Psykosonik
Encyclopedia
Psykosonik was an American techno music group.
Their follow-up album, Unlearn, had a completely different sound. The DJ/techno stylings, aggressive vocals, and sampled guitar riffs were replaced by lush electronic sound scapes and mellow vocals. About half the tracks were instrumentals. The lyrics continued to focus on cyberpunk
and extropian themes: Virtual Reality
, AI
, cybernetics
, life extension
, and science.
The band's third album, Spiritual Machine, was completed by 1997 but was never released by the band's label, Wax Trax! Records
, who were by this time owned by TVT Records
. The experience led to the subsequent disbanding of Psykosonik.
Daniel Lenz went on to produce a single album under the band name Hednoize with a new vocalist, Brent Daniels (aka Free). The album saw a bit of a departure for Lenz in regards to the sound and feel of Unlearn. Opting for a more industrial sound, the album was a hard hitting debut. Unfortunately, label support was minimal, involving mainly a website and a handful of LA club shows.
Being at this point tired of record labels, in 2001 Daniel Lenz launched a short lived project called PsykoHed on MP3.com
. He released his debut solo album, Stuck in a Dream, in 2008, featuring guest appearances by Brent Daniels of Hednoize and Paul Sebastien of Psykosonik. Besides producing music for various film and TV soundtracks, he is reportedly currently working on new Hednoize material with Daniels.
Paul Sebastien went on to found Basic Pleasure Model, teaming with Wideband Network founder Caesar Filori. Michael Larson went on to become the audio director for Epic Games
and produced the soundtracks for the Gears of War
series.
History
Their first album, Psykosonik, was a hard-hitting techno album with cyberpunk-esque lyrics.Their follow-up album, Unlearn, had a completely different sound. The DJ/techno stylings, aggressive vocals, and sampled guitar riffs were replaced by lush electronic sound scapes and mellow vocals. About half the tracks were instrumentals. The lyrics continued to focus on cyberpunk
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
and extropian themes: Virtual Reality
Virtual reality
Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
, AI
Ai
AI, A.I., Ai, or ai may refer to:- Computers :* Artificial intelligence, a branch of computer science* Ad impression, in online advertising* .ai, the ISO Internet 2-letter country code for Anguilla...
, cybernetics
Cybernetics
Cybernetics is the interdisciplinary study of the structure of regulatory systems. Cybernetics is closely related to information theory, control theory and systems theory, at least in its first-order form...
, life extension
Life extension
Life extension science, also known as anti-aging medicine, experimental gerontology, and biomedical gerontology, is the study of slowing down or reversing the processes of aging to extend both the maximum and average lifespan...
, and science.
The band's third album, Spiritual Machine, was completed by 1997 but was never released by the band's label, Wax Trax! Records
Wax Trax! Records
Wax Trax! Records was an independent record label in the United States. Wax Trax! began as a record shop in Denver, Colorado opened by Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher. They sold the store in 1978 and, in November of that year, opened a new one under the same name at 2449 North Lincoln Avenue in...
, who were by this time owned by TVT Records
TVT Records
TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
. The experience led to the subsequent disbanding of Psykosonik.
Daniel Lenz went on to produce a single album under the band name Hednoize with a new vocalist, Brent Daniels (aka Free). The album saw a bit of a departure for Lenz in regards to the sound and feel of Unlearn. Opting for a more industrial sound, the album was a hard hitting debut. Unfortunately, label support was minimal, involving mainly a website and a handful of LA club shows.
Being at this point tired of record labels, in 2001 Daniel Lenz launched a short lived project called PsykoHed on MP3.com
MP3.com
MP3.com is a web site operated by CNET Networks providing information about digital music and artists, songs, services, community, and technologies. It is probably better known for its original incarnation, as a legal, free music-sharing service, popular with independent musicians for promoting...
. He released his debut solo album, Stuck in a Dream, in 2008, featuring guest appearances by Brent Daniels of Hednoize and Paul Sebastien of Psykosonik. Besides producing music for various film and TV soundtracks, he is reportedly currently working on new Hednoize material with Daniels.
Paul Sebastien went on to found Basic Pleasure Model, teaming with Wideband Network founder Caesar Filori. Michael Larson went on to become the audio director for Epic Games
Epic Games
Epic Games, Inc., also known as Epic and formerly Epic MegaGames, is an American video game development company based in Cary, North Carolina. Its most recent success has been the Gears of War series of games, although it is also known for its Unreal Engine technology. It is the parent company of...
and produced the soundtracks for the Gears of War
Gears of War
Gears of War is a military science fiction third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios...
series.
Members
- Paul Sebastien (1992–1997) – vocals, compositionMusical compositionMusical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
, engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, lyricsLyricsLyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
, productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Daniel Lenz (1992–1997) – composition, engineering, lyrics, mixing, production
Former members
- Theodore BealeTheodore BealeTheodore Beale, born c.1968, is an American writer, sometimes using the pseudonym Vox Day. He has also designed computer games and been a musician.-Biography:Beale graduated from Bucknell University in 1990...
