DJ, Producer And UCSD ‘Blacktronika Creator King Britt Does It All: ‘Hes Had So Much Impact On So Many
© (Eduardo Contreras / The San Diego Union-Tribune) "As a DJ, there's always an educational aspect to my performance, even if it's not about singing," said King Britt, an associate professor at UC San Diego. (Eduardo Contreras/San Diego Union-Tribune)DJs, academics, hip-hop, Miles Davis, Dua Lipa, electronic music, Sun Ra, cassette mixes and the digital world all complement King Britt, who made it to the University of California, San Diego in just four years. One of the most popular folk teachers in the world.
"King has a large following on campus and has had a tremendous impact on many students," said Steven Burt, a 21-year-old civil engineering major at the University of California, San Francisco. "His 'Blacktronics: Afrofuturism in Electronic Music' is probably my favorite ."
UCSD saxophonist and music professor David Borgo agrees, "'Blactronica' was a huge hit with college students." And he knows music history very well."
Britta is also admired by multi-Grammy Award-winning producer Kamau Kenyatta, who has taught at the University of California, San Francisco since 1999.
"I have a lot of great colleagues, but King is the one everyone loves the most," said Kenyatta, a well-known jazz composer and instrumentalist.
“King brings as much creativity to his teaching methods as he does to his music. Students keep telling me how approachable he is despite his demanding academic schedule. He is always there for them and wants to communicate with them, listen to their music and help them in their development. He."
Britt's "Blacktronika" classes are now open to all undergraduate and graduate students across the UC system. The weekly three-hour lecture is currently attended by 320 people.
Britt launched it as an online course in early 2020, around the same time as the COVID-19 pandemic canceled live events around the world, including in-person classes at UCSD.
"I don't need to be online because I was always online before the pandemic," he said. "It works really well as a Zoom class."
The only weekly course currently offered by an American university, Blacktronica, provides a detailed account of black artists' often forgotten contributions to electronic music. Brit explores styles ranging from Jamaican dub, Detroit house and British drum and bass to hip-hop, techno, jazz fusion and avant-garde.
"As a DJ, there's always an educational aspect to my performances—even if it's behind the scenes," says Britt, 53, a self-taught keyboard player. He rose to international fame in the 1990s touring extensively with innovative Brooklyn hip-hop group Digable Planet, followed by a month-long tour supporting Nigerian singing sensation Sade.
"On stage and in the classroom, I want to show how all these different genres are connected to technological developments, from the first drum machines to sampling and beyond," explains Britt, who hails from Philadelphia.
"Even when I'm teaching a new technology, I want to show the evolution of that technology."
On October 29 at Blacktronica Festival: Where I Stand, the Brit will delve deeper with the follow-up to last year's Blacktronica Festival: Sound for Humanity. While last year's festival debuted as an all-virtual event with tickets at face price, the 2022 iteration is free for those who wish to attend and pre-register.
© (Raymond Boyd / Getty Images) Drummer/composer Tyshawn Sory performs with UC San Diego associate professor and electronic music enthusiast King Britt at UC San Diego's new Epstein Family Amphitheater. Their duet, which will appear at the UK-curated Blacktronica Festival, will be their second concert appearance. (Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)drum storm
The seven-hour "Blactronica" event, taking place at UCSD's new Epstein Family Amphitheater, will feature Irreversible Entanglement, Ksenia Rubinus, Georgia Ann Muldrow, Chimurenga Renaissance and 5hz, a group comprised of four UCSD music students, Kevin Greene. , David Aguila, Johnny Stallings Cardenas, Pablo Dadero and a 2022 graduate, Kathryn Schulmeister.
The festival will also feature the duo of 2017 MacArthur Fellowship recipient and visionary composer, British, and jazz drummer Teshawn Sorey.
This will be the second time Soori and Britt have performed together. Last year they released Tyshawn/King, an online improv album recorded at UCSD.
"Tishon and I first met at the church in St. Louis," Britt recalls. “We found a common language and were like brothers. At the end of the festival I said, 'We have to record together' and he agreed.
“I sent Tyshawn to UCLA a week before lockdown began and we set ourselves up in a recording room. We've never played together and we just made it! When there are two people in the room who know how to work well, there is power. »
Britt and Sori will also perform at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA on October 30th in Los Angeles. They will be performing as part of the Blacktronika: Now is the Time Festival, originally curated by Britt and featuring some of the same artists as the October 29th UCSD event.
In keeping with the spirit of their album, the October 29th and 30th concerts by Britt (on various electronic devices) and Sora (drums and percussion) will be improvised on location - to encourage even faster real-time interaction. .
"It's going to be fresh and relevant," Britt insists. "We don't train, we do it. Nothing is pre-recorded except some (electronic) circuits that I can build in advance that I can change on the fly."
Will Brit and Sorey Headline the Brit-Curated Blacktronica Festival on October 29th?
"Oh no, not at all," he replied. "Maybe we'll be second. I didn't like naming my stuff."
