Minisystem
Encyclopedia
Minisystem is a Canadian
solo electronic music
ian and molecular biologist
based in Toronto
. His music is produced almost entirely with analog synthesizer
s and drum machine
s. His debut album, Madingley, was released in 2006 on Toronto's Noise Factory Records. Minisystem is often defined in contrast to Intelligent dance music
and glitch
. Combining simple drum sounds from the Roland TR-808
and TR-909
drum machines arranged in a dance progression with melodic and warm tones from a variety of vintage analog synthesizers, Minisystem has been compared to Tangerine Dream
and Kraftwerk
. His music has been described as "synth-pop".
, Ontario
. Lee cites his early experiences in this rural setting as inspiration for his music. His first album gets its title from the name of the family farm. Lee went on to earn a BSc
from the University of Waterloo
, then later moved to England
to study for his PhD
at the University of Cambridge
. Lee returned to Canada in 2002, this time settling in Toronto where he is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Toronto
. Since he began producing music, Lee has performed in Toronto as part of the Bit_Rock Alumnae, Math Hooker and Vague Terrain series of events.http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_04.15.04/beat/bpw.phphttp://www.minisystem.ca/2006_12_01_archive.htmlhttp://www.mathhooker.com/
, Depeche Mode
, A Flock of Seagulls
, and The Monks
. While in Waterloo he was first exposed to experimental
electronic artists such as Autechre
and Aphex Twin
. While in Cambridge, Lee took an active role in the budding electronic music scene by putting on shows at which he would sometimes DJ. Aspiring to create similarly experimental music during this time, Lee purchased a digital synthesizer and digital sampler, which he reportedly hated and soon after sold. Lee's next purchase was a Roland Juno-106
synthesizer, which unlike his earlier purchases would become a mainstay of his studio environment.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
solo 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...
ian and molecular biologist
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. His music is produced almost entirely with analog synthesizer
Analog synthesizer
An analog or analogue synthesizer is a synthesizer that uses analog circuits and analog computer techniques to generate sound electronically. The earliest analog synthesizers in the 1920s and 1930s such as the Trautonium were built with a variety of vacuum-tube and electro-mechanical technologies...
s and 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. His debut album, Madingley, was released in 2006 on Toronto's Noise Factory Records. Minisystem is often defined in contrast to Intelligent dance music
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...
and glitch
Glitch (music)
Glitch is a term used to describe a genre of electronic music that emerged in the mid to late 1990s. The glitch aesthetic is characterized by a deliberate use of glitch based sonic artifacts that would normally be viewed as unwanted disturbances reducing the overall sound quality and are thus...
. Combining simple drum sounds from 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...
and TR-909
Roland TR-909
The Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer is a partially analog, partially sample-based drum machine built by the Japanese Roland Corporation in 1983. The brainchild of Tadao Kikumoto, the engineer behind the Roland TB-303, it features a 16-step step sequencer and a drum kit that aimed for realism and...
drum machines arranged in a dance progression with melodic and warm tones from a variety of vintage analog synthesizers, Minisystem has been compared to Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...
and Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
. His music has been described as "synth-pop".
Biography
Lee was raised on his family's farm near GuelphGuelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Lee cites his early experiences in this rural setting as inspiration for his music. His first album gets its title from the name of the family farm. Lee went on to earn a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
, then later moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to study for his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. Lee returned to Canada in 2002, this time settling in Toronto where he is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. Since he began producing music, Lee has performed in Toronto as part of the Bit_Rock Alumnae, Math Hooker and Vague Terrain series of events.http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_04.15.04/beat/bpw.phphttp://www.minisystem.ca/2006_12_01_archive.htmlhttp://www.mathhooker.com/
Musical influences
Lee's early musical influences include The SmithsThe Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
, A Flock of Seagulls
A Flock of Seagulls
A Flock of Seagulls are an English New Wave band originally formed by brothers Michael "Mike" Score and Alister "Ali" James Score , with Frank Maudsley , Michael Kuby , H.J...
, and The Monks
The Monks
Monks are a garage rock band, formed by American GIs who were based in Germany in the mid to late 1960s. They reunited in 1999 and have continued to play concerts, although no new studio recordings have been made...
. While in Waterloo he was first exposed to experimental
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
electronic artists such as Autechre
Autechre
Autechre are an English electronic music duo consisting of Rob Brown and Sean Booth, both natives of Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1987, they are one of the most prominent acts signed to Warp Records, a label known for its pioneering electronic music and through which all Autechre albums...
and Aphex Twin
Aphex Twin
Richard David James , best known under the pseudonym Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born electronic musician and composer described as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music"...
. While in Cambridge, Lee took an active role in the budding electronic music scene by putting on shows at which he would sometimes DJ. Aspiring to create similarly experimental music during this time, Lee purchased a digital synthesizer and digital sampler, which he reportedly hated and soon after sold. Lee's next purchase was a Roland Juno-106
Roland Juno-106
The Roland Juno-106 was a hybrid digital/analogue polyphonic synth manufactured by Roland Corporation in 1984. It featured Digitally controlled oscillators for tuning stability and digital envelope generation along with analog filters and signal path....
synthesizer, which unlike his earlier purchases would become a mainstay of his studio environment.