Markus Wormstorm
Encyclopedia
Markus Wormstorm, is a South African electronic musician
.
Smit moved to Cape Town
at the age of 19 (2001), where he has risen to be among the city's leading electronic musicians.
He graduated from the Pro Arte School of music, art and drama in Pretoria
, where he created a number of theatrical writings and won school awards for music and literature. Wormstorm received classical piano training at the age of 12.
After moving to Cape Town at the age of 19, Wormstorm met like-minded musicians with whom he could collaborate. The earliest of these collaborations was alongside well-known IDM
producer Felix Laband
. Together they created ‘Killed by Dwarf’, a series of experiments spawned from jam sessions which were never released.
In late 2001, Markus was invited by African Dope Records to submit music to their production music libraries. This resulted in a number of minor synchronisation licenses, which Markus quickly spent on hand-making copies of his “album”, which he would hand-out at gigs and to friends. This brought him to the attention of noted rapper/composer/protagonist/satirist Waddy Jones, front man of Johannesburg
's then ruling hip-hop group Max Normal. When Jones disbanded Max Normal in early 2002, he and long-time DJ partner Sibot invited Markus collaborate on Waddy's ambitious The Constructus Corporation
project, which resulted in the concept album / graphic novel The Ziggurat (ADOPECD009 African Dope Records 2002).
When The Constructus Corporation disbanded in early 2003, Markus and Sibot intensified their collaborations, giving rise to The Real Estate Agents, who have become a household name on the Cape Town party and live music circuit, and continue to tour South Africa
and the world on a regular basis.
Meanwhile, a copy of Wormstorm’s "demo" album had found its way into the hands of Alex Threadgold; owner of New York-based electronica
/ IDM label Sound-Ink, which resulted in a 3 album deal for Markus, alongside stablemates M Sayeed of Anti Pop Consortium and MF Doom
. His first album for the label, Rachel the Bear was released in digital-only format in 2006.
Back in Cape Town, Markus had begun to build a reputation for his composition for TV and film. Together with Simon Ringrose (Sibot) and his brother Duncan Ringrose (long-time collaborator and manager of The Constructus Corporation and The Real Estate Agents), he formed the corporate sound design agency ‘SAYTHANKYOU’, which has become a composition and sound design agencies in South Africa, testified by a number of Gold and Silver Loerie Awards for Composition and Sound Design. Markus’s works have provided the soundtrack for ad campaigns for the likes of MetroFM (South Africa's biggest urban music radio station), VR Brandy, Audi
, Ford, B.O.E., South African Design Indaba, Nokia
and local mobile network CellC.
In December 2004, African Dope Records, in association with management label Sshadoworkss, released Markus’ self-titled debut South African album, bundled as part of the 3CD pack The Real Estate Agents (ADOPECD012 African Dope Records 2004).
Wormstorm is also writer and music producer for The Blackheart Gang - a collective of animation artists who create short film stories. The Gang shot to prominence in late 2006 with their film Tale Of How, which has been touring with Resfest
2007 and has won several animation awards including Chanel Plus – France and a BAFTA – UK.
In 2006, together with vocalist and long-time collaborator Spoek Mathambo, Markus launched a new collaborative music project called Sweat.X which they describe as "Afro-electro". Subsequent to an intensive networking effort on MySpace
, Sweat.X signed a deal with the UK label, Citinite
, in March 2007 and toured Europe in June/July 2007.
Electronic musician
An electronic musician is a musician who composes or plays music from synthetic sounds generated with synthesizers, samplers, drum machines or music sequencers....
.
Smit moved to Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
at the age of 19 (2001), where he has risen to be among the city's leading electronic musicians.
He graduated from the Pro Arte School of music, art and drama in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, where he created a number of theatrical writings and won school awards for music and literature. Wormstorm received classical piano training at the age of 12.
