1.8.7

Jordana LeSesne

Jordana at Technorganic Records showcase party with MC Collaborator
Background information
Born Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Genres Drum and bass
Occupation(s) Producer, musician, DJ
Years active 1995–present
Website http://www.jordanamusic.com

1.8.7 is a pseudonym for Jordana LeSesne, a musician and producer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[1] She became widely known in the mid-1990s as an American Drum and Bass producer. The Village Voice described her as being "[w]idely regarded as the top U.S. drum'n'bass producer"[2] She has released of over 50 tracks which includes three full-length albums, several EPs, and many remixes under the alias "1.8.7". The album When Worlds Collide, released in 1997, became known for its "dark pummeling assaults". Several of her tracks have appeared as videos on MTV Amp[3] as well as MTV Europe. She has also licensed tracks for numerous compilations as well as the Sci Fi Channel. Both of her albums charted in the Top 25 of both the CMJ (College Music Journal) and Mixmag U.S. (later Mixer Magazine, now defunct) for 1997 as well as 1998. Her works have been reviewed by the likes of Spin, Rolling Stone, Urb, Mixer, Mixmag, Raygun, and Vibe as well as Knowledge – the U.K. Drum and Bass magazine. In 1999 she was listed in Raygun's "Who's Who of International DJs". She was one of the headlining DJ's on Knowledge Magazine's 28 city "Kung Fu Knowledge" tour in 1999.[4] She also made Out Magazine's OUT100 for the year 2000.[5]

Jordana's work has also influenced other artists such as well known dubstep producer Bassnectar who heavily sampled 5 A.M. Rinse (feat. MC Sphinx), the last song on her first album When Worlds Collide for his song Here We Go off of his 2010 EP and single Timestretch.[6] Additionally, electronic rock act Celldweller sampled "Wake Up" off of her first album as well as "San Francisco" off of her third album "The Cities Collection" in their 2013 song "Uncrowned".[7]

In 1999 Drum & Bass/Hip Hop producer and label owner, Hive approached Jordana to remix her song Defcon-1 also off of When Worlds Collide. Hives remix appears on his 2001 album The Raw Uncut.[8] Jordana collaborated with Lady Sovereign on a song early in Sov's career after the two met in an internet chat room for an online radio station which Jordana had a show on. Recently, New Zealand based Dubstep and Drum & Bass producer Alexis K/Unsub has also cited Jordana as an influence and the two are collaborating on music and a possible tour.

In addition to production Jordana has also been a DJ, musician and singer. In 2001–2002 Jordana worked at Flex FM in London, England as Lady J with Lady Sovereign MCing for her during Jordana's radio show.[9] In 2002 she held a club residency spinning UK Garage, 2-Step Garage and House Music at legendary club night Trinity in London's Vauxhall neighborhood.

Currently, Jordana has returned to her rock roots and fronts a melodic goth metal band which is working on their first studio album. Additionally, Jordana is working on a new Drum and Bass E.P. for Bristol, UK based Complex Records. Her guitar and vocal work have featured on clips of songs off of her new E.P. posted to Soundcloud and on cover songs she has posted on AfroPunk.com.

Jordana has also been featured in two books. Her success rising from the depressed 80s economy of a "rust belt" city to MTV featured electronica artist garnered a mention in 2002 New York Times bestseller "The Rise of the Creative Class" by economist Richard Florida. An extensive interview with Jordana was also featured in "The New Transsexuals" a book by rock journalist and illustrator George Petros (Thrasher, Seconds, Propaganda, EXIT magazines) published in 2012.

She currently resides in Seattle.

Selected discography

Vinyl

CD releases

Videos

Filmography

In 2002 Jordana licensed "One vocal, background use, forty-five seconds (0:45) in length" from her song "Break In" to Paramount Pictures for the Zoolander DVD release.

References

  1. ↑ "VH1 Biography". Vh1.com. Archived from the original on February 14, 2011. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
  2. ↑ Top Jungle Producer Attacked Tuesday, February 29, 2000 Village Voice Archived 14 February 2011 at WebCite
  3. ↑ Perry, Dan (August 11, 1998). "AMP". http://my.execpc.com/~danperry/''. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Kung Fu Knowledge Tour Cities". Bmotion. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  5. ↑ Out Magazine (74): 45. January 2000.
  6. ↑ iphoneunclockseattle. "Bassnectar's Here We Go sample of 1.8.7 feat. MC Sphinx's 5 A.M. Rinse". WhoSampled. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  7. ↑ jordana. "Celldweller samples Wake Up and San Francisco". WhoSampled. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Hive – The Raw Uncut EP". Discogs. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  9. ↑ Sovereign, Lady (May 18, 2002). "Lock in to FLex FM 2nite". http://www.ukmusic.com/''. Retrieved May 30, 2013.

External links