Derek Piotr Explained
Derek Piotr is a folklorist, vocalist, and composer.[1] [2]
Career
Piotr released the album Agora in 2011.[3] In 2012 his work was nominated for Prix Ars Electronica.[4]
In 2016, Piotr released the glitch album Drono.[5] [6] Forest People Pop was released in 2017.[7]
His 2018 album Grunt was completed in collaboration with Kevin Drumm.[8] "Grunt" is the Polish word for "earth" or "dirt".[9] The album received mostly positive reviews,[10] with PopMatters describing the material as being "equipped with all of the hypnotic powers of its contemporaries"[11] and Cyclic Defrost calling it "intricately constructed and frequently jarring".[12]
He released the remix EPs Earth Edit and Underlined in 2018,[13] followed by Repeating Bloom in January 2019.[14] He released the album Avia in July 2019.[15]
At the end of 2019, Piotr began researching Appalachian folk music for a new solo album.[16] Through these folklore studies he discovered singer Lena Bare Turbyfill, whose last living daughter he tracked down and recorded in July 2020.[17]
He released his first folk single "Invisible Map" on January 1, 2021.[18] "Invisible Map"'s B-side is a rendition of the folk tune "Barbry Allen".[19] In 2021, Piotr released Making and Then Unmaking, his tenth studio album, which was heavily influenced by his time spent in Appalachia.[20] [21]
Personal life
Piotr sang in John Read Middle School’s choir and studied music theory and music appreciation at Joel Barlow High School.[22] Growing up in the woods of Redding, Connecticut, Piotr is a longtime outdoor enthusiast and draws inspiration from nature.[23] [24]
Piotr is openly queer, stating, "I don’t want to rest on the privilege of assumption that I am a straight white male. I want to be truthful to where I’m coming from so I don’t get a free pass."[25]
Notes and References
- Web site: 2021-04-11. Interview with artist Derek Piotr -. 2021-08-25. en-US.
- News: Bubblin' Up: Derek Piotr. XLR8R. 2018-11-26. en-us. https://web.archive.org/web/20181013012217/https://www.xlr8r.com/features/bubblin-up-derek-piotr. 2018-10-13. live.
- Web site: Derek Piotr- "Remain". 2021-09-10. The Needle Drop. 2 May 2011 . en-US.
- Web site: The Quietus Features Rum Music Experimental Sounds From Poland: A Rum Music Special. 2019-01-03. The Quietus. en-us.
- Web site: 2016-05-02. Derek Piotr "Sound". 2021-09-10. XLR8R. en-US.
- Web site: Articulate Silences, Ambient Sounds #29. Bland. Benjamin. September 16, 2016. DrownedInSound. 16 September 2016 . en. 2019-01-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20170101224350/http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4150395-articulate-silences-ambient-sounds-29. 2017-01-01. live.
- Web site: Review: Derek Piotr – Forest People Pop . www.attnmagazine.co.uk. 2019-01-03.
- News: Premiere: Hear a Haunting Experimental Bass Track From Derek Piotr. XLR8R. 2018-10-29. en-us.
- Web site: ♫ Listen: Derek Piotr - "Earth Edit (Chaircrusher Remix)". 2021-09-10. Tiny Mix Tapes. en.
- Web site: Derek Piotr :: Grunt (DPSR). 2018-10-26. Igloo Magazine. en-US. 2019-01-03.
- News: Derek Piotr Clears His Digital Throat. 2018-10-29. PopMatters. 2018-10-29. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20181116052931/https://www.popmatters.com/derek-piotr-grunt-review-2608483566.html. 2018-11-16. live.
- News: Derek Piotr – Grunt (DPSR). 2018-10-06. Cyclic Defrost. 2018-10-29. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20181006125114/https://www.cyclicdefrost.com/2018/10/derek-piotr-grunt-dpsr/. 2018-10-06. live.
- Web site: Premiere: Derek Piotr - "Bhadrakali (The Lines Are All Dying Mix by Simon Whetham)". 2021-09-10. Tiny Mix Tapes. en.
- Web site: ♫ Listen: Derek Piotr - "Repeating Bloom (Simon Whetham)". 2021-09-10. Tiny Mix Tapes. en.
- Web site: 2019-07-16. Derek Piotr – Avia (DPSR). 2021-09-10. Cyclic Defrost. en-US.
- Web site: 2020-09-10. Songcatching "Bolakins". 2021-01-04. Appalachian History. en-US.
- Web site: Luke . Barber. An Appalachian odyssey in the art of songcatching. 2021-01-04. The Avery Journal-Times. 7 October 2020 . en.
- Web site: Derek Piotr – Invisible Map (Single). 2021-01-04. entropymag.org.
- Web site: Doyle. Liam. 2020-12-07. Derek Piotr - Barbry Allen. 2021-01-04. Various Small Flames. en-GB.
- Web site: 2021-05-03. Derek Piotr 'Making and Then Unmaking' Interview. 2021-08-25. It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine. en-US.
- Web site: Sloth. Beach. Derek Piotr – Making and Then Unmaking. 2021-09-10. en-US.
- News: Diamond Fox. Sandra . February 23, 2018. Redding songwriter creates unusual sounds with his voice. Aspetuck News. May 29, 2020.
- Web site: Derek Piotr. zapbangmagazine.com. 2020-05-29.
- Web site: 'Creamy chamber music' from Redding composer. Ryser. Rob. 2019-06-16. CTInsider.com. en-US. 2020-05-29.
- Web site: Interview: Derek Piotr. Doyle. Liam. 2018-09-10. Various Small Flames. en-GB. 2020-05-29.