Kate Simko

Kate Simko is an American electronic music producer from Chicago.

Kate Simko
Background information
Origin United States
GenresElectronic music, deep house, minimal techno
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, producer
InstrumentsPiano
Years active2000-present
LabelsKupei Musika, Traum
Associated actsDetalles
Websitewww.katesimko.com

Background

Simko spent her childhood years studying piano and music theory. During her teens in Chicago, she fell in love with underground dance music, while also gaining a voracious appetite to hear new sounds. Her passion for electronic music eventually led to her to study music technology and piano at Northwestern University, while also directing the dance and hip-hop format of the respected radio station WNUR.

In 2001, Simko relocated for a music composition program in Santiago, Chile, where she met Andrés Bucci and they recorded their first record together as Detalles. Since then, she has returned to South America for numerous extended trips, recording more music with Bucci and playing shows in cities like Buenos Aires, Punta del Este and Caracas.

With roots in Chicago house and Detroit techno, Simko's music maintains a warm, soulful character, full of funky bass lines and driving rhythms. Reflecting her diverse background, her music crosses genre borders, blending rich textures and intricate programming with funky synth lines, thumping bass and groove. Her ever-changing live PA continues to be a highlight wherever she plays, at home or abroad. She has received press in The Wire, XLR8R, de:Bug, Mixmag, BPM and Remix, and her Detalles project was named one of the "Next 100" artists by URB magazine. A versatile DJ, Simko was named one of the Top 10 DJs in Chicago by XLR8R magazine.

Her work has been released on Traum Schallplatten and Kupei Musika, and been remixed by Thomas Brinkmann and Atom Heart, while she has remixed Philip Glass and Aeroc.

In 2009, Simko released Music from The Atom Smashers, the soundtrack to a documentary about physicists at Fermilab.[1]

Simko's highly anticipated debut solo album Lights Out was released on Hello? Repeat records in June 2011.[2]

Her song "Go On Then feat. Jem Cooke" topped deep house charts in 2012.[3] In 2013 the song was licensed to the ABC television show Lucky 7 [4] and Richie Hawtin's Enter.Ibiza 2013 compilation.

Simko has established her reputation as a performer with interactive audiovisual live sets and cutting-edge DJ mixes.[5] She has played clubs and festivals around the world.

Simko was the first to perform electronic music at the National Gallery in London, in May 2013. She created original music inspired by the paintings in Room 34. In June 2014, she created custom compositions for Room 41.[6]

Simko graduated with a master's in Composition for Screen from the Royal College of Music. In 2014, she debuted her project London Electronic Orchestra, which meshed her two major musical influences: live orchestra and electronic music.[7]

Simko is currently based in London.

Discography
  • Your Love EP, 12", digital, No. 19 Music (2013)
  • Lost in London EP, 12", digital, Get Physical Music (2013)
  • Kabuki Drop EP, 12", digital, Leftroom Records (2012)
  • Same Page EP, digital, Leftroom Records (2012)
  • Lights Out LP, CD, digital, Hello? Repeat Records (2011)
  • Mind On You, digital, Hello? Repeat Records (2011)
  • Take You There, digital, Ghostly International (2009)
  • Lost In Time 12", digital, Eklo Records (2009)
  • Zhivago 12", digital, Spectral Sound (2009)
  • Music from the Atom Smashers, digital-only soundtrack album, Ghostly International (2009)
  • Gamelan / Margie's Groove, digital, Spectral Sound (2008)
  • She Said EP, 12"/digital, Spectral Sound (2008)
  • Cityscape 12"/EP, Kupei Musika w/ Jonas Bering (2007)
  • Strumm 12"/EP, Kupei Musika (2006)

With Detalles
  • Micros Morning CD/LP, Kupei Musika (2007)
  • Hello Donee 12"/EP, Kupei Musika (2007)
  • Shapes of Summer CD/LP, Traum (2003)

Appears on
  • Defected Presents Most Rated 2013, digital, mix, ITH Records (2012)
  • Richie Hawtin - Enter.Ibiza 2013, 4xCD, M_nus (2013)
  • Death Is Nothing To Fear 3 12"/digital Spectral Sound (2008)
  • Death Is Nothing To Fear EP, digital, Spectral Sound (2008)

References
  1. Howe, Brian (2009-07-06). "Music From the Atom Smashers". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  2. "Kate Simko debut solo album Lights Out". Lowbit Records. 2011-05-16.
  3. "Top Tracks of 2012". http://www.beatport.com. 2012-12-18. External link in |publisher= (help)
  4. "Lucky 7". MusicLounge/http://www.abc.go.com. 2013-09-09.
  5. "The Visual Sound Series-Episode 3-A/V with Kate Simko & Jeffrey Weeter". Ibiza Voice. 2012-03-20.
  6. "Kate Simko: A picture paints a thousand notes". The Independent. 2013-05-20. Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
  7. "Kate Simko at the National Gallery". The Independent. 2014-06-19. Archived from the original on 2014-07-08. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.