Max Cooper (electronica musician)

Max Cooper
Born Belfast, Northern Ireland
Origin London
Genres Techno
Ambient music
Years active 2007–present
Labels Fields
Website Official website

Max Cooper (born 1980) is a London-based[1] electronica and techno producer who has been releasing music since 2007. He has received positive criticism from magazines such as Clash[2] and his best-known release is his debut album Human, eleven tracks that carved out his own artistic space in creating highly-produced, emotional electronica made for both the dancefloor and sit-down concerts.[3]

Cooper has released more than seventy original tracks and remixes and more than twenty accompanying video works,[4][5] primarily on London label FIELDS and German label Traum Schallplatten.[6] His remixes range from avant-garde composers Michael Nyman and Nils Frahm, to bands like Hot Chip and Au Revoir Simone, to techno acts such as Agoria and Dominik Eulberg.[7]

Early life and education

Cooper was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland to parents of Australian descent.[8] He was inspired to become a geneticist after reading a Stephen Hawking book as a child.[8] Although he did not receive formal music training, Cooper started playing violin at age 12, but eventually stopped: "I never enjoyed it [violin] and didn't pursue it to any great degree—the music wasn't right to be honest."[7]

Cooper received his Ph.D. in computational biology from Nottingham University in 2008.[8] During his doctoral training, his research interests focused on modelling the evolution of gene regulatory networks—he specifically examined the evolution of feed-forward loops,[9] and studied the evolutionary influences of binding site organisation during transcriptional processes.[10] After completing his doctoral work, Cooper held a brief post-doctoral position as a geneticist at University College London.[1][11]

Career

Music

In 2010, Cooper decided to focus entirely on music production and his music is influenced by his science background.[1][12] In terms of musical references, Cooper has cited Jon Hopkins, Sigur Rós and Ólafur Arnalds, adding that his influences are "mainly electronica more than techno". By 2012, he was voted in the top 20 live acts of the year for two years running on Resident Advisor [13][14] and named a Beatport artist of the year.[15]

Cooper released a two-part EP, Conditions One, on 10 December 2012, which also featured Braids, Ghosting Season and D/R/U/G/S (aka Callum Wright).[16] That same month, he achieved the number 5 spot on BeatPort's "Top Artists of 2012"[17] and was voted a "top 20" live act by the readers of canonical electronic music website Resident Advisor.[18]

Cooper encourages fans to produce their own videos for his music, with the results displayed on his website.[19][20] He released a music video for the song "Pleasures" that was animated by artist Cédric de Smedt.[21]

Cooper revealed that some of the artwork on his album covers[22] was inspired by his flatmate, who is a graphic designer.[23]

In December 2013, Cooper announced the release date of his debut album Human as 10 March 2014. The album was preceded by the single "Adrift", which was released on 16 December 2013. In regard to "Adrift", Cooper explained that it is "more of a personal piece of music for me than a club track, which is the approach I’ve taken for the whole album".[24] Human received critical acclaim and was described by Clash as "sumptuous, enticingly beautiful".[25] The release was followed by two remix EPs, Inhuman One and Inhuman Two, with remixes from Rodriguez Jr., Lusine, Harvey McKay, Jack Dixon and Olaf Stuut.[26]

In September 2014, Cooper launched his debut audiovisual show Emergence at the Decibel Festival in Seattle. Performed entirely live and solo, it is a one-man show that ties together his scientific, experimental, musical and visual interests in a single conceptual festival artwork and is on tour in Europe.[27][28][29][30]

In early December 2014, Max Cooper released his follow-up to Human, the "Kindred EP" featuring singer Kathrin deBoer from trip-hop band Belleruche and remixes from David August and Throwing Snow.[26] The EP features Cooper's experiments with the sansula instrument and the polyphonic analogue Prophet 08 synth [31] and was described by Fact (UK magazine) as a "gorgeous slice of electronica".[32] During the summer before the Kindred release, Cooper released "Tileyard Improvisations Vol. 1", a collaboration fusing jazz and electronica.[33]

Max Cooper released his second collaboration with classically-trained pianist Tom Hodge, "Artefact" as well as a remix EP of the same name. The music combines piano music with electronica and glitch and was inspired in part by an excursion Cooper made to the Teotihuacan pyramids in Mexico.[26][34]

Live performance

Cooper has performed at numerous festivals, including Glastonbury Festival,[35]Fuji Rock Festival,[36]Bestival,[37] Latitude Festival,[38] Awakenings Festival,[39] MUTEK,[40] Amsterdam Dance Event [41] and Decibel Festival.[42] He has also performed live with artists such as Echaskech[43] and Baltimoroder.[44]

Other projects

As of 2011, Cooper is working with software company Liine on music-production software that is influenced by science.[45] In December 2012, he wrote a blog for British music magazine NME.[46]

Equipment

Cooper uses Ableton equipment and Akai APC40 controllers.[47] He is also an early adopter of unusual club sound systems, performing in August 2013 on a 3D sound system called "4DSOUND".[48]

Selected discography

[49]

