Juan Atkins Explained

Juan Atkins
Background:non_performing_personnel
Birth Date:1962 9, mf=yes
Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genre:Detroit techno
Years Active:1980–present

Juan Atkins (born September 12, 1962), also known as Model 500 and Infiniti,[1] is an American record producer and DJ[2] from Detroit, Michigan.[3] Mixmag has described him as "the original pioneer of Detroit techno." He has been a member of the Belleville Three,[4] Cybotron,[5] and Borderland.[6]

Early life

Juan Atkins was born in Detroit, Michigan.[7] His father is a concert promoter. At an early age, he played guitar and bass guitar in funk/garage bands with his friends. After his parents split, he moved to Belleville, Michigan. In junior high school, he met Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson. The three would later be known as the Belleville Three.[8] At the age of 15, he bought his first synthesizer, a Korg MS-10.[3]

Career

Juan Atkins formed Cybotron with Richard Davis in 1980.[9] The duo's debut studio album, Enter, was released in 1983. Atkins and Davis split ways in 1985.[10]

In 1985, Atkins founded the record label Metroplex.[11] In that year, he started making solo records under the alias Model 500.[12] As Model 500, he released Deep Space in 1995, Mind and Body in 1999, and Digital Solutions in 2015.[13]

He is also one half of the duo Borderland along with Moritz von Oswald.[14] The duo released Borderland in 2013 and Transport in 2016.[15]

In 2015, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Metroplex, Juan Atkins collaborated with VAVA Eyewear.[16] [17]

Style and influences

Juan Atkins has stated that George Clinton's bands Parliament and Funkadelic were important to his musical awakening.[3] He grew up listening to The Electrifying Mojo's radio shows.[3] He also acknowledged Kraftwerk as one of the influences on his music.[18] Mixmag has described him as "the original pioneer of Detroit techno."[19] Stylistically, he drew upon dystopian science fiction narratives to construct his sonic landscapes.[20]

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

EPs

Singles

Filmography

Feature films

Short films

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Juan Atkins reveals first-ever Cybotron live show. DJ Mag. Brian. Coney. December 3, 2018. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20181204115225/https://djmag.com/news/juan-atkins-reveals-first-ever-cybotron-live-show. December 4, 2018.
  2. Web site: From the Autobahn to I-94. Pitchfork. Heikko. Hoffmann. November 28, 2005. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190708230500/https://pitchfork.com/features/article/6204-from-the-autobahn-to-i-94/. July 8, 2019.
  3. Web site: Techno pioneer Juan Atkins is rewiring his electro legacy. DJ Mag. Christian. Eede. April 9, 2019. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190705090538/https://djmag.com/longreads/techno-pioneer-juan-atkins-rewiring-his-electro-legacy. July 5, 2019.
  4. Web site: Kevin Saunderson, Juan Atkins and Derrick May set for world tour as The Belleville Three. DJ Mag. Andrew. Rafter. May 18, 2017. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170519004502/https://djmag.com/news/kevin-saunderson-juan-atkins-and-derrick-may-join-forces-belleville-three. May 19, 2017.
  5. Web site: Juan Atkins to perform first-ever Cybotron live show on new tour, starting in London. Resident Advisor. Andrew. Ryce. November 29, 2018. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190503114805/https://www.residentadvisor.net/news/42892. May 3, 2019.
  6. Web site: Juan Atkins and Moritz von Oswald Celebrate 25 Years of Tresor with New Borderland Album. Vice. Anna. Codrea-Rado. February 26, 2016. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190822043022/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/z4578y/juan-atkins-mortiz-von-oswald-transport-album-tresor. August 22, 2019.
  7. Web site: Juan Atkins, Juan Maclean - A Nurvous + Rinsed Event. Resident Advisor. February 29, 2020.
  8. Web site: Techno gets its due at museum in Motown. Los Angeles Times. David. Runk. February 10, 2003. February 29, 2020.
  9. Web site: Cybotron, the original Detroit techno act, is returning with a new album and tour. Metro Times. Lee. DeVito. January 15, 2020. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200215202811/https://www.metrotimes.com/city-slang/archives/2020/01/15/cybotron-the-original-detroit-techno-act-is-returning-with-a-new-album-and-tour. February 15, 2020.
  10. Web site: The Things They Buried: On Cybotron's Embattled Techno Sci-Fi Masterpiece, 'Enter'. Spin. Dave. Tompkins. October 30, 2013. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190509160053/https://www.spin.com/2013/10/cybotron-clear-reissue-dave-tompkins-sci-fi-techno/. May 9, 2019.
  11. Web site: Detroit is Techno City, and techno is Black. Metro Times. Imani. Mixon. May 23, 2018. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190601172119/https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/detroit-is-techno-city-and-techno-is-black/Content?oid=12291432. June 1, 2019.
  12. Web site: Interview: Juan Atkins. Red Bull Music Academy. Ben. Ferguson. May 23, 2017. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191101114319/http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2017/05/interview-juan-atkins. November 1, 2019.
  13. Web site: Juan Atkins Announces New LP as Model 500. XLR8R. Kat. Leinhart. November 19, 2014. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190827083851/https://xlr8r.com/news/juan-atkins-announces-new-lp-as-model-500/. August 27, 2019.
  14. Web site: 25 Years On, Juan Atkins and Moritz von Oswald Are Still Exploring the Borderland of Techno. Vice. Jesse. Weiss. April 21, 2016. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191129084143/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/53aa9z/juan-atkins-moritz-von-oswald-zeolites-borderland-exclusive-stream. November 29, 2019.
  15. Web site: Juan Atkins and Moritz von Oswald return as Borderland with Transport LP. Fact. Scott. Wilson. February 25, 2016. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190822043023/https://www.factmag.com/2016/02/25/borderland-juan-atkins-moritz-transport-tresor/. August 22, 2019.
  16. Web site: 2015-09-28. VAVA METROPLEX. 2021-01-12. VISIOPHONE.
  17. Web site: Vava Eyewear Metal Magazine. 2021-01-12. metalmagazine.eu.
  18. Web site: Juan Atkins on Kraftwerk. Electronic Beats. Juan. Atkins. November 11, 2012. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170630071959/http://www.electronicbeats.net/juan-atkins-about-kraftwerk/. June 30, 2017.
  19. Web site: Juan Atkins in The Lab LDN. Mixmag. Callum. Reece. November 9, 2015. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160120095315/http://www.mixmag.net/read/juan-atkins-in-the-lab-ldn-dj-lab. January 20, 2016.
  20. Web site: This New Documentary Unearths Valuable Techno History—With Some Glaring Omissions · Feature ⟋ RA . 2024-02-27 . Resident Advisor . en.
  21. Web site: Various Artists: High Tech Soul: The Creation of Techno Music [DVD]]. PopMatters. Tim. O'Neil. December 3, 2006. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200229163037/https://www.popmatters.com/various-artists-high-tech-soul-the-creation-of-techno-music-dvd-2495745483.html. February 29, 2020.
  22. Web site: The history of Detroit techno is explored in new documentary, Black to Techno. DJ Mag. Brian. Coney. August 13, 2019. February 29, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191225233814/https://djmag.com/news/history-detroit-techno-explored-new-documentary-black-techno. December 25, 2019.

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