Lackluster

Lackluster
Background information
Birth name Esa Juhani Ruoho
Also known as Lackluster, Esa Ruoho, XLLV, Can'o'Lard, You-Honey, Scatterpillar
Born October 26, 1978 (1978-10-26) (age 33)
Origin Helsinki, Finland
Genres IDM, ambient, downtempo, tracker-music, chiptune, chillout
Occupations Musician
Instruments Computer, laptop, synthesizer, tracker, sequencer
Years active 1994–present
Labels deFocus, Merck Records, U-Cover Records, SLSK Records, Psychonavigation Records
Associated acts Kökö and the Köks, Newcomer, EET
Website lackluster.org

Lackluster is the main stage name of Esa Juhani Ruoho (born October 26, 1978), who has also recorded as Esa Ruoho, Can'o'Lard, Kökö and the Köks and XLLV.[1] Lackluster is formerly known as the chiptune musician, Distance, part of the demoscene groups Orange, Monotonik, Calodox, The Digital Artists, The Planet of Leather Moomins (TPOLM) and FLO.[2] Lackluster also ran a Bulletin Board System, Cloudcity, from 1992 to 2000 – utilizing HectoBBS (1992), SuperBBS (1992–1994) and PCBoard (1994–2000) BBS Software.[3]

Ruoho has lived most of his life in Helsinki, Finland, but has also, since 2000, travelled to Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada for six months in 2000–2001[4] and also spent time in Dublin, Ireland.[5] For the past 22 years he has been lodging in Kontula, a district of Eastern Helsinki.

Contents

Musical career

Esa Ruoho started composing electronic music in the mid-1990s and, after 2000 has been releasing recorded music (remixes, compilation-tracks, original work) on dozens of labels, full-length CDs on such labels as deFocus records (Great Britain), Merck Records (Miami, Florida, U.S.),[6] U-cover (Belgium),[7] Psychonavigation Records (Dublin, Ireland), New-Speak Records (Stockholm, Sweden).[1] He has since 2007 worked with SLSK Records and Nice And Nasty from Ireland, San Francisco based netlabel, TwoCircles Records and the Argentinian netlabel Igloo-Rec.[8]

Live performances

Since 2000, Ruoho has played numerous musical performances in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Ireland, England, Austria, Poland, Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Lithuania. Current tally: 107 live gigs (as of 24 July 2011).[8][9]

Media collaborations

Work with Photographers

Presspictures:

Other interests

Ruoho also has a striking interest in the thoughts, discoveries and concepts of Walter Russell, Buckminster Fuller, Viktor Schauberger, Wilhelm Reich, John Keely, John Bedini and any related nature and intuition-based information, such as Earthship technology, the Dymaxion map, Dymaxion Chronofile, and Biomimicry. . In 2008 Ruoho became a lifetime Friend of The Wilhelm Reich Infant Trust, and also a supporting Citizen of The Solar Village.[8] Ruoho / Lackluster is also a hemp, medical marijuana, cannabis activist.[8][18]

Interests and releases

Discography

Source:[1]

List of software used by Lackluster

List of artists remixed by Lackluster

Ceniq, OTR, Beck (illicit), Thug, Laurent Garnier (illicit), Marumari, Machine Drum, Multiplex, Proem, Ilkae, Sleepy Town Manufacture, EEDL, Korpi Ensemble, Manta, (env)Itre, Kschzt, Blamstrain, Antennae, Global Goon, Tiki Obmar, Diskreet, Paolo Veneziani, Keef Baker, Joseph Auer, Anne Garner, Elephant Pixel, RA-X, Kilowatts, Aleksi Eeben, Strand & Non-Genetic (1/3 of Shadowhuntaz), HECQ. Hereticks of Disko, Robert Graff, Paul Mac, Tomi Chair, Produse, Mick Chillage, Xurba, Dilo, Anodyne, Brawdcast, Metamatics.[1][8]

List of artists who have remixed Lackluster

Bauri, Brothomstates, Esem, Xhale (Erik Skodvin, Xhale=Deaf Center), Sense, Numerical, Birdcage, Nachklangmusik & Remlab and Phasen.[1][8]

List of collaborations/appearances

Sources:[1][8]

Name

Lackluster is taken from "Pyramids" by Terry Pratchett (Discworld series), encountered 1996–1997.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Esa Ruoho at Discogs.com". http://www.discogs.com/artist/Esa+Ruoho. 
  2. ^ "TPOLM roster". http://tpolm.org/people.html.  "Monotonik roster". http://www.mono211.com.  "Your account". pouët.net website. http://www.pouet.net. Retrieved 11 October 2010.  "Distance/Orange Demography". http://scene.org/~esa/demodiscography.html. 
  3. ^ "Private communique". http://www.scene.org/~esa/. 
  4. ^ Grooves Magazine #5, FAQT Magazine #5, Zealectronic Purple Biography
  5. ^ 2005 hotpress interview, Foggy notions interview (2005)
  6. ^ Merck records website, numerous interviews
  7. ^ U-cover website
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Lackluster website". http://www.lackluster.org/. 
  9. ^ "Lackluster gig map". http://www.frappr.com/lackluster. 
  10. ^ "Helsingin Utopiat". http://www2.hs.fi/klik/utopiat2001/utopia2001.html. 
  11. ^ "Assembly website". http://www.assembly.org. 
  12. ^ "Teemu niskanen site". http://www.teemuniskanen.com/. 
  13. ^ a b "devinquest.com website". http://www.devinquest.com/. 
  14. ^ "8081.com website". http://www.8081.com. 
  15. ^ "Maa-tila". http://www.taidekoulumaa.fi/maa-tila/. 
  16. ^ "Korg DS-10 Synthesizer - arvostelu". http://pelaajalehti.com/arvostelut/pelaaja/korg-ds-10-synthesizer/. Retrieved 11 October 2010. 
  17. ^ "Suomen kuumin peliaiheinen podcast on täällä". http://pelaajalehti.com/2008/10/28/suomen-kuumin-peliaiheinen-podcast-on-taalla/. Retrieved 11 October 2010. 
  18. ^ "Relevant BCN Interview of Lackluster (2011)". http://www.relevantbcn.com/articles/24-featured/560-lackluster-interview.html. Retrieved 15 February 2011. 
  19. ^ "Latest Monotik release". 2005-09-25. http://www.mono211.com/content/releases/mtkmp153.html. Retrieved 11 October 2010. 
  20. ^ "Lackluster - What You Want Isn’t What You Need". http://www.discogs.com/release/519743. Retrieved 11 October 2010. 
  21. ^ a b c "Esaruoho Flickr sets". http://www.flickr.com/photos/esaruoho/sets/. 
  22. ^ a b c Private communique

External links