Hudson Mohawke

Ross Matthew Birchard (born 11 February 1986),[6] better known by the stage name Hudson Mohawke, is a Scottish-American producer, composer, and DJ from Glasgow. He is known for his influential work in 21st century hip-hop and electronic music. A founding member of the UK label collective LuckyMe,[7] his fractured, colorful take on hip-hop made him a leading figure in the late-2000s wonky scene.[1] He released his debut album Butter in 2009 on Warp Records. He has followed with the solo albums Lantern (2015) and Cry Sugar (2022), both on Warp.

Hudson Mohawke
A man in his twenties with short messy brown hair concentrates on the decks in front of him with headphones tucked above his ear whilst wearing a white and black patterned hoody.
Mohawke performing in 2009
Background information
Birth nameRoss Matthew Birchard
Born (1986-02-11) 11 February 1986
OriginGlasgow, Scotland
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Record producer
  • disc jockey
  • composer
  • remixer
Instrument(s)
Labels
Websitehudsonmohawke.com

Birchard is also one-half of the duo TNGHT with Canadian producer Lunice; their influential eponymous EP was released in 2012. That year, Birchard signed with Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music production team, contributing to the label compilation Cruel Summer (2012) and West's LP Yeezus (2013). He subsequently became an in-demand producer, working with artists such as West, Pusha T, Drake, A$AP Rocky, Lil Wayne, Anohni, and Danny L Harle.[1] In 2022, Birchard's 2011 song "Cbat" became an Internet meme and went viral on social media.

Life and career

Early years and LuckyMe

Birchard is the son of actor and singer Paul Birchard.[8]

At the age of 15, Birchard (under the name DJ Itchy) was the youngest UK DMC finalist.[9][10] His earliest gigs as a club DJ were with Glasgow University's Subcity Radio[11][12][13] where he first appeared as part of the culture city kids show and later as part of other shows including Turntable Science with Pro Vinylist Karim and Cloudo's Happy Hardcore show, under the alias DJ Mayhem.[14] During this period, Birchard formed the LuckyMe collective with childhood friends. He adopted the stage name "Hudson Mohawke" after seeing the name engraved on a statue in the hallway of his accommodation.[15][16] In 2007, Birchard applied to the Red Bull Music Academy and was invited to attend the event in Toronto,[17][18] where he first met Steve Beckett of Warp Records, who was giving a lecture there,[19] and was to sign Hudson Mohawke two years later.[20]

In addition to his solo work, Hudson Mohawke collaborated with Mike Slott as Heralds of Change, releasing a series of 12" EPs including Show You (2006), Sittin' on the Side (2007), Puzzles (2007) and Secrets (2007) on All City Records. Hudson Mo was also DJ/Producer for the now defunct hip hop group Surface Emp alongside MC's Dom Sum and sometimes 2 Can Dan.[21] Surface Empire released the LuckyMe EP in 2005 on Far Cut Records.

2008–2011: TNGHT and Warp

In 2009, Hudson Mohawke signed to Warp Records, despite a very limited track record of official releases; in fact, the bulk of his releases were unofficial tracks and DJ mixes circulated on the Internet, as well as the 2006 mixtape Hudson's Heeters Vol. 1.[1] His first official release to get major notice was entitled "Spotted" on the Rush Hour beat compilation Beat Dimensions Vol 1. In 2008 his 12" EP Ooops! on LuckyMe/Wireblock became an underground sensation, particularly once word spread of his recording contract with Warp.[22] In 2009, Hudson Mohawke released his first studio album, Butter.[23] In that year, he contributed a cover of a Jimi Tenor song, titled "Paint the Stars", to the Warp20 (Recreated) compilation.[24] He would follow with several EPs, including 2011's Satin Panthers. He produced the debut EP for UK band Egyptian Hip Hop at Club Ralph Studios in London, which was released in August 2010.[25] One of his songs, "100hm", has been featured as a track on the video game Grand Theft Auto V, while "Fuse" was featured in Sleeping Dogs and Dirt 3.

