Culprit 1
Encyclopedia
Culprit 1 aka Culprit One (born James Hannam) is a London
-based DJ, remixer and electronica
producer. He is considered 'The DJ Shadow
of Wales' by BBC Radio 1
and 'The Bastard Son of Orbital
and RJD2
' by XFM
.
Hannam holds a degree in music from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and attended Crosskeys College
in the Welsh valleys, where the Manic Street Preachers
also studied. His music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 1
by Steve Lamacq
, Zane Lowe
, Bethan Elfyn
, Annie Mac
, Annie Nightingale
, Colin Murray
and Huw Stephens
(who contributed sleeve notes to first album 'Running in Order'). Eddy Temple-Morris
, Adam Walton
and Radio 101 (Croatia)
have also supported Culprit 1 releases.
'What I Use', the first recording made under the Culprit 1 moniker, was released in July 2003 on Boobytrap. Hannam went on to perform at America’s legendary South by Southwest
event and subsequently signed to Exceptional Records
.
Following popular events with a string quartet
early in 2007 (two members of which also performed with Kanye West
on his 2006 UK tour), he found favour in the classical music world, earning the support of influential UK radio station Classic FM
.
In November 2010, Exceptional released Hannam's second album 'Theme 2', featuring vocal contributions from Smiler, Polarbear and Iko.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based DJ, remixer and electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
producer. He is considered 'The DJ Shadow
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis better known as DJ Shadow is an American music producer, DJ and songwriter. He is considered a prominent figure in the development of instrumental hip hop and first gained notice with the release of his highly acclaimed debut album Endtroducing....., which was constructed...
of Wales' by BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
and 'The Bastard Son of Orbital
Orbital (band)
Orbital are a British electronic dance music duo from Sevenoaks, England consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Their career initially ran from 1989 until 2004, but in 2009 they announced that they would be reforming and headlining The Big Chill, in addition to a number of other live shows...
and RJD2
RJD2
RJD2 is an American music producer, singer and musician. RJD2 was born in Eugene, Oregon, and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He currently resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was signed to the Definitive Jux label where he released two largely instrumental hip hop albums and has produced tracks...
' by XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
.
Hannam holds a degree in music from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and attended Crosskeys College
Crosskeys College
Crosskeys College is the largest part of Coleg Gwent and the campus is located next to Risca Road in Crosskeys, near Newport in Wales. The college was previously a technical college and a coal mining college...
in the Welsh valleys, where the Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
also studied. His music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
by Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
, Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe also known as 'Zipper', is a radio DJ and television presenter. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, where he was a presenter on the local music station Max TV, before moving to England...
, Bethan Elfyn
Bethan Elfyn
Bethan Elfyn is a Welsh radio and television presenter.Bethan was born in Bangor, Gwynedd, was brought up in Newtown, Powys, and now lives in Cardiff. She is a fluent Welsh speaker and has appeared as a panellist on Welsh language channel S4C's music talent show Waw Ffactor...
, Annie Mac
Annie Mac
Annie Mac is an Irish DJ and television presenter who hosts an eponymous electronic dance music show on BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom which airs at 7:00 pm on Friday evenings as well as a Sunday evening show alongside co-presenter Nick Grimshaw.-Personal life:Annie Mac was born in Dublin,...
, Annie Nightingale
Annie Nightingale
Anne "Annie" Nightingale MBE is an English radio broadcaster. She is most commonly known by the more informal name of Annie...
, Colin Murray
Colin Murray
Colin Murray is a Northern Irish sports and music radio and television presenter. He is the current host of the BBC Television show Match of the Day 2 on BBC Two, and the BBC Radio 5 Live shows 5 Live Sport and Fighting Talk, as well as a show on BBC Radio Ulster. He has previously hosted regular...
and Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens is a radio presenter currently broadcasting shows on BBC Radio 1.-Early life and career:Stephens was born in Cardiff, Wales, the son of the author and literary journalist Meic Stephens...
(who contributed sleeve notes to first album 'Running in Order'). Eddy Temple-Morris
Eddy Temple-Morris
The Honourable Edward Temple-Morris is a British DJ, record producer and TV presenter.-Biography:Eddy Temple-Morris hosts XFM's specialist show The Remix. Before joining XFM, he was the main presenter on the MTV show Up for It Live, presented shows for Atlantic 252 & BBC Hereford & Worcester,...