Another reason for this self-mockery is that Britt resonates with many of his professional peers and students. Shortly after being hired as an associate professor of computer music at UCSD in 2019, he founded the Blacktronika course.
"Students love it — and not just music students," said Borgo, who led the music department at UCSD, when Britt joined us.
"There is a clear desire to correct a very Eurocentric approach to the history of music and electronic music," Borga continues. "King offers a welcome correction - and an important reminder that people of color have become innovators in electronic music."
Associate music professor Kenyatta added, "King has a deep connection to black, electronic and other music and idiomatically connects with many characters. He connects students with artists from all over the world and the students love him.”
© (James Devaney / WireImage) King Britt is shown in action at ResFest 2003 in New York. (James Devaney/WireImage)real experience
In addition to Britt's vast perspective and knowledge, he brings a wealth of real-life experience to the class, as befits a DJ who has been performing in clubs and concert halls around the world for decades. In his career as a cross-genre producer, Britt has remixed records by artists such as Miles Davis, Meredith Monk, Solange, Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa.
As a composer he has collaborated with Madlib, De La Soul and others and has performed with the Sun Ra Orchestra and former Ornette Coleman bassist Jamaluddin Takuma. Britt is a co-founder of several independent labels including The Buddy System and Ovum Recordings.
“If you have a question about the system or the recording process, King knows the answer,” says Bart, who – in addition to Blacktronica – has taken Brit's production and mixing classes.
"If you want to know how to make t-shirts or any other merchandise, the king knows how to do it. He has great musical ideas and knows everything about the music industry. And the number of friends and connections he has is absolutely insane!”
This statement is illustrated by the respected artist associated with Blacktronica, while his students listen intently and watch as he conducts in-depth interviews with Britt. The list ranges from George Clinton, Flying Lotus and Jill Scott to Julian Priester, DJ Pierre, Roots frontman Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and Hank Shockley, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a charter member in 2013. New York Times team. Hip hop band York Public Enemy.
"I show my Blacktronica students how different technologies and genres have evolved chronologically, whether it's dub, house, drum and bass or techno," says Britt from the UCSD studio, which houses all the keyboards, synths and recording equipment. .
“And I presented practically everything that makes teaching fun. I have the best sound quality I've ever had in the classroom and a large archive of videos and photos to use. I designed each class (session) where the first lesson is a lecture, the second is interviews with guest artists, and the third is a DJ set playing music by the artists I talked about in the first lesson. "
No wonder Britt's students are so excited about the uniqueness of his Blacktronics teaching.
“King is an anomaly for UCSD. It pushes boundaries, but in a way that feels natural and not abstract,” says Burt.
“UCSD is known as a STEM school and research institution. Most of his best work has nothing to do with his undergraduate experience. This school caters more to undergraduate/postgraduate students. To support every student he comes in contact with. He's always been a community farmer while I was here.
"It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from. If you love music and love music, he will find a way to find a place for you.”
Bart laughed appreciatively as he recounted his first experience teaching Britt.
"When I turned in my first assignment for his production class, I accidentally sent him my entire music file with every song I made at home when I was 16 or 17," says Burt. “He listened to them and then remixed a track.
“No other professor takes the time to go through your entire music catalogue, listen to (your material) and then remix one of your songs. It's crazy! I was over the moon when he did. He always says: "You can do it" and "That's great".
© (Eduardo Contreras / The San Diego Union-Tribune) King Britt owns a large collection of electronic keyboards and vintage synths that he uses on his recordings. (Eduardo Contreras/San Diego Union-Tribune)Debut in the hair salon
Interestingly, Britt had no academic experience when his daughter and friends urged him to apply for a teaching position at the University of California, San Francisco. On the other hand, he never intended to become a professional DJ or producer.
