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Tim Hecker

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Tim Hecker
Hecker performing at Mutek 2012
Background information
Also known asJetone
Born1974 (age 49–50)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
OriginMontreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres
Years active1996–present
Labels
Websitesunblind.net

Tim Hecker is an electronic musician and sound artist based in Los Angeles, United States and Montreal, Canada. Hecker previously recorded under the moniker Jetone, but has become known internationally for his ambient recordings mainly released through Kranky under his own name.[1][2] He has released eight albums and a number of EPs in addition to collaborations with artists such as Ben Frost, Daniel Lopatin, and Aidan Baker.[3] His latest album Love Streams was released on his new label 4AD on 8 April 2016.[4]

Early life

Born in Vancouver, Hecker is the son of two art teachers who spent his formative years developing an interest in music. He moved to Montreal in 1998 to study at Concordia University and explore his artistic interests further.[5] After completing his studies, Hecker pursued a professional career outside music and worked as a political analyst for the Canadian Government.[6] After leaving his employment in 2006 he enrolled at McGill University to study for a PhD,[7] with a thesis on urban noise that was published in 2014.[8] He has also worked as a lecturer in sound culture the Art History and Communications department.[9] He initially performed internationally as a DJ (Jetone) and electronic musician.[5]

Career

His early career was characterized by an interest in techno, using the Jetone moniker he released three albums and performed DJ sets.[10] By 2001 he became disenchanted with the musical direction of the Jetone project. In 2001, Hecker released the album Haunt Me, Haunt Me Do It Again,[11] under his own name through the label Alien8.[10] It explored abstract notions of sound and collages that was described as 'very brutal, bloody, bone-crushing experiences'.[12] In 2006 he moved to Kranky where he released his fourth album Harmony In Ultraviolet.[10][13] His current method of working involves the use of pipe organ sounds which are digitally processed and distorted. For the album Ravedeath, 1972, Hecker travelled to Iceland where together with Ben Frost, where he recorded parts in a church. In November 2010, Alien8 re-released Hecker's debut album on vinyl.[14][15]

Live performances contain improvisations by processing organ sounds that are manipulated, with great fluctuations in volume.[12]

In 2012, Hecker collaborated with Daniel Lopatin (who records as Oneohtrix Point Never) on an improvisatory project [16] which became Instrumental Tourist (2012). Following 2013's Virgins, Hecker convened once again in Reykjavik for sessions across 2014 and 2015, to create what would become Love Streams. Collaborators include Ben Frost, Johann Johannsson, Kara-Lis Coverdale and Grimur Helgason, whilst the 15th century choral works by Josquin des Prez birthed the foundations of the album.[17] In February 2016, it was announced that Hecker had joined 4AD while his eight album was released in April of that year.[18] Hecker admits to thinking about ideas like “liturgical aesthetics after Yeezus” and the “transcendental voice in the age of auto-tune” during its creation.[19]

In addition to touring with Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Sigur Rós and recording with the likes of Fly Pan Am, Hecker has also collaborated with Christof Migone, Martin Tétreault and Aidan Baker. He has also contributed remixes to other artists, including Isis.[5]

Discography

Tim Hecker

Albums

EPs and other

Collaborations

As Jetone

  • Autumnumonia (2000)
  • Ultramarin (2001)
  • Sundown (2006)

Credits

  • Tennis - 'Self-Heal Mishap' (Undertaker Mix) (2003)
  • Isis - 'Carry' (2004)
  • Isis - 'Carry' (Tim Hecker Remix Second Version) (2004)
  • TV Pow - 'Whiteout' (2005)
  • Ensemble - 'Disown, Delete' (2006)
  • Colin Stetson - 'Time Is Advancing With Fitful Irregularity White Pulse Mix' (2009)
  • Bell Orchestre - 'Water / Light / Shifts' (Remix) (2009)
  • Genghis Tron - 'Board Up The House' (Tim Hecker Remix) (2009)
  • Ellen Allien - 'Sun The Rain' (Tim Hecker Remix) (2011)
  • John Cale - Suffocation Raga For John Cale (Tim Hecker Transition) (2012)
  • Mogwai - 'Rano Pano' (Tim Hecker Remix) (2012)
  • Ellen Allien - 'Sun The Rain' (Tim Hecker Rmx) (2013)
  • The Field - 'No. No...' (Tim Hecker Mix) (2014)
  • Hundred Waters - 'Down From The Rafters' (Tim Hecker Remix) (2014)
  • Dorian Concept - 'The Sky Opposite' (Tim Hecker Remix) (2015)

Art

Hecker occasionally makes sound installations and has collaborated with visual artists such as Stan Douglas[20] and Charles Stankievech.[21]

Hecker, along with other musicians Ben Frost and Steve Goodman (Kode9) and artists Piotr Jakubowicz, Marcel Weber (MFO) and Manuel Sepulveda (Optigram), provided music for Unsound Festival’s sensory installation, 'Ephemera'.[22]

Film

Hecker composed the score for 2016's The Free World,[23] selected to be shown in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.[24]

References

  1. ^ "Tim Hecker". Kranky.net. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  2. ^ "Tim Hecker". Mutek.org. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  3. ^ Rhoades, Lindsey (April 29, 2016). "Tim Hecker Albums From Worst To Best". Stereogum. SpinMedia. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  4. ^ "4AD". 4AD.com. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  5. ^ a b c "Spin Interview 2013" Christopher R. Weingarten, 'Tim Hecker: Attack of the Drones', Spin Magazine; October 10, 2013
  6. ^ "Guestlist on Pitchfork" 'Guest Lists: Tim Hecker', Pitchfork Media, October 27, 2006
  7. ^ "McGill Daily" John Watson 'Bring the noise', The McGill Daily, April 5, 2011
  8. ^ Hecker, Timothy (2014). The era of megaphonics: on the productivity of loud sound, 1880-1930 (Ph.D.). McGill University.
  9. ^ "Quietus Interview" Ryan Alexander Diduck 'Darkness More Than Anything: Tim Hecker Interviewed', The Quietus, March 21, 2012
  10. ^ a b c Hampson, Simon (March 3, 2007). "Tim Hecker interview". Cyclic Defrost. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
  11. ^ "Tim Hecker - Haunt Me, Haunt Me Do It Again". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  12. ^ a b "RA: Tim Hecker: Imaginary countries". Residentadvisor.net. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  13. ^ "Tim Hecker - Harmony In Ultraviolet". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  14. ^ "Tim Hecker - Haunt Me, Haunt Me Do It Again (vinyl 2010)". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  15. ^ "Tim Hecker - Haunt Me". Alien8recordings.com. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  16. ^ "Instrumental Tourist review" Mark Richardson, 'Tim Hecker/Daniel Lopatin Instrumental Tourist review', Pitchfork, November 30, 2012
  17. ^ "Tim Hecker Announces New Album Love Streams". Pitchfork.com. 2016-01-27. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  18. ^ de Franchis, Vittoria (February 2, 2016). "Tim Hecker joins 4AD and announces new album 'Love Streams' | Inverted Audio". inverted-audio.com. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  19. ^ "News | Tim Hecker Announces New Album". The Quietus. 2016-01-27. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  20. ^ "En/Of". Bottrop-boy.com. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  21. ^ "Loveland". Stankievech.net. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  22. ^ "Ephemera". Unsound.pl. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  23. ^ "Tim Hecker Scoring Jason Lew's 'The Free World'". Film Music Reporter. 2015-12-14. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  24. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 26, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Interviews

Further reading