Birchard met Canadian producer Lunice during the first LuckyMe Records tour of North America in 2008, with Hudson Mohawke performing at the Pop Montreal festival and Lunice playing support.[26] Following a successful performance headlining Warp Records' 2012 SXSW showcase, the duo's collaborative project TNGHT debuted their TNGHT EP, released via Warp X LuckyMe on 23 July 2012.[27][28][29] TNGHT has performed at multiple venues internationally, including The Opera House,[30] the Coachella music festival[31] and Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg, which featured an appearance by rapper/producer Kanye West during a remix of West's "Cold".[32]

TNGHT performing in 2013

2012–2016: G.O.O.D. Music and Lantern

In 2012, Hudson Mohawke began a series of collaborations with Kanye West, resulting in production credits on the GOOD Music label album Cruel Summer. On 17 January 2013, it was announced that Mohawke had officially signed with GOOD Music as a producer, whilst remaining with Warp and LuckyMe as a recording artist.[33] TNGHT announced their hiatus on 27 December 2013.[34] Mohawke co-produced two tracks on West's 2013 album Yeezus ("I Am a God" and "Blood on the Leaves")[1] and contributed to West's 2016 follow-up The Life of Pablo, in addition to working with various other hip hop and pop artists, including Drake, Pusha T, and Future.[35] In 2015, he released his second studio album, Lantern. In 2016, he collaborated with singer Anohni on her 2016 album Hopelessness. Mohawke announced on 26 October 2016 via Twitter that he was creating the original soundtrack for the 2016 video game Watch Dogs 2 titled "Ded Sec" and that Warp Records would release it on 11 November 2016.[36]

2017–2022: 3PAC mixtapes, Cry Sugar and "Cbat" virality

In 2017, Birchard made a brief TV appearance in Twin Peaks: The Return as a roadhouse performer.[37] In 2019, Birchard and Lunice reconvened for a second TNGHT EP titled II. In 2020, Birchard released three mixtapes of unreleased archival material dating to his earliest days: B.B.H.E., Poom Gems, and Airborn Lard,[38] which were also collected as the compilation 3PAC.[39] In 2021, he collaborated on Danny L Harle's album Harlecore.

In August 2022, Birchard released his third studio album as Hudson Mohawke, the Warp release Cry Sugar.[38]

In September 2022, Birchard's song "Cbat", from his 2011 EP Satin Panthers, went viral on multiple websites after a Reddit user made a post about how the song's inclusion on their "sex playlist" ruined their relationship.[40][41][42]

Musical style

In 2015, Exclaim! wrote that Birchards's music has developed over the course of his career "from a glitch-y, turntablist jitter to a euphoric, multicolored trap-hop pound and everywhere in between."[4] He has received praise for his "genre-smashing" production approach, in which styles of music are "incorporated, manipulated and bounced against each other."[43][44] In 2009, during Birchard's debut Essential Mix, DJ Pete Tong proclaimed "Hudson Mohawke is doing for hip-hop what the Aphex Twin did for techno".[45] In 2011, The Guardian characterized his trademark sound as "a vivid, psychedelic melange of J Dilla-esque instrumental hip hop, space-age R&B, bass boom and oldskool rave euphoria, garnished with effervescent FX from unexpected sources."[9][46] Following the formation of TNGHT, Birchard and partner Lunice attempted to strip down their production styles and avoid tracks that were "all over the place".[47] They pioneered the rave subgenre of trap, a style which Birchard called "a kind of parody genre" but which unexpectedly became popular at EDM festivals.[48]

Discography
See also: TNGHT discography

Albums

Mixtapes

  • Hudson's Heeters (2006, LuckyMe)
  • B.B.H.E. (2020, Warp)
  • Poom Gems (2020, Warp)
  • Airborne Lard (2020, Warp)