References

  1. ↑ "Max Cooper biography". residentadvisor.net. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  2. ↑ "Max Cooper announces debut album Human – hear tearjerking new single 'Adrift' - FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.
  3. ↑ Donaghy, John (2 April 2012). "Watch the new video for Max Cooper’s "Micron," released today on Beatport". beatport.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  4. ↑ Max Cooper. YouTube.
  5. ↑ "Max Cooper". beatport.com.
  6. 1 2 Polly Lavin (15 November 2010). "Amalgamating the rhythm - Max Cooper presents his vision". ibiza-voice.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 JontySkrufff (9 November 2010). "Max Cooper: I Don’t Believe in Miracles (interview)". trackitdown.net. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  8. ↑ Cooper MB, Loose M, Brookfield JFY. Evolutionary modelling of feed forward loops in gene regulatory networks. Biosystems 2008; 91: 231-244.
  9. ↑ Cooper MB, Loose M, Brookfield JFY. The evolutionary influence of binding site organisation on gene regulatory networks. Biosystems 2009; 96: 185-193.
  10. ↑ "Interview: Max Cooper". The Burlington Project. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  11. ↑ Taylor, Ken (12 July 2012). "Max Cooper". beatport.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  12. ↑ "RA Poll". Resident Advisor.
  13. ↑ "RA Poll". Resident Advisor.
  14. ↑ "Beatport News names its Top Artists of 2012". Beatport Buzz.
  15. ↑ "FREE MP3: MAX COOPER (D/R/U/G/S REMIX)". mixmag.net. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  16. ↑ "Beatport News names its Top Artists of 2012". beatport.com. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  17. ↑ "RA Poll: Top 20 live acts of 2012". www.residentadvisor.net. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  18. ↑ Max Cooper fan video page
  19. ↑ Murray, Robin (4 November 2011). "Max Cooper Unveils Fan Video". clashmusic.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  20. ↑ Bennett, Neil (17 December 2012). "Cédric de Smedt's striking animated music video for Max Cooper's hypnotic Pleasures". digitalartsonline.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  21. ↑ Ben Slater. "Max Cooper - Positive Mutation". Behance. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  22. ↑ Forsyth, Laura (2011-11-28). "Max Cooper: Genetically Enhanced". theskinny.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-02-22.
  23. ↑ Coultate, Aaron (10 December 2013). "The UK techno producer's first full-length is due out in March 2014.". residentadvisor.net. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  24. ↑ "Premiere: Max Cooper - Empyrean". Clash Magazine.
  25. 1 2 3 "Max Cooper". beatport.com.
  26. ↑ "Max Cooper on emergence and his new live show - Ableton". ableton.com.
  27. ↑ "Max Cooper - Emergence Tour". Max Cooper.
  28. ↑ "World Party Calendar 2015 :: International Clubbing Event Listing:: Club, Music, Dance, Parties, Events, Dates, Venues & Line ups". ibiza-voice.com.
  29. ↑ "RA News: Max Cooper takes Emergence on the road through Europe". Resident Advisor.
  30. ↑ "Max Cooper - Releases - Kindred EP". Max Cooper.
  31. ↑ "Max Cooper returns with Kindred EP — listen to the starry-eyed 'Origins' - FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.
  32. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Max-Cooper-Feat-Kathrin-DeBoer-Quentin-Collins-Tileyard-Improvisations-Vol-1/release/6186768
  33. ↑ Chris Kokiousis. "Max Cooper and Tom Hodge Announce New Collaborative EP". XLR8R.
  34. ↑ http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/line-up/line-up-2014/?artist
  35. ↑ "FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL '15". FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL'15.
  36. ↑ Murray, Robin (31 August 2012). "Bestival 2012 To Be Live Streamed". clashmusic.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  37. ↑ "Latitude Reveals More Acts For the 2015 Festival!". Latitude Festival.
  38. ↑ "Max Cooper". Awakenings.
  39. ↑ "Elektra and MUTEK Inhabit the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal to Celebrate their Combined 15th Anniversary". MUTEK.
  40. ↑ "Extra 4DSOUND show Max Cooper at ADE Soundacademy - Blog - Amsterdam Dance Event". Amsterdam Dance Event.
  41. ↑ Reynaldo, Shawn (25 September 2012). "Max Cooper's Decibel Mix". XLR8R. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  42. ↑ Saque Ferreira (10 August 2011). "Sat 3rd Sep @ Ginglik". altsounds.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  43. ↑ Di Tullio, Joanna (20 September 2012). "IN THE MIX: MAX COOPER". digboston.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  44. ↑ "Max Cooper on his 120 track live set and production techniques". lostinmusik.net. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  45. ↑ Max Cooper (5 December 2012). "Why Skrillex And Co.'s EDM Explosion Is Something To Celebrate". nme.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  46. ↑ Robertswaine86 (26 May 2010). "Socialeyes Presents Max Cooper At Corsica Studios". spoonfed.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  47. ↑ Dan White (24 October 2013). "The 4D Soundsystem: Max Cooper Interview". djtechtools.com. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  48. ↑ "MAX COOPER - Releases". Beatport. Beatport, LLC. 2004–2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.

External links

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