Andrea Parker (DJ)
Encyclopedia
Andrea Parker is a British electronic music
producer
, record label proprietor and DJ
from Yalding
, Kent
. Despite having a background in cello
playing, Parker was heavily influenced by electronic pioneers such as Art Of Noise and Jean Michel Jarre
. She formed the group Inky Blacknuss with producers Alex Knight and Ian Tregoning in 1993 for Andrew Weatherall
's Sabrettes label
, before signing to hip hop
label Mo' Wax
for her solo output, releasing her debut album Kiss My Arp (a reference to the vintage ARP
synthesisers) in 1999. Electronic music producer David Morley was an important part of her musical output as co-writer and almost all her studio work took place in his studio in Germany (now Belgium).
In 2002 Parker formed the Touchin' Bass imprint after spliting from Mo' Wax, citing problems with the label's management merger, and the subsequent hold up in releasing any of her further projects. With her long-time production partner David Morley, her output became rooted in a darker, less organic sound than her work with Mo' Wax. Her output referenced classic electro music from the 1980s, relying heavily on the use of drum machine
s such as the Roland TR-808
, as well as electro's Miami Bass
connection by collaborating with DJ Assault
and DJ Godfather on her Freaky Bitches 12".
A retrospective called Here's One I Made Earlier… (a reference to the British television show Blue Peter
) was released in 2007.
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, record label proprietor and DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
from Yalding
Yalding
Yalding is a village and part of Yalding civil parish in the Maidstone District of Kent, England.The village is situated six miles south-west of Maidstone at a point where the Rivers Teise and Beult join the River Medway....
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. Despite having a background in cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
playing, Parker was heavily influenced by electronic pioneers such as Art Of Noise and Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel André Jarre is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and New Age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and...
. She formed the group Inky Blacknuss with producers Alex Knight and Ian Tregoning in 1993 for Andrew Weatherall
Andrew Weatherall
Andrew Weatherall is a DJ, producer, and remixer.Andrew, Terry Farley, Cymon Eckel and Steve Mayes started Boy's Own initially as a fanzine commenting on fashion, records, football, and other issues...
's Sabrettes label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, before signing to hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
label Mo' Wax
Mo' Wax
Mo' Wax was a UK-based record label owned by James Lavelle, who founded it in the early 1990s with Tim Goldsworthy. Steve Finan became co-owner shortly after. The label came to recognition for being at the forefront of trip hop, turntablism and alternative rap during the mid-90s...
for her solo output, releasing her debut album Kiss My Arp (a reference to the vintage ARP
ARP Instruments, Inc.
ARP Instruments, Inc. was an American manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, founded by Alan Robert Pearlman in 1969. Best known for its line of synthesizers that emerged in the early 1970s, ARP closed its doors in 1981 due to financial difficulties...
synthesisers) in 1999. Electronic music producer David Morley was an important part of her musical output as co-writer and almost all her studio work took place in his studio in Germany (now Belgium).
In 2002 Parker formed the Touchin' Bass imprint after spliting from Mo' Wax, citing problems with the label's management merger, and the subsequent hold up in releasing any of her further projects. With her long-time production partner David Morley, her output became rooted in a darker, less organic sound than her work with Mo' Wax. Her output referenced classic electro music from the 1980s, relying heavily on the use of drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
s such as the Roland TR-808
Roland TR-808
The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer was one of the first programmable drum machines . Introduced by the Roland Corporation in early 1980, it was originally manufactured for use as a tool for studio musicians to create demos. Like earlier Roland drum machines, it does not sound very much like a real...
, as well as electro's Miami Bass
Miami bass
Miami bass , is a type of hip hop music, that became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Its roots are directly linked to the Electro-funk sound of the early 1980s, pioneered by Afrika Bambataa & The Soulsonic Force and later on by UK-based musician Paul Hardcastle...
connection by collaborating with DJ Assault
DJ Assault
Craig De Sean Adams , better known by his stage name DJ Assault is a hip hop musician from Detroit, Michigan. Collecting 12" and 45's since age 7, he would go on to be one of the most recognized DJs and producers of Detroit Dance music.-Biography:Together with producer Mr...
and DJ Godfather on her Freaky Bitches 12".
A retrospective called Here's One I Made Earlier… (a reference to the British television show Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
) was released in 2007.
Discography
- Angular Art (Infonet, 1995)
- Melodious Thunk (Mo' Wax, 1996)
- The Rocking Chair (Mo' Wax, 1996)
- Ballbreaker / Some Other Level (Mo' Wax, 1998)
- DJ-Kicks: Andrea ParkerDJ-Kicks: Andrea ParkerDJ-Kicks: Andrea Parker is a DJ mix album, mixed by Andrea Parker. It was released on 31 August 1998 on the Studio !K7 independent record label as part of the DJ-Kicks series.- Track listing :#"It's No Good " - Depeche Mode - 4:41...
(!K7 Records, 1998) - Kiss My Arp album (Mo' Wax, 1999)
- The Unknown (Mo' Wax, 1999)
- The Dark Ages (Quatermass, 2001)
- Freaky Bitches (Touchin' Bass, 2002)
- Game Over (Touchin' Bass, 2003)
- Here's One I Made Earlier… (Touchin' Bass, 2007)