After moving to Cape Town at the age of 19, Wormstorm met like-minded musicians with whom he could collaborate. The earliest of these collaborations was alongside well-known IDM
Intelligent dance music
Intelligent dance music is a term that describes an electronic music genre that emerged in the early 1990s. The genre is influenced by a wide range of musical styles particularly electronic dance music such as Detroit Techno...
producer Felix Laband
Felix Laband
Felix Laband is an electronic music artist born in 1977 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.He creates light, emotional, minimalist soundscapes by combining several styles, and samples from classical, jazz and old television recordings overlaid with instrumental performances by himself and other...
. Together they created ‘Killed by Dwarf’, a series of experiments spawned from jam sessions which were never released.
In late 2001, Markus was invited by African Dope Records to submit music to their production music libraries. This resulted in a number of minor synchronisation licenses, which Markus quickly spent on hand-making copies of his “album”, which he would hand-out at gigs and to friends. This brought him to the attention of noted rapper/composer/protagonist/satirist Waddy Jones, front man of Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
's then ruling hip-hop group Max Normal. When Jones disbanded Max Normal in early 2002, he and long-time DJ partner Sibot invited Markus collaborate on Waddy's ambitious The Constructus Corporation
The Constructus Corporation
The Constructus Corporation was an electronic / hip hop act from Cape Town, South Africa, that started in early 2002 and had disbanded by mid-2003, leaving the one-of-a-kind concept album / book The Ziggurat as legacy.-Formation of the band:...
project, which resulted in the concept album / graphic novel The Ziggurat (ADOPECD009 African Dope Records 2002).
When The Constructus Corporation disbanded in early 2003, Markus and Sibot intensified their collaborations, giving rise to The Real Estate Agents, who have become a household name on the Cape Town party and live music circuit, and continue to tour South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and the world on a regular basis.
Meanwhile, a copy of Wormstorm’s "demo" album had found its way into the hands of Alex Threadgold; owner of New York-based 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...
/ IDM label Sound-Ink, which resulted in a 3 album deal for Markus, alongside stablemates M Sayeed of Anti Pop Consortium and MF Doom
MF Doom
Daniel Dumile is a hip hop artist who has taken on several stage names in his career, most notably MF DOOM, where the "MF" stands for metal face, and for tracks he has produced, metal fingers...
. His first album for the label, Rachel the Bear was released in digital-only format in 2006.
Back in Cape Town, Markus had begun to build a reputation for his composition for TV and film. Together with Simon Ringrose (Sibot) and his brother Duncan Ringrose (long-time collaborator and manager of The Constructus Corporation and The Real Estate Agents), he formed the corporate sound design agency ‘SAYTHANKYOU’, which has become a composition and sound design agencies in South Africa, testified by a number of Gold and Silver Loerie Awards for Composition and Sound Design. Markus’s works have provided the soundtrack for ad campaigns for the likes of MetroFM (South Africa's biggest urban music radio station), VR Brandy, Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
, Ford, B.O.E., South African Design Indaba, Nokia
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
and local mobile network CellC.
In December 2004, African Dope Records, in association with management label Sshadoworkss, released Markus’ self-titled debut South African album, bundled as part of the 3CD pack The Real Estate Agents (ADOPECD012 African Dope Records 2004).
Wormstorm is also writer and music producer for The Blackheart Gang - a collective of animation artists who create short film stories. The Gang shot to prominence in late 2006 with their film Tale Of How, which has been touring with Resfest
RESFest
RESFEST was by the 2000s the most prominent digital film festival in North America. It was a leading global showcase of new digital filmmakers alongside England's Onedotzero festival. The festival toured the world and in 2005 travelled to 35 cities in the USA, Canada, UK, Japan, Australia,...
2007 and has won several animation awards including Chanel Plus – France and a BAFTA – UK.
In 2006, together with vocalist and long-time collaborator Spoek Mathambo, Markus launched a new collaborative music project called Sweat.X which they describe as "Afro-electro". Subsequent to an intensive networking effort on MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
, Sweat.X signed a deal with the UK label, Citinite
Citinite
Citinite is a record label launched in 2006 which specialises in electrofunk. Its artist roster is a mix of new artists, such as Her Bad Habit, Gosub and Sweat.X, and older artists who helped pioneer the electrofunk genre, such as John Davis and Egyptian Lover....
, in March 2007 and toured Europe in June/July 2007.