The Gaslamp Killer
The Gaslamp Killer | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | William Benjamin Bensussen |
Born | [1] | November 7, 1982
Origin | San Diego, California, United States |
Genres | Psychedelia, underground hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Producer, DJ |
Instrument(s) | Turntables, Drums, sampler, keyboard |
Years active | 2000–present |
Labels | Brainfeeder,[2] Cuss Records, Finders Keepers, Gaslamp Killer Music |
Website | thegaslampkiller |
William Benjamin Bensussen (born November 7, 1982), better known by his stage name The Gaslamp Killer, is an American alternative hip hop producer and DJ based in Los Angeles, California.[3]
Career
He grew up in San Diego, California, where he became a DJ in the Gaslamp district. His sets often ruined the music vibe in the clubs, earning him the nickname "The Gaslamp Killer".[4]
After moving to Los Angeles in 2006, he helped found Low End Theory, "L.A.'s monolithic weekly showcase for uncut beat-driven tracks".[5]
The Gaslamp Killer has played at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival,[6] the Austin Psych Fest,[7] the Decibel Festival,[8] and the Voodoo Fest.[9]
He produced Gonjasufi's debut album, A Sufi and a Killer, with Flying Lotus and Mainframe in 2010.[10]
In August 2012, he released a single, "Flange Face" b/w "Seven Years of Bad Luck for Fun", which was listed by Pitchfork as their "Best New Track" of July 2012.[11] His debut album, Breakthrough, was released in September 2012.[12]
In 2015, he released a live album, The Gaslamp Killer Experience: Live in Los Angeles.[13] In 2016, he released a studio album, Instrumentalepathy.[14] In 2020, he released his latest album 'Heart Math'.
Personal life
He is Jewish, and his ancestry includes Turkish, Lebanese, Mexican and Lithuanian.[15][16] His great-uncle is activist Herbert Aptheker
Discography
Studio albums
- Breakthrough (2012)
- Instrumentalepathy (2016)
- Break Stuff (2019)
- Heart Math (2020)
Live albums
- The Gaslamp Killer Experience: Live in Los Angeles (2015)
EPs
- The Killer Robots (2008) (with Free the Robots)
- My Troubled Mind (2009)
- Death Gate (2010)
Singles
- "Impulse" (2010) (with Daedelus)
- "Flange Face" b/w "Seven Years of Bad Luck for Fun" (2012)
- "Brass Sabbath" (2013) (with Jungle by Night)
- "Murder Man" (2015) (with Mophono)
- "Residual Tingles" (2016)
Mixes
- Gaslamp Killers (2007)
- It's a Rocky Road: Volume 1 (2007)
- It's a Rocky Road: Volume 2 (2007)
- I Spit on Your Grave (2008)
- We Make It Good Mix Series Volume 5 (2008)
- Akuma No Chi Ga Odoru (2009)
- All Killer: Finders Keepers Records 1-20 Mixed by The Gaslamp Killer (2009)
- Hell and the Lake of Fire Are Waiting for You! (2009)
- Vs Finders Keepers (2009)
- A Decade of Flying Lotus (2010)
- Helio x GLK (2013)
- Lavender AM: Meditation Mix (2013)
Productions
- Flying Lotus - "GNG BNG" from Los Angeles (2008)
- The Beastmaster - Have You Ever Bled from Your Eyes? Do You Want To? (2009)
- Gonjasufi - "Kobwebz" and "Kowboyz & Indians" from A Sufi and a Killer (2010)
Guest appearances
- Free the Robots - Free the Robots (2008)
- Prefuse 73 - Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian (2009)
- Nocando - "Hurry Up and Wait" from Jimmy the Lock (2010)
Compilation appearances
- The Change Up EP-V.01 (2006)
- T7L: Audio Promo Disc 707 (2007)
- ArtDontSleep Presents... From L.A. with Love (2007)
- Echo Expansion (2007)
- Secret Hangout (2007)
- Brainfeeder Sampler (2008)
- Warp Records Spring 2008 (2008)
- Stussy x TurntableLab - Beats (2008)
- Dublab Presents: Echo Expansion (2009)
- Choice on 12 (2010)
- Radio Galaxia (2010)
- Low End Theory Podcast (2010)
References
- ^ The Gastlamp Killer Facebook post. Facebook. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ "Breakthrough by The Gaslamp Killer". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ Glazer, Joshua (November 20, 2010). "Gaslamp Killer at the center of the L.A. beat". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Weiss, Jeff (September 8, 2010). "The Gaslamp Killer: His troubled mind". Resident Advisor.
- ^ Krimper, Michael (August 12, 2009). "Sound of vertigo: Why the Gaslamp Killer leads listeners into a hallucinatory odyssey". San Francisco Bay Guardian. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ Rubin, Mike (May 25, 2010). "Lost, With Laptops, in Psychedelic Space". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ Dewitt, Matthew (April 12, 2010). "Austin Psych Fest 3: The Gaslamp Killer". Austinist. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ Segal, Dave (January 26, 2010). "The Motherfucker of Invention". The Stranger. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ "10 Must-See Acts at Voodoo Fest: The Gaslamp Killer". Rolling Stone. October 15, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
- ^ Tewksbury, Drew (March 15, 2010). "Tonight: The Gaslamp Killer and Mainframe at Gonjasufi record release". LA Weekly.
- ^ Cohen, Ian (July 31, 2012). "The Gaslamp Killer: "Flange Face" (ft. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson)". Pitchfork.
- ^ Murray, Robin (July 11, 2012). "The Gaslamp Killer Completes New Album 'Breakthrough' due on September 17th". Clash.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (October 5, 2015). "Watch Gaslamp Killer Experience's Trippy 'Ritual' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ Leight, Elias (August 11, 2016). "The Gaslamp Killer Announces 'Instrumentalepathy' Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ Lewis, John (October 18, 2010). "The Gaslamp Killer: A bright spark hits the decks". Metro.
- ^ Beeber, Steven Lee (August 10, 2012). "The Gaslamp Killer / Jeremiah Jae". Spex.
External links
- Official website
- The Gaslamp Killer discography at Discogs
- Alternative hip hop musicians
- American DJs
- American hip hop record producers
- Living people
- Musicians from California
- People from San Diego
- Jewish musicians
- American people of Lithuanian-Jewish descent
- American people of Turkish-Jewish descent
- Jewish hip hop record producers
- Brainfeeder artists
- Record producers from California