Evian Christ

Evian Christ

Joshua Leary (born 11 June 1989), better known by the stage name Evian Christ, is an English electronic music record producer, disc jockey and songwriter from Ellesmere Port, UK. He is signed to Tri Angle Records and to Kanye West’s publishing house, DONDA. He released his debut mixtape, Kings And Them, in 2012, and a further EP on Tri Angle, Waterfall, in 2014.

In August 2015 he pulled out of Reading Festival after claiming to have been detained by security staff at the Leeds sister festival.[1][2]

Life and career

He grew up in the small town of Ellesmere Port, near Liverpool. He began making music after playing around with vintage keyboards belonging to his father, who initially made Kraftwerk-influenced synth music before becoming a trance DJ in the late ‘90s.[3][4][5] At 19 he produced a selection of J.Dilla influenced soul edits, and intended to release them until the label he had partnered with went out of business. While training to be a primary school teacher at Edge Hill University, Leary produced the eight tracks that would make up his debut mixtape, Kings And Them. Made music in his garage on Cubase.[6] In December 2011, he posted three of the tracks on YouTube under the name Evian Christ, apparently only for his friends to hear. They were discovered by Dummy Magazine and other music blogs, which led to a search for his identity.[7][8]

After the tracks blew up, Leary responded to a message from Tri Angle Records founder Robin Carolan, who signed him to the label. In February 2012, Tri Angle released Kings And Them, a free mixtape compiling his musical output thus far. Days after, Leary made his live debut at a Tri Angle showcase in London alongside Balam Acab, Romy xx, and The Haxan Cloak. Directly after graduating from his education program, Leary left the UK to tour in America. In July 2012, Tri Angle rereleased Kings And Them as a limited edition 12” EP featuring remastered versions of mixtape tracks “Fuck It None Of Y’All Don’t Rap,” “Thrown Like Jacks,” “Drip,” and “MYD.” [9][10]

In 2013, Kanye West reached out to Leary to produce material for his then-upcoming record Yeezus. West flew him out to Paris, where he worked in-house engineers and producers to create album track “I’m In It.” By the end of the year, West signed Evian Christ to his publishing house, DONDA.[11] In the same year, Leary attended the Red Bull Music Academy in New York City. [12]

Leary released his debut EP, Waterfall, in March 2014. He also announced work for the follow-up to Yeezus, and hosted Trance Parties in the UK. In 2015, collaborated with artist David Rudnick to create a temporary art installation at London’s ICA, and expanded his Trance Parties, with the fourth edition taking place in Liverpool, London and Sheffield.[13][14]

Style and Influences

He was always inspired by his dad’s trance DJing and then went on to discover R&B and hip-hop through MTV Base. Later, he stumbled upon experimental electronica and ambient music through Grouper, Tim Hecker and Ben Frost.[15] He tends to describes his music as deconstructionist, using samples from mainstream rap artists like Tyga but combined with his own dark, industrial beats.

Discography

Mixtapes

Kings and Them - Released 2/1/2012 Triangle Records

EPs

Kings and Them - Released 7/11/2012 Triangle Records

Waterfall - Released 3/17/2014 Triangle Records

References

  1. ↑ Jack Shepherd (30 August 2015). "Evian Christ cancels Reading festival appearance after being 'trapped in a cage' at Leeds by staff". The Independent. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "DJ Evian Christ not playing Reading set after being 'put in cage' at Leeds". BBC Newsbeat. 30 August 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  4. ↑ Hutchinson, Kate. "Evian Christ: from teacher training to Kanye West's inner circle". the Guardian. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  5. ↑ "Rising: Evian Christ". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  6. ↑ Hutchinson, Kate. "Evian Christ: from teacher training to Kanye West's inner circle". the Guardian. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  7. ↑ "There is an anonymous producer you actually need to hear and s/he is called Evian Christ". www.dummymag.com. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  8. ↑ "Rising: Evian Christ". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  9. ↑ "Rising: Evian Christ". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  10. ↑ ""Make the weirdest shit you can think of": Evian Christ interviewed". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  11. ↑ "My 2013: Evian Christ – June". Dazed. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  12. ↑ "RBMA alumni". Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  13. ↑ "Evian Christ confirms work on new Kanye West album, shares remix of Young Thug’s ‘Stoner’". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  14. ↑ "Evian Christ: Lord of the Trance". Dazed. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  15. ↑ ""Make the weirdest shit you can think of": Evian Christ interviewed". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. Retrieved 2016-01-05.

External links

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