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relaxed machinery / john koch-northrup

relaxed machinery 38, Male central illinois, United States: jxh8384yzy43; Share

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Profile

About Me:

Hi! I'm John Koch-Northrup and one of the three co-owners of AtmoWorks. I record under the names Relaxed Machinery (current) and Interstitial (in the past). I mainly play piano, electronics, bass, and trumpet.

Here's the longer annoying written in the 3rd person as is pretentiously required bio...

Bio: John Koch-Northrup [ relaxed machinery | interstitial ]

John Koch-Northrup has been playing and writing music since the age of five when his grandma began teaching him to play piano. He quickly found he enjoyed making noises with the piano that weren't necessarily written on the page. While these early sessions were highly annoying to anyone within earshot - the rhythms and textures eventually began to evolve into music pleasing to young John's ears - and many years later pleasing to other people's ears. He learned to play classical and also began to explore jazz.

Thoughout school he was a certified band geek: playing trumpet in jazz band, student band director, playing trumpet and piano in state band contests (even writing piano solos for the contests). He also found a love of synths and electronics and joined his first band playing regularly in area bars and clubs at the age of 15. Playing in a band elevated his geeky status slightly, but not tremendously much. After high school he switched to playing bass in live bands. Throughout it all, John began to record songs on borrowed 4-track cassette recorders and drum machines. The music quickly began to evolve from synth-pop to longer form instrumental pieces that hinted towards ambient and industrial sounds.

By 22 he was burnt out on music and put all the instruments away except his piano. His mom passed away, he got a "real" full time job, and he married the love of his life that same year. Nearly four years later he pulled out the gear and played in a band again. It was a musically rewarding experience, but frustrating at many levels and the band imploded within 18 months.

At that point - his long time friend Vir Unis' ambient music career began to take off. This was a great inspiration and it got John to take the leap and start recording his solo material again. Focusing on ambient and minimal techno material, he put together his first demo which eventually was released on the Red Antenna label in 2001. Also in 2001, Vir Unis asked John play live with him at the 2001 Space For Music festival in Milwaukee, WI. This was later released as "Live at the Miramar" on AtmoWorks.

Since then John has released several other projects as Interstitial including a group remix project on The Foundry label with Vidna Obmana, Vir Unis, Saul Stokes, and M. Bentley remixing John's "sub.terra" track which was recorded solely using trumpet and processing. John has recently been taking a few years off from recording and is very excited to be a part of AtmoWorks with Vir Unis and Matt McDonough. The three of them have known each other since high school and have a long history together.

John is recording new projects under the name Relaxed Machinery.

Discography:

Interstitial - Temporal Arc (2001 Red Antenna)
Vir Unis / Interstitial - Live at the Miramar (2002 AtmoWorks)
Interstitial / Vidna Obmana / Vir Unis / Saul Stokes / M Bentley - sub.terra (2003 The Foundry)

Appears on:

Various Artists - The New Electric Policy (2001 Red Antenna)
Vir Unis / Saul Stokes - Thermal Transfer (2002 Hypnos/Binary)
Various Artists - Portraits (2002 Atmoworks)
Various Artists - Red Antenna Assembled (2002 Red Antenna)
Various Artists - Lappland (2004 Saasfee*)
Jonathan Hughes & Guests - Fluidities (2004 The Foundry)

Website:: http://www.johei.com

Best album(s) of all time?: Modern English - After The Snow
Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage / Empyrean Isles / Headhunters
Depeche Mode - most of the 80's...
Saul Stokes - Zo Pilots
Vidna Obmana - Surreal Sanctuary
Cabaret Voltaire - The Conversation / Microphonies / The Crackdown
Pan Sonic - Aaltopiiri (specifically for the 2nd track!)
Monolake - Hongkong
Plastikman - Consumed / Artifakts B.C.
Supergrass - In It for the Money / Supergrass
Miles Davis - most
...it's a lengthy list

Favorite artist(s)?: herbie hancock, basic channel / chain reaction, vidna obmana, cabaret voltaire, beatles, depeche mode, 80's synthpop and industrial, 90's britpop, cecil taylor, steve roach, underworld, japan, david sylvian, autechre, speedy j, and friends.

Are you a musician? What instrument do you play? Type of music?: Piano since I was 5... thanks grandma!
Synths, electronics, trumpet, and bass.
Mainly electronic - ambient / techno.

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At 9:21pm on August 11th, 2008, Chris Russell said…: Wow! I feel like im home here. Thank you.

At 5:47pm on July 22nd, 2008, Landschaft said…: Thanks for the comment - I'll be loading a lot of music up over the next few days and sharing with the folk in this community. My main home has been virb, and I am now pushing out feelers to other communities. I have a good relationship with Darkwinter and some respected web musicians and will be recommending this site to them. I am in the process of relocating and building a new studio and that will be ready soon for me to start composing again after a year off.
with best wishes
Alan

At 2:51pm on July 15th, 2008, Razzlog said…: well, thanks for the kind words! ;)

At 6:32am on July 14th, 2008, Mike Valant said…: Will do thanks.

At 5:45pm on July 12th, 2008, Rhys said…: I'd say keep spending! Music is not an obsession it is a need!

Thank you for your valued information on "Prayer for the forest". I am as much a forest person as a music follower so I can relate to this title and content well.

At 8:23am on July 11th, 2008, Mats Persson said…: Thanks for the welcome! Feels like home :-)

At 7:56am on July 10th, 2008, Stuart Matthews said…: You're too kind! I haven't taken a proper picture in a long time so maybe I should now. Many thanks for your confidence booster!

At 6:10am on July 10th, 2008, Stuart Matthews said…: Someone else who appreciates Color Glow :-) I think it is Anthony Wright's strongest album. I just wish he'd come out of retirement. Nice to meet you :-)

At 4:37pm on July 7th, 2008, William said…: Thanks for the welcome and its nice to be in

At 3:54pm on July 7th, 2008, Darren Bergstein said…: thanks, john. i fully intend to get as involved as time will permit. congrats to both you and john as the revamped atmo site looks excellent. look forward to your upcoming releases.