Max Cooper (electronica musician)

Max Cooper
Born Belfast, Northern Ireland
Origin London
Genres Techno
Ambient music
Years active 2007–present
Labels Fields
Website Official website

Max Cooper (born 1980) is a London-based[1] electronica and techno producer who has been releasing music since 2007. He has received positive criticism from magazines such as Clash[2] and his best-known releases are the Serie trilogy, three dancefloor tracks that were accompanied by videos created by animator Whiskas Fx, who was inspired by different scientific and mathematical concepts.[3]

Cooper has released more than fifty original tracks and remixes,[4] primarily on German label Traum Schallplatten.[5] His remixes range from avant-garde composer Michael Nyman, to bands like Hot Chip and Au Revoir Simone, to techno acts such as Agoria and Dominik Eulberg.[6]

Early life and education

Cooper was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland to parents of Australian descent.[7] He was inspired to become a geneticist after reading a Stephen Hawking book as a child.[7] Although he did not receive formal music training, Cooper started playing violin at age 12, but eventually stopped: "I never enjoyed it [violin] and didn't pursue it to any great degree—the music wasn't right to be honest."[6]

Cooper received his Ph.D. in computational biology from Nottingham University in 2008.[7] During his doctoral training, his research interests focused on modelling the evolution of gene regulatory networks—he specifically examined the evolution of feed-forward loops,[8] and studied the evolutionary influences of binding site organisation during transcriptional processes.[9] After completing his doctoral work, Cooper held a brief post-doctoral position as a geneticist at University College London.[1][10]

Career

Music

In 2010, Cooper decided to focus entirely on music production and his music is influenced by his science background.[1][11] In terms of musical references, Cooper has cited Jon Hopkins, Sigur Rós and Ólafur Arnalds, adding that his influences are "mainly electronica more than techno".

Cooper released a two-part EP, Conditions One, on 10 December 2012, which also featured Braids, Ghosting Season and D/R/U/G/S (aka Callum Wright).[12] That same month, he achieved the number 5 spot on BeatPort's "Top Artists of 2012"[13] and was voted a "top 20" live act by the readers of canonical electronic music website Resident Advisor.[14]

Cooper encourages fans to produce their own videos for his music, with the results displayed on his website.[15][16] He released a music video for the song "Pleasures" that was animated by artist Cédric de Smedt.[17]

Cooper revealed that some of the artwork on his album covers[18] was inspired by his flatmate, who is a graphic designer.[19]

In December 2013, Cooper announced the release date of his debut album Human as 10 March 2014. The album was preceded by the single "Adrift", which was released on 16 December 2013. In regard to "Adrift", Cooper explained that it is "more of a personal piece of music for me than a club track, which is the approach I’ve taken for the whole album".[20]

Live performance

Cooper has performed at numerous festivals, including Rainbow Serpent Festival,[21]Glade Festival,[22] Bestival,[23] Alpha-ville,[24] Picnik Electronik Festival [6][25] and the Decibel Festival.[26] He has also performed live with artists such as Echaskech[27] and Baltimoroder.[28]

Other projects

As of 2011, Cooper is working with software company Liine on music-production software that is influenced by science.[29] In December 2012, he wrote a blog for British music magazine NME.[30]

Equipment

Cooper uses Ableton equipment and Akai APC40 controllers.[31] He is also an early adopter of unusual club sound systems, performing in August 2013 on a 3D sound system called "4DSOUND".[32]

Selected discography

[33]

References

  1. ↑ "Max Cooper biography". residentadvisor.net. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  2. ↑ Taufen, Amber; Chester, Britt (5 October 2012). "The best dance music in Denver this weekend: Max Cooper, Doc Martin, Miguel Migs and more". westword.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  3. ↑ Donaghy, John (2 April 2012). "Watch the new video for Max Cooper’s "Micron," released today on Beatport". beatport.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  4. ↑ "Max Cooper – Harmonisch Serie (Traumschallplatten / 107)". de-bug.de. 6 February 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  5. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Polly Lavin (15 November 2010). "Amalgamating the rhythm - Max Cooper presents his vision". ibiza-voice.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  6. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 JontySkrufff (9 November 2010). "Max Cooper: I Don’t Believe in Miracles (interview)". trackitdown.net. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  7. ↑ Cooper MB, Loose M, Brookfield JFY. Evolutionary modelling of feed forward loops in gene regulatory networks. Biosystems 2008; 91: 231-244.
  8. ↑ Cooper MB, Loose M, Brookfield JFY. The evolutionary influence of binding site organisation on gene regulatory networks. Biosystems 2009; 96: 185-193.
  9. ↑ "Interview: Max Cooper". The Burlington Project. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  10. ↑ Taylor, Ken (12 July 2012). "Max Cooper". beatport.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  11. ↑ "FREE MP3: MAX COOPER (D/R/U/G/S REMIX)". mixmag.net. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  12. ↑ "Beatport News names its Top Artists of 2012". beatport.com. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  13. ↑ "RA Poll: Top 20 live acts of 2012". www.residentadvisor.net. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  14. ↑ Max Cooper fan video page
  15. ↑ Murray, Robin (4 November 2011). "Max Cooper Unveils Fan Video". clashmusic.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  16. ↑ Bennett, Neil (17 December 2012). "Cédric de Smedt's striking animated music video for Max Cooper's hypnotic Pleasures". digitalartsonline.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  17. ↑ Ben Slater. "Max Cooper - Positive Mutation". Behance. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  18. ↑ Forsyth, Laura (2011-11-28). "Max Cooper: Genetically Enhanced". theskinny.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-02-22.
  19. ↑ Coultate, Aaron (10 December 2013). "The UK techno producer's first full-length is due out in March 2014.". residentadvisor.net. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  20. ↑ "Rainbow Serpent 2014". inthemix.com.au. 13 October 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  21. ↑ "Glade Festival 2012". clashmusic.com. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  22. ↑ Murray, Robin (31 August 2012). "Bestival 2012 To Be Live Streamed". clashmusic.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  23. ↑ Ignatidou, Sophia (19 September 2011). "East London gets ready for third Alpha-ville festival". eastlondonlines.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  24. ↑ Thompson, Joanne (5 March 2012). "Igloofest and Piknic Electronik: Montreal's hot and cold running raves". music.cbc.ca. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  25. ↑ Reynaldo, Shawn (25 September 2012). "Max Cooper's Decibel Mix". XLR8R. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  26. ↑ Saque Ferreira (10 August 2011). "Sat 3rd Sep @ Ginglik". altsounds.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  27. ↑ Di Tullio, Joanna (20 September 2012). "IN THE MIX: MAX COOPER". digboston.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  28. ↑ "Max Cooper on his 120 track live set and production techniques". lostinmusik.net. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  29. ↑ Max Cooper (5 December 2012). "Why Skrillex And Co.'s EDM Explosion Is Something To Celebrate". nme.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  30. ↑ Robertswaine86 (26 May 2010). "Socialeyes Presents Max Cooper At Corsica Studios". spoonfed.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  31. ↑ Dan White (24 October 2013). "The 4D Soundsystem: Max Cooper Interview". djtechtools.com. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  32. ↑ "MAX COOPER - Releases". Beatport. Beatport, LLC. 2004–2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.

External links