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Stephen Emmer | |
---|---|
Born | 28 January 1958 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Genres | |
Instrument(s) | Guitar, piano, keyboard, bass |
Years active | 1972–present |
Labels | WEA/Idiot, Allegro, Supertracks, Electric Fairytale |
Website | stephenemmer |
Stephen Emmer is a Dutch composer, arranger, producer, sound designer and musician.[1] Best known as a composer for Dutch television and film, Emmer has released four albums as a solo artist, each with a different theme or concept. Vogue Estate [2] released in 1982, is the soundtrack for an imaginary film; 2007’s Recitement [3] is a spoken word album of poetry and prose; International Blue,[4] released in 2014, is a tribute to pop crooners. In 2017 Emmer released Home Ground,[5] a neo-soul album that addresses social issues related to origin.
Emmer is closely associated with the Dutch Ultra movement of late 1970s and early 1980s.[6] He was a member of Minny Pops and the Lotus Eaters,[2] co-founded the music magazine Vinyl [6] and hosted and produced RadioNome for Dutch broadcasting organization VPRO.[7][8][9]
Early life and education
editEmmer was born in Amsterdam. His parents are mother Roekie Aronds, actress and ballet dancer[10] and father Fred Emmer, an anchorman for NOS Journaal.[11] In the late 70s he played in a free jazz group and a symphonic rock group with Mathilde Santing and Dennis Duchart.[12]
Music
edit1979-1984: Minny Pops, Radionome, Vinyl, Vogue Estate
editIn 1979, Emmer joined Minny Pops, an avant-garde post-punk band central to the Dutch Ultra[10] movement,[6] and co-founded Vinyl,[13] a music magazine launched in 1981.[14][10] In January 1980, Minny Pops opened for Joy Division and were subsequently signed by Factory Records.[15][16] In 1981, they recorded their first single for Factory, Dolphin's Spurt, with Joy Division producer Martin Hannett.[17][18] The first Dutch band to do a Peel Session,[19] Minny Pops toured the UK several times; Emmer, who had joined the band as a guitarist, performed and recorded on both guitar and bass guitar on the album "Drastic Measures, Drastic Movement".[20] He also hosted and produced radio programs for the Dutch broadcasting organization VPRO, including Radionome, which aired experimental music and live in-studio performances.[21] Emmer's music was included on Radionome compilation albums issued by VPRO.[22] In 1982, Emmer recorded Vogue Estate, a soundtrack for an imaginary film.[23] Although mainly an instrumental, it included two songs with vocals: "Wish On" with Billy MacKenzie (of The Associates) and "Never Share" with Martha Ladley (from Martha and the Muffins).[24] Michael Dempsey, formerly of The Cure, played bass on Vogue Estate,[25] which was produced by Emmer with Flood.[26] Emmer also performed with the Associates in 1982. In 1984, with Dempsey, he joined The Lotus Eaters.[27]
2006-Present: Recitement, International Blue, Home Ground
editWorking with producer Tony Visconti, Emmer composed music to accompany poetry and prose voiced by authors and performers for the album Recitement, released on the Dutch Supertracks label in 2007.[28] Some were new recordings, made specifically for Recitement, and others were previously recorded. Its 17 tracks included texts by Yoko Ono, Allen Ginsberg, Paul Theroux, Thomas Hardy, Jorge Luis Borges, Ken Nordine, Charles Baudelaire and Samuel Beckett, voiced by Lou Reed, Richard Burton, Sylvia Kristel, Michael Parkinson and Hugo Claus among others.[3][29] [30][31] In 2014, again working with Visconti, Emmer released International Blue, tribute to pop crooning.[2] A collection of "lushly orchestrated tales of heartbreak", it featured vocalists Midge Ure from Ultravox, Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17, Liam McKahey of Cousteau and Neil Crossley.[32] Gregory collaborated on four of the album's ten songs, including "Untouchable", a “darkly sumptuous” tribute to Billy MacKenzie.[2] For the Christmas holiday, Julian Lennon recorded a seasonal version of the album's "Sleep for England".[33] De Telegraaf wrote that International Blue was "the most beautifully orchestrated, arranged and composed album of the year".[34]
In 2017, Emmer released Home Ground, a retro-soul album inspired by the "music-with-a-message movement of the 1970s", such as Marvin Gaye's What's Going On.[35] The album addresses social issues related to "homeground". Commenting on Homeground in a 2017 interview Emmer said: "Where your own home ground is; is it in your own country, your city or village, your house or is it close to your loved ones or is it in your own heart or head?"[36] A benefit album for the charity War Child, it featured vocalists including Chaka Khan, Leon Ware, Patti Austin, Frank McComb and Andy Bey.[5][37][21] Review Soultracks.[38] Emmer is the founder of eStation, a media production studio.[39] He is the music director for Holiday on Ice,[40] and the Cartoon Network's [41] live show, which launched in 2018.[42]
Awards
editDiscography
editAlbums
editYear | Album | Label | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Home Ground | Electric Fairytale Recordings | With Chaka Khan, Patti Austin, Leon Ware Kendra Foster, Frank McComb, Mary Griffin Ursula Rucker, Andy Bey and Dwight Trible |
2014 | International Blue | Electric Fairytale Recordings | with Midge Ure, Neil Crossley Liam McKahey, and Glenn Gregory |
2008 | Recitement | Supertracks | with Lou Reed, Ken Nordine Yoko Ono, Jorge Luis Borges and others |
1982 | Vogue Estate | WEA/Idiot Records |
Singles
editYear | Song | Label |
---|---|---|
2017 | "Home Ground" ft Patti Austin | Electric Fairytale Recordings |
"Close To Life" ft Frank McComb and Leon Ware | Electric Fairytale Recordings | |
"A New Day To Come" ft Andy Bey | Electric Fairytale Recordings | |
"Soil" ft Ursula Rucker | Electric Fairytale Recordings | |
2014 | "Sleep For England" ft Julian Lennon | Electric Fairytale Recordings |
"Let The Silence Hold You" ft Glenn Gregory | Electric Fairytale Recordings | |
"Untouchable" ft Glenn Gregory | Electric Fairytale Recordings | |
2007 | "Passengers" ft Lou Reed | Supertracks |
1985 | "End of the Affair" with Continental Cast | Epic / Sony |
1984 | "Endless" with Lotus Eaters | Sylvan Records |
1982 | "Pedalenproza" ft Richard Zijlstra | Vinyl/Sonopresse |
Never Share ft Martha Ladley | WEA/Idiot Records | |
1981 | "Dolphin's Spurt" with Minny Pops | Factory |
References
edit- ^ Van Brummelen, Peter (November 6, 2009). "Stephen Emmer: man van zeven minuten". Het Parool. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ a b c d Harrison, Ian (March 26, 2014). "Stephen Emmer & Glenn Gregory – Untouchable". Mojo. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
- ^ a b Jurek, Tom. "Recitement, Stephen Emmer". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
- ^ "Playlist - Stephen Emmer's "pop crooners"". Q Magazine. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
- ^ a b "Stephen Emmer: Home Ground (Electric Fairytale Recordings) 9th June 2017 - Music Republic Magazine". Music Republic Magazine. 2017-05-20. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^ a b c Vorvelt, Martin (January 15, 2004). "Dutch Post Punk".
Musicians like Emmer were also involved in founding Vinyl magazine, instrumental in disseminating knowledge of experimental post-punk bands, and coining the "Ultra" movement (for "extreme" electronic music).
- ^ "Stephen Emmer komt met ambitieus album". www.ad.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-03-15.
- ^ "Amerikaanse muziekprijs voor Stephen Emmer | Nieuws | