|
DJ:UNKNOWN Please click on links to get to the sections Disclaimer UNKNOWN BIO "Cylon Rock, Robo Titanic, Pop Lockisms, Scambient, Megaphonics, Alarmist 2 Step, Mc Synth, Neon Nu-Beat, Atari Thumb Cramp, Progressive Pogo Disco, Moog Hooligans, Electro Rash, Sassy Seniors, Porno Concertos, Laptop Limericks, Tri-Sexual Sambas, Non Wave Boombastics. New tools for a tired scenario." 1998 was the year that drove Hillary Snyder (A.K.A. DJ: Unknown) to wear a paper bag on his head. The New York club scene had fallen into a closed loop of Hip Hop, House, Techno and assorted Mtv approved "alt" styles. The raw, break out energy that once made New York a night clubbers paradise had faded to black. Dancing, deemed a crime through archaic NYC Cabaret laws put a strangle hold on what was left of that energy. Striking a pose rather than stooping to a base activity like dancing was always a preferred stance to take for the snobbery and nervous new comers. In short, the famed NYC night scene had become nothing more than an urban legend. In an effort to slap the scene into consciousness, a good sight gag was in order. That and a couple of crates of records that reached for a mind set as opposed to a genre. The late 70's and early 80's in New York were nothing less than a cultural big bang. Punk Rock, Hip Hop, Ska, Disco, Reggae, Dance Hall, House, Techno, Hi NRG, No Wave, New Wave, etc...All energized by each other. Knowing the Pavlovian response he would get, DJ: Unknown mixed 1 part NY underground with 2 parts Punk Funk/Neo Electro. Around that time he was introduced to and became friends with Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner. After witnessing the legendary first performance of Fischerspooner at Starbucks on Astor Place, Hillary immediately offered to play as a side act. At that time there were no other DJs spinning electro-centric sets in New York. Fischerspooner's show was put in an appropriate context with Unknown's set and a scene started to take shape. Playing with a paper bag on his head, DJ: Unknown soon had a cult following. People were more than ready for some humor and individuality. Originally worn as a comment on the state of the club scene and a nose thumbing to the dj fame game, the paper bag's ambiguous nature soon took on a life of its own. Apparently striking a nerve, four years later, Dj Unknown's bag gag was "adopted" by the Belgian DJ duo 2 Many DJs. Having borrowed it himself from the Gong Show hero The Unknown Comic, DJ: Unknown enlisted in a small anonymous performer army. A Private in a private army you might say. Joining Nash the Slash, The Residents, Artists Unknown, Bucket Head and Kiss to name a few. Since the creation of DJ: Unknown, Hillary has gone on to Dj / Promote major Neo Electro nights in NYC. Including NY's first Neo Electro night called Nite Magic at Gavin Brown's Passerby Bar (1998-2003). The Atari / Commodore fetish night called Blip pulled together the fractured 8 bit fanatic scene for the first time (1999). Featuring music and digital art all based on or dramatically influenced by early video games. Dj Unknown's set for the night might include original video game scores mixed with French House, Hip Hop, Electro old and new, Space Disco, Reggae, Techno, Dance Hall and anything else he could find that had incorporated the now famous SID chip sound as ear candy. The Profile Oscuro parties were a joint effort between DJ: Unknown and the east coast record distributor team Safety In Numbers. Profile Oscuro's mission was to bring in Electro heavies from around the world who had either been neglected or over shadowed by the Larry T "Electro Clash" media blitz. Among them were Hong Kong Counterfeit, It and My Computer, Ed DMX, Carl Finlow and Crossover. In recent years his instincts and record collection have turned him into a frequent flyer (see Highlights of Recent Bookings ) and positioned him on club nights with the biggest names in the Punk Funk/Neo Electro scene. In 2001 he was hired by Levi's as Music Supervisor on a series of 3 commercials. In 2002 Cornerstone Promotions commissioned him to introduce America to the NY Electro movement on Cornerstone Player #34. He is currently a resident of the nationally broadcast XM 80 Satelite Radio show "REDUX" with fellow residents: John Selway, Simon, Larry T and Tommie Sunshine. DJ: Unknown has also been featured in GQ, Shout, IN, Self Service, L.A. Weekly, Vice, Foul and Time Out NY.