Compilations

  • 3PAC (2020, Warp)

EPs

  • Lucky Me (2005) (as Surface Empire)
  • Choices Vol. 1 (2007)
  • Puzzles (2007)
  • Secrets (2007)
  • Polyfolk Dance (2009)
  • Satin Panthers (2011)
  • TNGHT (2012) (as TNGHT)
  • Hud Mo 100 (2013)
  • Chimes (2014)
  • II (2019) (as TNGHT)

Singles

Production work

Remixes

  • Lukid – "The Now (Remix by Hudson Mohawke)" from The Now EP (2007)
  • Super Smoky Soul – "Geek Beat (Hud Mo Retwirk)" from Cycling EP (2007)
  • O Liffey Family – "Rock the Spot: Heralds of Change Redub" from Cold Liffey (2007)
  • Ghislain Poirier – "No More Blood (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" (2008)
  • Fool – "Seventh (Hudson Mohawke RMX)" from Real Thing (2008)
  • Crookers – "Put Your Hands on Me (Hudson Mohawke Mix)" (2009)
  • Free Moral Agents – "Ageless (Hudson Mohawke Mix)" (2009)
  • Dan Deacon – "Woof Woof (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" (2009)
  • Uffie – "ADD SUV (Hudson Mohawke's Spam Fajita Remix)" (2010)
  • American Men – "AM System (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" from Cool World (2010)
  • De De Mouse – "My Favorite Swing (Hudson Mohawke's Cobra Slice Rework)" from A Journey to Freedom Remixes (2010)
  • Krystal Klear – "Tried for Your Love (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" (2010)
  • Games – "Strawberry Skies (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" (2010)
  • Wiley – "Electric Boogaloo (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" (2010)
  • Jamie Woon – "Lady Luck (Hudson Mohawke's Schmink Wolf Re-Fix)" (2011)
  • B.o.B – "Satellite (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" (2011)
  • Gucci Mane – "Party Animal (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" (2011)
  • Björk – "Virus (Hudson Mohawke Peaches and Guacamol Remix)" from Bastards (2012)
  • Battles – "Rolls Bayce (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" from Dross Glop (2012)
  • Jackson & His Computer Band – "Vista (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" from G.I. Jane (Fill Me Up) (2013)
  • Disclosure – "White Noise (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" (2013)
  • Paolo Nutini – "Iron Sky (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" (2014)
  • Duck Sauce – "NRG (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" (2014)
  • Four Tet – "Parallel Jalebi (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" (2014)
  • Above & Beyond – "All Over the World (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" (2015)
  • Boards of Canada – "Amo Bishop Roden (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" (2016)
  • DJ Shadow – "Midnight in a Perfect World (Hudson Mohawke Mix)" (2016)
  • Lo Moon – "Loveless (Hudson Mohawke Remix)" (2017)
  • Doss – "Puppy (Feel the Beat Mix)" (2022) (co-remix with Doss)

