Despite the mass exodus of University students, production company Intuit-Solar plans to continue showcasing innovative electronic dance music on a weekly basis. In addition to its Wednesday night parties at the Blind Pig featuring the Midwest's best DJs, Intuit-Solar is also expanding its reach by nationally releasing a series of techno records along with another special event in Detroit.
The increasing success of Solar with University students has exceeded all expectations, allowing Intuit-Solar to continually re-invest its revenues. The results of Intuit-Solar's re-investment include an effort to bring some of the most exciting artists in the Midwest to the intimate context of the Blind Pig every week.
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| Courtesy of Doug Coombe First-year student DJ Disco D studies the mixing styles of 97.9 FM's Gary Chandler. |
In May, Solar continues to host an impressive array of electronic music artists. Detroit artists, Kenny Dixon Jr. (best known as Moodyman) and Alton Miller will team up to bring their soulful mix of deep techno-influenced house music to Ann Arbor.
Intuit-Solar will also feature Kalamazoo techno artist Jay Denham along with the booty and hip-hop mix of popular 97.9 FM DJ Gary Chandler in the month of May.
On June 9, Astralwerks recording artist Stacey Pullen will begin his monthly residency at Solar. Joining Pullen for the special evening will be yet another acclaimed Detroit recording artist, Kenny Larkin.
Intuit-Solar will also be hosting an exciting event at The Shelter in downtown Detroit on May 27 titled "Static." This event will provide connoisseurs of electronic music with an extremely rare opportunity to witness German artist Pole (Stefan Betke) perform live. The music of Pole has gotten mass global acclaim for his innovative approach to music production. Instead of using drumbeats to create rhythm, Pole exploits extremely deep modulating bass frequencies.
These subterranean rhythms create powerful waves of sound able to vibrate through the mind, body and soul of the listener. Overtop of the bass, Pole dubs strange sounds such as the crackling sounds of a phonograph needle on vinyl in a melodic manner. These high-frequency melodies of dubbed sound at times correlate and at other times juxtapose with the low-frequency rhythm invoking both feelings of serenity as well as chaos.
Other artists performing at "Static" include LS&A senior and WCBN (88.3) DJ Carlos Souffront and a live performance by Ninja Tune recording artist Neotropic (Riz Malsen), featuring her eclectic exploitation of breakbeats. The tranquil techno of Minus artist Clark Warner will also be featuring at "Static."
Further results of the Intuit-Solar's re-investment include their role as a burgeoning record label. Intuit-Solar has followed up the success of LSA freshman Disco D's record, "The D-Down EP," with a series of compilations titled "Comin' From Tha D." Each of these releases focus on a style of electronic music called "ghetto tech."
The first two installments of the series will be followed by remixes. In addition to the "Comin' From Tha D" releases, Intuit-Solar will be releasing Detroit artist Sean Deason's long-awaited full-length album of sedated techno bliss, "Allegory and Metaphor."
Electronic music has found a home in Ann Arbor thanks to Solar. Two years ago, there was little if any interest for this evolving form of creative music here at the University. Now as a new generation of young incoming students brings their interest in electronic music to campus, a scene is beginning to evolve. The fact that Solar consistently draws the largest crowds at Ann Arbor's top venue, the Blind Pig, only proves that the musical landscape of Ann Arbor is changing whether traditionalists like it or not.
04-20-99
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