HISTORY Resident of "Push" show on East Village Radio (Internet) with: Cowboy Mark Resident of "Redux" show on XM 80 Satelite Radio (Nationaly Broadcast in the U.S.) With: John Selway, Simon, Larry T, Tommie Sunshine Music Supervisor / Composer for documentary film "Words of the Prophets" featuring Graffiti Artists: LEE and Futura 2000 (currently in production) Sound Design for NYC sculptor Peter Caine for current installation at P.S.1 / Moma exhibit "Greater New York" (2005) Spirit (formerly Twillo) Gigolo party w/ Hell, Savas Pascadillas (NYC) City Quest (headline) (Prague) Sleaze (headline) (D.C.) Amp Galaxy (headline) (Sao Paulo) Batofar (headline) (Paris) La Santanera (headline) (Playa Del Carmen) De Vloer (headline) (Amsterdam) Key Club Holloween w/ Zombie Nation, Mt. Sims (L.A.) Winter Music Conference (Miami)(2004) Ultra Music Festival- Vice Magazine Raw Power Event with: DJ: Unknown, Tommie Sunshine, Avenue D, Swayzak, Adult LCD Sound System, 2 Many DJs, The Rapture, Miss Kitten Revolver 2 (Tribeca Grand Hotel, DFA, Adidas, Output, Paper Magazine) with: DJ: Unknown, Swayzak, !!!, Black Strobe, Mu, The Juan Maclean. Trevor Jackson, Dead Combo, Headman, James Murphy Xylophone Jones Recordings Party with: DJ: Unknown, Tommie Sunshine, Felix The Housecat, Arthur Baker, Junior Sanchez, Traxx, Selway, Hollatronix, DJs are not Rockstars, John Acquaviva Dj / Promoter of 3 Fischerspooner after parties for Deitch Project performances with Tommy Sunshine, John Selway, Ulysses and Nite Dog (NYC)(2003) Opened for the Buzzcocks at the Bowery Ballroom (NYC)(2003) Beastie Boy DVD Release party at Passerby Bar (NYC) P.S.1 (MoMA) After party for the exhibit Around 1984 (NYC) Unknown Bash - Artist Unknown & DJ Unknown at Casino (Berlin) Live televised interview and performance on Bouge (Quebec, Canada) Gigolo Records showcase at Centro Fly w/ Hell, Miss Kitten & The Hacker, Crossover and Linda Lamb (NYC) Live Internet Simulcast Sony Playstation party with performances by De La Soul and Mt. Sims (NYC)In conjunction with live sister party in L.A. with performances by Devo and Grand Master Flash Festival de Musique Electronique (headline) for the Neon Love 2003 (Turbo Records) (Montreal) Electro Clash Festival 2001, 2002, 2003 WMF with Martini Bros., Andrea Parker and Ellen Alien (Berlin) 2001 The Loft Club w/ Thomas Brinkman (Switzerland) Culture Club (headline) (Brussels) Polar TV (headline)(Berlin) Club Fake (headline) (San Francisco) 3 nights of sideshows and after parties for Fischerspooner (2000) Performances in Los Angles, CA. with Hell Dj / Promoter of Profile Oscuro parties with appearances by Hong Kong Counterfeit, Carl Finlow, Ed DMX, Soviet, It & My Computer & Crossover (NYC) UNKNOWN TOP TWENTY 04/01/05
LINKS UNKNOWN RELATED MUSIC FRIENDS MAGAZINES ESSENTIAL ART POLITICO ©2007 DJUNKNOWN
|
