Solvent (producer)
Encyclopedia
Solvent is the stage name used by electronic
producer and remix
er Jason Amm (b. 1972, Zimbabwe
). Although his music has been included in the electroclash
movement (as his track "My Radio" appeared on Ghostly International
's 2002 compilation album
Disco Nouveau
), many of Solvent's tracks fall under the intelligent dance music
or electropop genres. Jason Amm's music is often associated with its strong influence from early 1980s artists such as Soft Cell
and Depeche Mode
, but the influence is much wider, spanning the last three decades.
Many of the sounds heard on his tracks are made by using analogue gear in more ingenious ways than was ever intended for the equipment.
With partner Gregory DeRocher (who records his own music using the pseudonym
Lowfish), Amm owned and operated the Suction record label until its demise in 2008. This was partly because 12" records were no longer being manufactured in Canada, leading to costly imports from the USA.
Aside from tracks appearing on various-artists compilations, Amm has released several full-length albums using the Solvent moniker.
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...
producer and remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
er Jason Amm (b. 1972, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
). Although his music has been included in the electroclash
Electroclash
Electroclash is a style of music that fuses New Wave and electronic dance music. It emerged in New York and Detroit in the later 1990s, pioneered by acts including I-F and those associated with Gerald Donald, and is associated with acts including Peaches, Adult, and Fischerspooner...
movement (as his track "My Radio" appeared on Ghostly International
Ghostly International
Ghostly International is an American independent record label. Chief artists include Matthew Dear, Dabrye , Mobius Band, and Skeletons & The Girl-Faced Boys, all of which are innovative contributors to the world of music....
's 2002 compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Disco Nouveau
Disco Nouveau
Disco Nouveau is the first compilation album of Ann Arbor, Michigan record label Ghostly International. Released in 2002, the album served as a modern update of Giorgio Moroder's famed Italo Disco sound of the 1970s and 1980s and includes contributions from artists such as Solvent, ADULT., and...
), many of Solvent's tracks fall under the 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...
or electropop genres. Jason Amm's music is often associated with its strong influence from early 1980s artists such as Soft Cell
Soft Cell
Soft Cell are an English synthpop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s. They consist of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. The duo is most widely known for their 1981 worldwide hit version of "Tainted Love" and platinum debut Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret...
and 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...
, but the influence is much wider, spanning the last three decades.
Many of the sounds heard on his tracks are made by using analogue gear in more ingenious ways than was ever intended for the equipment.
With partner Gregory DeRocher (who records his own music using the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Lowfish), Amm owned and operated the Suction record label until its demise in 2008. This was partly because 12" records were no longer being manufactured in Canada, leading to costly imports from the USA.
Aside from tracks appearing on various-artists compilations, Amm has released several full-length albums using the Solvent moniker.
Albums
- 1998 Solvent
- 1999 Solvently One Listens
- 2001 Solvent City
- 2004 Apples + Synthesizers
- 2005 Elevators + Oscillators
- 2007 Demonstration Tape (1997-2007)
- 2010 Subject to Shift