(1992–1994) – composition, lyrics - Michael Larson (1992–1994) – samples, percussion
Studio contributors
- Doug Schwartz (1993) – mastering
- David Sears (1993) – engineering, mixing
- Brent Daniels (1995) – additional programming
- Tom Garneau (1995) – engineering, mixing
Former Management
- Dex van de Werken (1992–1994) – AKA Dietrich Dexter, Management
Albums
| Title | Release date | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psykosonik | US: 1993-02-02 Japan: 1993-11-01 |
US: Wax Trax!/TVT Japan: Polystar |
|
| Unlearn | 1995-11-06 | Wax Trax!/TVT | |
| Spiritual Machine | n/a | Unreleased album. | Wax Trax!/TVT |
Singles
| Song | Release date | Album | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Silicon Jesus" | 1993-05-25 | Psykosonik | Released as four-track vinyl and six-track CD. | Wax Trax!/TVT |
| "Welcome To My Mind" | 1993-11-23 | Psykosonik | Released as five-track vinyl and seven-track CD. | Wax Trax!/TVT |
| "Unlearn" | 1995-08-08 | Unlearn | Released as five-track vinyl and ten-track CD. | Wax Trax!/TVT |
| "Panik Kontrol (PQM PQM PQM is a producer/DJ who has released records on labels such as Yoshitoshi Records and Renaissance... 's Deephead Pass)" |
Unknown | Mortal Kombat: Annihilation Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (soundtrack) -Tracks :In order by movie appearance#"Theme From Mortal Kombat "##Main title sequence##Liu Kang vs. Shao Kahn#"X-Squad "##Shao Kahn's invasion on Earth... soundtrack |
Released only as a white label promo. | Wax Trax!/TVT |
Movie and Game Soundtracks
| Song | Release date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Various | 1993 | X-Kaliber 2097 X-Kaliber 2097 X-Kaliber 2097, released as in Japan, is a Super NES action video game published by Activision.-Summary and gameplay:The game takes place in the near-anarchic future of the year 2097, in which the world's economy has been devastated, governments have collapsed, and organized crime has gained... |Activision Activision Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles... |
| Various | 1994 | CyClones|Strategic Simulations, Inc. Strategic Simulations, Inc. Strategic Simulations, Inc. was a video game developer and publisher with over 100 titles to its credit since its founding in 1979. It was especially noted for its numerous wargames, its official computer game adaptations of Dungeons & Dragons, and for the groundbreaking Panzer General... |
| "Unlearn (Josh Wink Josh Wink Josh Wink is an electronic music DJ, label owner, producer, remixer, and artist. He is a native of Philadelphia, United States. A pioneering DJ in the American rave scene during the early 1990s, Wink was the most prominent exponent of the tribal forms of techno and house in the U.S... 's Live Mix)" |
1995 | Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat (soundtrack) Mortal Kombat Soundtrack is a compilation album featuring music by different artists to accompany the movie Mortal Kombat.- Album information :... |
| "Theme" | 1995 | Marathon 2: Durandal Marathon 2: Durandal Marathon 2: Durandal is the first sequel in the Marathon series of science fiction first-person shooter computer games from Bungie Software. It was released on November 24, 1995. The game is mostly set on the fictional planet of Lh'owon, homeworld of the S'pht, and once again the player takes the... |
| "Theme" | 1996 | Marathon Infinity Marathon Infinity Marathon Infinity is the third game in the Marathon Trilogy of science fiction first-person shooter computer games from Bungie Software. The game was released on October 15, 1996 and included more levels than its predecessor Marathon 2. These were larger, and formed part of a more intricate plot... |
| "It Has Begun" | 1996 | Mortal Kombat: More Kombat Mortal Kombat: More Kombat Mortal Kombat: More Kombat is a compilation album featuring primarily exclusive music from a number of metal, industrial and electronica bands inspired by the first Mortal Kombat film.-Album information:... |
| "Panik Kontrol" | 1997 | Mortal Kombat: Annihilation Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (soundtrack) -Tracks :In order by movie appearance#"Theme From Mortal Kombat "##Main title sequence##Liu Kang vs. Shao Kahn#"X-Squad "##Shao Kahn's invasion on Earth... |
External links
- Psykosonik at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Psykosonik at Last.fmLast.fmLast.fm is a music website, founded in the United Kingdom in 2002. It has claimed 30 million active users in March 2009. On 30 May 2007, CBS Interactive acquired Last.fm for UK£140m ....
- Daniel Lenz on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace 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....
- Paul Sebastian on MySpace
- Basic Pleasure Model on Myspace
- Psykosonik discography
- Psykosonik Artist Main on Yahoo! Music
- http://dw.com.com/redir?&destUrl=http%3a%2f%2fmusic-files.download.com%2fsd%2fPbehKxR52ln3KrBkX--1QXYXo0_quL7c8RjeVM4YaiFZQS_JSst-iYys3EbFUVJM1nq5RGpv0fISLF5Zj7Rwj1XCKHrowJUB%2fmp3download%2f100207269%2f192%2fBasic_Pleasure_Model-Sunyata_%28Radio_Edit%29.mp3&edId=3&siteId=32&oId=3600-8362_32-100207216&ontId=8362&lop=btn&tag=btn<ype=dl_192k&astId=2&pid=100207269&mfgId=100207216&merId=100207216Basic Pleasure Model's Sunyata mp3 on Download.com]