Desert Planet (band)
Encyclopedia
Desert Planet is a band
performing electronic music
influenced by 8-bit
video games, coin operated games and science fiction
movies. Usually this type of music is called bitpop
or micromusic. The band comes from Lapland, northern Finland
and the members are Jukka Tarkiainen, Jari Mikkola and Antti Hovila.
Desert Planet has been active since 1999. At first it was a solo project
by Jukka Tarkiainen. Jari Mikkola joined the group in 2001 after directing a music video for the title song of the first album "Asteroid Hopper". In 2003 Desert Planet released an album "Joystick Pop" through a label called ODOR
, a sub-label of the Universal Music Group
. In late 2004 the band signed a recording deal with a German
label 9pm-records, who have a distribution for their releases in Germany
, Austria
and Switzerland
. At the same time Desert Planet also made a deal with Stupido records in Finland, who take care of record releases in Scandinavia
. In December 2005 the band was given the "Artist of the year" award by the Arts Council of Lapland because of their innovative music, creative web appearance and do-it-yourself music exporting.
In May 2007 Desert Planet released a USB memory stick
called "Aska-Osaka Virtual Highway" packed with multimedia and music. The Japan
spirited USB-stick music release was the first of a kind in Finland.
Desert Planet create electronic music in the spirit of 80's video games, but the style is not chiptune
s or minimal 8-bit music. It is rather electronic dance music
or electro pop with inluences from 80's game consoles and computers like Nintendo Entertainment System
, Amiga
and Commodore 64
. Their music videos and live performances are presenting the band with a b-class science fiction aesthetics. The live performance is a space themed show with pixellated video projections presented by VJ Antti Hovila.
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
performing electronic music
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...
influenced by 8-bit
8-bit
The first widely adopted 8-bit microprocessor was the Intel 8080, being used in many hobbyist computers of the late 1970s and early 1980s, often running the CP/M operating system. The Zilog Z80 and the Motorola 6800 were also used in similar computers...
video games, coin operated games and science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
movies. Usually this type of music is called bitpop
Bitpop
Bitpop is a type of electronic music and also subgenre of Chiptune, where at least part of the music is made using old 8-bit computers and video game consoles. Among systems used are Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari 8-bit Home Computer, Game Boy, Atari 2600 and Nintendo Entertainment System...
or micromusic. The band comes from Lapland, northern Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and the members are Jukka Tarkiainen, Jari Mikkola and Antti Hovila.
Desert Planet has been active since 1999. At first it was a solo project
Solo project
A solo project usually refers to a single member of a band's work independent of their original group, yet typically without having quit their original group...
by Jukka Tarkiainen. Jari Mikkola joined the group in 2001 after directing a music video for the title song of the first album "Asteroid Hopper". In 2003 Desert Planet released an album "Joystick Pop" through a label called ODOR
Odor
An odor or odour is caused by one or more volatilized chemical compounds, generally at a very low concentration, that humans or other animals perceive by the sense of olfaction. Odors are also commonly called scents, which can refer to both pleasant and unpleasant odors...
, a sub-label of the Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
. In late 2004 the band signed a recording deal with a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
label 9pm-records, who have a distribution for their releases in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. At the same time Desert Planet also made a deal with Stupido records in Finland, who take care of record releases in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. In December 2005 the band was given the "Artist of the year" award by the Arts Council of Lapland because of their innovative music, creative web appearance and do-it-yourself music exporting.
In May 2007 Desert Planet released a USB memory stick
Memory Stick
Memory Stick is a removable flash memory card format, launched by Sony in October 1998, and is also used in general to describe the whole family of Memory Sticks...
called "Aska-Osaka Virtual Highway" packed with multimedia and music. The Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
spirited USB-stick music release was the first of a kind in Finland.
Desert Planet create electronic music in the spirit of 80's video games, but the style is not chiptune
Chiptune
A chiptune, also known as chip music, is synthesized electronic music often produced with the sound chips of vintage computers and video game consoles, as well as with other methods such as emulation. In the early 1980s, personal computers became cheaper and more accessible than they had previously...
s or minimal 8-bit music. It is rather electronic dance music
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
or electro pop with inluences from 80's game consoles and computers like Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
, Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
and Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
. Their music videos and live performances are presenting the band with a b-class science fiction aesthetics. The live performance is a space themed show with pixellated video projections presented by VJ Antti Hovila.
Albums
- Asteroid Hopper (Dese 001, 2001)
- Joystick Pop (Odor, 2003)
- Turbo Tellytunes (Dese 002, 2004)
- Mario Built My Hot Rod (9pm-records/Stupido Records, 2005, released in GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Finland.) - Moonrocks (9pm-records/Stupido Records, 2008, released in GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Finland.)
Other
- Dune Buggy (Odor, 2002, Single)
- Aska-Osaka Virtual Highway ( Dese 003, 2007, USB flash drive memory stick)