সঙ্গীতের তার অনুরাগ শুরু যখন তিনি 6 বছর ছিলেন বয়সে, এবং রোজবেরি বারবারশপে প্রতি পরে পরে রেকর্ড স্পিন শুরু শুরু, যেটি পিতার সহ- ছিল।
"আমি না যে তখন একজন ডিজে ছিলাম, তবে আমি একজন রেকর্ড ছিলাম," ব্রিট ব্যাখ্যা। করেন
“আমি দোকানে তাদের রেকর্ডের রেকর্ডের যাব যাব —আমার বাবা সাহায্য করবেন —এটি বাছাই এবং রেকর্ডের রেকর্ডের সেটটি। আমি সঙ্গীতের মানুষের সংযুক্তি সম্পর্কে শিখেছি এবং কীভাবে গান সুখী সুখী, দুঃখজনক, বিষণ্ণ বা উত্থান। পারে
"ছোটবেলা থেকেই, আমি যে সঙ্গীত খুব শক্তিশালী শক্তিশালী একটি সক্রিয়করণের সক্রিয়করণের ছিল, একটি পোর্টাল যা মহাবিশ্বে মহাবিশ্বে ঠেলে।"
ব্রিট তার স্কুল মিউজিক সহপাঠীদের কৃতিত্ব যে তাকে তাকে led zeppelin এবং ac/dc এর মত ব্যান্ডের পরিচয় পরিচয় করিয়ে দেয় তিনি তার শৈল্পিক ফর্ম জ্যাজি জ্যাজি এবং ক্যাশ মানির মতো অজানা ডিজেদের ডিজেদের আশেপাশের পার্টিগুলির পার্টিগুলির দিকে করেন। এবং সে তার ধন্যবাদ জানায় - "যিনি বিশ্বাস বিশ্বাস না না" - তাকে লাইভ লাইভ মিউজিক জন্য নিয়ে নিয়ে জন্য তিনি তাকে প্রগতিশীল সান রা এবং তার সাথে সাথে দুই দুই বছরের মাসে মাসে মহড়া করতে নিয়ে নিয়ে
ব্রিট সেই সময়ে রা-এর উপভোগ বা বা বুঝতে কম বয়সী সত্ত্বেও এটি এটি প্রমাণিত হয়েছিল।
"আমি তার সঙ্গীতশিল্পীদের তারা তারা যে বন্য আওয়াজ করে তা করি," ব্রিট।। “সান তার অ্যাকোস্টিক ইন্সট্রুমেন্টে যে শব্দটি রাখে রাখে শুনে আমার আমার কান উত্তেজিত হয় এত অল্প এটি জন্য সৃজনশীলভাবে একটি ভিত্তি ছিল কারণ আমাকে দেখিয়েছিল কোথায় কোথায় যেতে।
“আমি কিং ক্রিমসনের মতো প্রগতিশীল রক ব্যান্ড পছন্দ করি এবং বাড়িতে আমরা ফিউশন শুনি - হারবি হ্যানকক, চিকো কোরি, ওয়াটার রিপোর্টেজ। তারপর আমি power plant এবং ডেট্রয়েট ডেট্রয়েট টেকনো আবিষ্কার করলাম, এটাই ছিল ছিল সিনথের সাথে কিছু করার আছে, আমি সেখানে আছি!”
যখন তিনি কিশোর কিশোর, ব্রিট ইউনিভার্সিটিতে ইউনিভার্সিটিতে পড়াশোনা, যেখানে তিনি দিনের বেলা করতেন রাতে রাতে ফিলাডেলফিয়া এবং ডিজেড ডিজেড করতেন করতেন তিনি টাওয়ার একজন হয়ে ওঠেন এবং নিজের প্রকাশ প্রকাশ করতে শুরু করেন। এর ফলে ক্লাবে হিসেবে লন্ডনে লন্ডনে তার ঘটে ঘটে
“আমি 18 বছর এবং আমি লন্ডন ফিরে ফিরে আমার আমার হয়েছিল মনে, 'দোস্ত, এটি একটি একটি ক্যারিয়ার! ব্রিট বলেন। “তারপর ডিজেবল প্ল্যানেটের সাথে ডেমো করেছি, যারা স্বাক্ষর স্বাক্ষর করেছে ইউরোপীয় সফরে তাদের ব্যান্ডের ডিজে তে আমাকে আমন্ত্রণ আমন্ত্রণ আমি টাওয়ারে চাকরি দিয়েছিলাম এবং তাদের তিন তিন বছরের জন্য শেষ শেষ, তারপরে সাদে। তারপর আমি উইঙ্কের আমার নিজস্ব লেবেল করেছি এবং এবং বাকিটা ইতিহাস "
ব্রিট বর্তমানে ব্ল্যাকট্রনিকায় করছেন করছেন, যা করেন করেন 2023 সালের শেষের বা 2024 সালের দিকে-প্রকাশিত হবে। তিনি এই মাসের দিকে তার Blacktronika ওয়েবসাইট করার পরিকল্পনা পরিকল্পনা এখন তিনি Blacktronika এর কিউরেটর। Google শিল্পও সংস্কৃতির জন্য।
"এটি অনেক কাজ," ব্রিট বলেন। - আমার অনেক স্বপ্ন আছে।
ব্ল্যাকট্রনিকা: যেখানে আমি উৎসবে দাঁড়িয়েছি
অভিনয়ে : Tyshawn Sorey এবং King Britt, Irreversibly Entangled, 5Hz, Ksenia Rubinas, Georgia Ann Muldrow, Chimurenga Renaissance
কখন: 29 অক্টোবর দুপুর 12:00 PM থেকে 7:00 PM।
কোথায়: এপস্টাইন ফ্যামিলি অ্যাম্ফিথিয়েটার, ইউসি দিয়েগো দিয়েগো, 9500 গিলম্যান ড্রাইভ, লা। জোলা
টিকিট: বিনামূল্যে। জনপ্রতি একটি টিকিট সীমিত করুন; অগ্রিম অনলাইন নিবন্ধন প্রয়োজন
অনলাইন: amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/blacktronika/
এই গল্পটি সান ইউনিয়ন ইউনিয়ন-ট্রিবিউনে প্রকাশিত হয়েছিল।