, Adam Walton
Adam Walton
Adam Walton is an alternative DJ for BBC Radio Wales. He was brought up in Nannerch, near Mold, North Wales....
and Radio 101 (Croatia)
Radio 101 (Croatia)
Radio 101 - Independent radio station, with alternative and latest music and breaking news in Croatia. It broadcasts from Zagreb and has a regional license for the City of Zagreb and the Zagreb County, an audience of about 1,200,000 people. It is one of the most popular radio stations in Zagreb...
have also supported Culprit 1 releases.
'What I Use', the first recording made under the Culprit 1 moniker, was released in July 2003 on Boobytrap. Hannam went on to perform at America’s legendary South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
event and subsequently signed to Exceptional Records
Exceptional Records
Exceptional Records is a record label founded in London in 1999. It focuses on electronica, deep house, jazz, break beats, hip hop, broken beats and techno.-Label overview:...
.
Following popular events with a string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
early in 2007 (two members of which also performed with Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
on his 2006 UK tour), he found favour in the classical music world, earning the support of influential UK radio station Classic FM
Classic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
.
In November 2010, Exceptional released Hannam's second album 'Theme 2', featuring vocal contributions from Smiler, Polarbear and Iko.
Discography
| Title | Format | Label | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| What I Use | CD single | Boobytrap Records | 2003 |
| Aqoon Guud | CD EP | My Kung Fu | 2004 |
| Jarred/What I Use | 12 “ vinyl single | My Kung Fu | 2004 |
| No Need to Ask | CD single | My Kung Fu | 2005 |
| Sway | 12” vinyl single | Exceptional Records | 2006 |
| Hollow | Download single | Exceptional Records | 2006 |
| Tricks | 12” vinyl single | Exceptional Records | 2007 |
| Running in Order | CD album | Exceptional Records | 2007 |
| No Need To Ask (reissue & remixes) | 12" vinyl single | Exceptional Records | 2007 |
| Screamer | Download single | Exceptional Records | 2010 |
| Distraction (feat. Smiler) | Download single | Exceptional Records | 2010 |
| Theme 2 | Download album | Exceptional Records | 2010 |
Remix discography
| Artist | Release | Label | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Messiah Complex | Fever | We Are Your Friends | 2004 |
| The Martini Henry Rifles | Slash the Seats | My Kung Fu | 2005 |
| Melanie C | Next Best Superstar | Red Girl Records | 2005 |
| Jo and Danny | Dying Kiss | Double Snazzy | 2006 |
| The Automatic | Monster | B-Unique / Polydor | 2006 |
| The Automatic | Recover | B-Unique / Polydor | 2006 |
| The Automatic | Raoul | B-Unique / Polydor | 2007 |
| Paul Hartnoll feat. Robert Smith | Please | Kids | 2007 |
| Kaiser Chiefs | The Angry Mob | B-Unique / Polydor (promo only) | 2007 |
| John Hardy & BBC National Orchestra of Wales | Letters | Ffin Records | 2010 |
Trivia
- Unusually for a producer in a traditionally serious and publicity-shy genre, Hannam maintains an amusing, tongue-in-cheek journal and FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
group in which he regularly describes his studio experiments, vegetarian recipes and journeys back to WalesWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. - A couple that met at the debut Culprit 1 performance in October 2003 married in 2008.
- The name Culprit 1 was influenced by a graffiti scrawling at Newport bus station.
- At Bettws High School in NewportNewportNewport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, Hannam won the 1992 Eisteddfod keyboard solo competition with a rendition of 2 Unlimited2 Unlimited2 Unlimited is a Dutch Eurodance/Hi-NRG act formed in 1991. The project was the brainchild of Belgian producers Jean-Paul DeCoster and Phil Wilde, and was fronted by a Dutch duo, rapper Ray Slijngaard and singer Anita Doth. During five years of enormous worldwide popularity, the act scored 16 chart...
's European hit 'No Limits'. - Hannam's first job after graduating from university was a club reviewer for the UK dance magazine MuzikMuzikMuzik was a UK dance music magazine published by IPC Media from June 1995 to August 2003.Muzik was created by two former Melody Maker journalists, Push and Ben Turner. Push was the editor of Muzik from its launch until he left the magazine in 1998, at which point Turner took over as editor...
. The editor at the time was Conor McNicholasConor McNicholasConor McNicholas is a journalist, and the former editor of BBC Top Gear Magazine and IPC-run music magazine New Musical Express, better known as the NME...
, who later became editor of leading indie magazine NMENMEThe New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
.