Pearson Sound Explained

David Kennedy (born 1988), professionally known as Pearson Sound, is an electronic dance music producer, mix engineer and DJ based in London. His style is a combination of house, dubstep, UK funky, UK garage and jungle. In October 2024, a review of his EP release stated: "Which Way Is Up cements Pearson Sound's position as one of UK electronic music's all time greats."[1]

Career

Early in his career, Kennedy released some music under the names Ramadanman (until 2010)[2] and Maurice Donovan.[3] He has worked under the Pearson Sound alias since 2008 and tracks under old and new names featured in his FabricLive.56 mix. He has released several acclaimed EPs and singles, including "Blanked",[4] "Deep Inside" and "Thaw Cycle". He has completed remixes for artists such as Radiohead, Depeche Mode, the XX, Disclosure and MIA, on labels including XL, Warner and Columbia.[5] He was voted by the public as one of Resident Advisors top 100 DJs in the world in both 2010 and 2011.[6]

In 2007, he founded the record label Hessle Audio with Ben Thomson (Ben UFO) and Kevin McAuley (Pangaea). Since then, Hessle Audio have been featured regularly in major dance music publications,[7] [8] as well as touring across the world.[9] On their 15th anniversary in 2022, a cover feature in Crack magazine stated: "Pound for pound, Hessle Audio are surely the most influential British club label of their generation".[10]

Kennedy released his debut self-titled album in 2015 on Hessle Audio.[11] The album was well received critically and scored 8.1 by the website Pitchfork.[12] His single "XLB" was voted as the second best track of 2016 by Resident Advisor.[13]

Kennedy makes regular appearances on BBC Radio 1 who describe him as a 'key figure in the [UK bass] scene',[14] as well as co-hosting a regular show on London's Rinse FM.[15]

Aside from DJing, producing and mixing, Kennedy also ran for many years a vinyl-only club night called Acetate at the Leeds nightclub Wire, featuring guests such as Gilles Peterson and Four Tet, and he was a headline act at the club's final club night weekend before its closure in June 2024.[16]

Personal life

Kennedy was brought up in north London and studied at Highgate School[17] and the University of Leeds. His mother is the civil engineer Joanna Kennedy. He lives in south London.[10] [18]

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bužinel . Jaša . Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for October . The Quietus . 9 October 2024.
  2. Web site: RA: Ramadanman.
  3. Web site: Ellis . Huw . Maurice Donovan - Babeh . 11 July 2020.
  4. Web site: Top 100 singles of 2010. Fact Magazine. 15 March 2017.
  5. Web site: Discogs: Pearson Sound. Discogs.com. 15 March 2017.
  6. Web site: Top 100 DJs of 2011. Resident Advisor. 15 March 2017.
  7. Web site: Carnes. Richard. Label of the month: Hessle Audio. Resident Advisor. 15 March 2017.
  8. http://mixmag.net/feature/label-focus-hessle-audio/ "Label Focus: Hessle Audio"
  9. Web site: Hessle Audio goes on tour. XLR8R. 15 March 2017.
  10. Web site: On and on and on: the first fifteen years of Hessle Audio . 10 October 2022.
  11. http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/pearson-sound-pearson-sound-album-review-1.2136736 "Pearson Sound: Pearson Sound | Album Review"
  12. Web site: Gaerig. Andrew. Pearson Sound review. Pitchfork. 1 May 2015.
  13. Web site: RA Poll: Top 50 tracks of 2016. Resident Adviser. 15 March 2017.
  14. Web site: BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix. BBC. 15 March 2017.
  15. Web site: Hessle Audio: Rinse FM. Rinse FM. 15 March 2017.
  16. Web site: Muk . Isaac . RIP Wire: The Leeds club’s closure leaves a rich legacy and a huge void . Crack magazine . 6 October 2024.
  17. Hodgson . Ben . Pearson Sound - self-titled album review . The Cholmeleian . Spring 2016 . 16 . 10 October 2022.
  18. Web site: Pearson Sound . 10 October 2022.
  19. Web site: Lawson . Michael . Pearson Sound reveals new EP on Hessle Audio . Resident Advisor . 6 October 2024.
  20. Web site: Pearson Sound Announces new 'Red Sky' EP on Hessle Audio . 10 October 2022.
  21. Web site: Hawthorn . Carlos . Pearson Sound - Alien Mode . 9 July 2020.
  22. Web site: Smith . Mark . Pearson Sound - Robin Chasing Butterflies . 9 July 2020.
  23. Web site: Babbington-Fowles . Tom . Pearson Sound - Hornet . Record Report . 6 October 2024.
  24. https://www.npr.org/2015/03/05/389493760/first-listen-pearson-sound-pearson-sound "Review: Pearson Sound, 'Pearson Sound'

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