Picture Scotland… forget haggis, forget men in skirts, forget fluorescent ginger pig tails and miserably cold weather. Now instead imagine one of the most musically eclectic breakthroughs this country has to offer right now. Imagine diverse electronic and acoustic sounds created by a man hell bent on world domination, playing live shows everywhere from Tokyo to Tennessee… Indeed, you may be thinking this mythological creature stands as much chance of being spotted as the Loch Ness Monster, and that the only enjoyable being to come out of Scotland is Grounds Keeper Willy. But no, you would be very much mistaken.
Enter Hudson Mohawke, real name Ross Birchard. Hailing from Glasgow alongside fellow electronic/hiphop producer Rustie, his style demonstrates an immense diversity, craftily fusing together a wide range of genres to create what has come to be known as ‘Wonky’. Mohawke himself would be the first to dismiss that his music falls under this revolutionary genre and instead prefers to be tarred with the experimental brush, claiming that his music holds no label, “I’m just trying to create sounds that aren’t familiar to the ear”
Mohawke earned his stripes at the frail age of 15, competing and becoming one of the youngest ever UK DMC DJ finalists. After such an honour he then opened his mind to an extensive encyclopaedia of musical talent across the board, with his insatiable appetite devouring artists from Pink Floyd to Earth Wind & Fire. He clearly had no intention of replicating anybody’s sound, and it seems that his fresh approach is doing for music what Airwaves did for chewing gum.
Glitchy, wonky and owing as much to hiphop and RnB as electronic, his album ‘Butter’, created a twister throughout the music industry, attracting attention from a scope of artists from Crookers to Rihanna. Imagine taking the trademark strings of Kanye west, the crashing horns of Just Blaze, The brisk and offkey beats of Squarepusher, throw in some of Venitian Snare glitch and some Rusko stomp and shake it up with the occasional soulful funk of fellow Warp Records artists Nightmares on wax and there you have just one of the many faces of Mr.Mohawke.
On his music, Hudson says; “I don’t see the point in making what has already been done”. Need I say anymore…
Hudson Mohawke is currently in world domination tour mode, but can be caught next in the UK on March 6th for Sonar @ The Roundhouse in London, check out his MySpace for more information on this burning hot talent. Standout track of the moment ‘Fuse’, is certain to turn heads.
Line BreakAuthor: Mickey B A (22 Articles)
Say hello to Mickey BA. He be a ghetto blasting, boom shaking, music making livewire of a geeza! Bringing you the lowdown and true heads up on all your music, film and partying needs! Mickey is editor of music and events.