References
  1. Simpson, Paul. "Hudson Mohawke Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  2. Reynolds, Simon (2011). Retromania: Pop Culture's Addiction to Its Own Past. Farrah, Straus & Giroux. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-4299-6858-4.
  3. Strang, Samuel. "Reviews: Polyfolk Dance – Hudson Mohawke". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  4. Carlick, Stephen (12 June 2015). "Hudson Mohawke: Lantern". Exclaim!. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  5. Birchmeier, Paul. "Hudson Mohawke - Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018.
  6. "Ross Birchard". MusicBrainz. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  7. Churchill, Tom. "Nine for 2009 – Hudson Mohawke". Clash. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  8. Aaron, Charles (29 June 2015). "How Hudson Mohawke Became Dance's Most Exciting Auteur". Rolling Stone.
  9. Lester, Paul (2 February 2009). "New Band of the Day – No 476: Hudson Mohawke". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  10. Palermo, Tomas (16 April 2007). "Dilla Disciple with a Mohawke". XLR8R. Archived from the original on 15 July 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  11. "Subcity at the Renfrew Ferry, March 2002 | Flickr – Condivisione di foto!". Flickr.com. 14 March 2002. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  12. "Warp Week: Hudson Mohawke Melts Genres Like Butter!". The Skinny. 28 October 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  13. Devine, Rachel (22 November 2009). "Hudson Mohawke Dont call me just yet Kylie". The Times. London. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  14. "Bob Gnarly // episode 2 // hudson mohawke". Subcity Radio. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  15. "Interview: Hudson Mohawke". The Guardian. London. 2 March 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  16. O'Loughlin, Colm (10 August 2008). "Hudson Mohawke Interview". DJ Magazine. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  17. Lin, Yu-Cheng. "Red Bull Music Academy Alumni: Where Are They Now?". rEdbull.com.
  18. "Montreal to Host Red Bull Music Academy 2016". Xlr8r.com. 12 January 2016.
  19. "Steve Beckett". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  20. "Hudson Mohawke". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  21. "Subcity Radio // Podcasts // DJ Itchy & Surface Empire // 22.10.04". Subcity.org. 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  22. Fallon, Patric (2 October 2009). "Hudson Mohawke "Ooops"". XLR8R. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  23. Ramirez, AJ (27 October 2009). "Hudson Mohawke: Butter". PopMatters. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  24. Breihan, Tom (1 July 2009). "Warp20 Box Set Tracklist Revealed". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  25. "Egyptian Hip Hop announce new EP and UK tour - ticket details". NME. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  26. Wazna-Blank, Stevanie. New Artist: TNGHT Archived 2 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine VIP, 24 February 2013
  27. Artists Scion AV
  28. Caramanica, Jon. New Releases The New York Times, 29 July 2012
  29. TNGHT Synth Glasgow, July 2012
  30. TNGHT at Opera House Songkick, 29 November 2012
  31. Coachella 2013: TNGHT, artist spotlight Time Out New York, 29 November 2012
  32. Minsker, Evan. Kanye West makes surprise appearance at TNGHT show in Brooklyn Pitchfork, 1 December 2012
  33. Makarechi, Kia (18 January 2013). "Hudson Mohawke & G.O.O.D. Music: Kanye West Snaps Up Buzzy Producer". HuffPost. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  34. "Waning Moon". Archived from the original on 15 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  35. "The Life of Pablo – Credits". Kanyewest.com. 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 17 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  36. "Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  37. "Sky Ferreira and Hudson Mohawke Appear on "Twin Peaks"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  38. Renshaw, David. "Hudson Mohawke distills life's "profound ridiculousness" into perfect party music". The Fader. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  39. "3PAC". Bandcamp.
  40. Murray, Robin (5 September 2022). "Hudson Mohawke's 'CBAT' Is Going Viral | News". Clash. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  41. Cheong, Charissa (8 September 2022). "An anonymous Reddit user claimed an obscure decade-old song caused his break-up, turning it into a viral meme. But its creator has mixed feelings". Insider. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  42. Rosenblatt, Kalhan (7 September 2022). "A Reddit post about a sex playlist made an 11-year-old song go viral. The DJ behind it weighs in on its success". NBC. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  43. Cooper, Duncan (4 August 2011). "Interview: Hudson Mohawke". The Fader. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  44. MacIness, Paul (22 October 2009). "Butter review". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  45. "Hudson Mohawke, Radio 1's Essential Mix – BBC Radio 1". BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  46. Richards, Sam. "Hudson Mohawke: beats, rhymes and lasers". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  47. Dombal, Ryan (15 June 2012). "Rising: TNGHT". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  48. Petridis, Alexis (11 June 2015). "Hudson Mohawke: Lantern review – deep-fried defiance". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  49. "Show Me (feat. Hudson Mohawke): Declaime: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. Retrieved 4 July 2013.

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