained in industrial design at Sheffield Hallam University, graduating in 1997.[2] Meanwhile, he met Daniel Hunt in Liverpool in 1994; they formed Ladytron in 1999, along with Mira Aroyo and Helen Marnie.[3][4] Wu finished his MSc in 1998 at the University of Liverpool. He worked as an industrial designer until going full-time with the band in 2002.[5]
Wu hand drew the artwork of the UK edition of Ladytron's first album 604 and began to document his travels on tour with the band via photography. His visual art career began in 2012 once the band took a break and he was able to focus full-time on his own creative output.[6] Wu had since created artistic content for GE, Apple's Mac OS Big Sur wallpapers, Jaguar Land Rover, Google and Interscope amongst others.[citation needed]
Wu and Hunt set up the Liverpool nightclubs Evol in 2003 and Korova in 2005.[7]
Wu produced and co-wrote two songs "Birds of Prey" and "Little Dreamer" for Christina Aguilera's 2010 album Bionic.[8]
In 2017, Wu photographed the artwork for Zedd and Alessia Cara's double platinum single "Stay" and Zedd & Liam Payne's single "Get Low" in collaboration with Samuel Burgess-Johnson.[citation needed]
Instruments
During Ladytron's live shows, Reuben Wu plays synthesizers. Korg MS-10 was his primary synthesizer for the first four Ladytron tours.
Wu played live the following instruments for the band:
- Korg MS-10, Roland SH-2 (604 tour);
- Korg MS-10, microKorg (Light & Magic tour);
- Korg MS-10, Korg MS2000B (Witching Hour tour);
- Korg MS-10, Korg MS2000B, Minimoog Voyager (Velocifero tour);
- Minimoog Voyager (Best of 00-10 and Gravity the Seducer tours).
On the early part of the Witching Hour tour, Ladytron used to name their four identical Korg MS2000B to enable easier installation on stage. His MS2000B keyboard was named Gloria.[9]
Discography
Ladytron
- 604 (2001)
- Light & Magic (2002)
- Witching Hour (2005)
- Velocifero (2008)
- Gravity the Seducer (2011)
- Ladytron (2019)
References
- ^ "Made up in China". The Times. News International. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
- ^ "SVALBARD 12 inch version By Reuben Wu". Blurb.com. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- ^ "3/29 – Ladytron – 'Best Of: 00 – 10'". Nettwerk Press Blog. 14 February 2011. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ^ "Videovision: Ladytron interview". 2002. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ^ "Designer Downtime". Core77.com. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- ^ BJ Panda Bear (3 April 2019). "Reuben Wu and his life with Ladytron and Photography". Flaunt.
- ^ Molyneux, Jess (17 June 2022). "Lost Liverpool music venue that was 'seen as a rite of passage' in the city". Liverpool Echo. Trinity Mirror.
- ^ "Christina Aguilera's 'Bionic' messed up by record company? Ladytron believe Christina Aguilera's latest album 'Bionic' was a commercial flop because her record company wanted to market the singer against Lady Gaga". Elle Canada. 28 March 2011.
- ^ "Artist Details". Korg. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
External links
- Reuben Wu's Official Website
- Reuben Wu's Official Instagram
- Interview with The Photographic Journal
- National Geographic: Surreal Desert Landscapes Painted on a Canvas Made of Sky
- The Adventure Photography of Ladytron Co-Founder Reuben Wu
- Reuben Wu discography at Discogs
- [1] ISO50 feature on Reuben Wu's photography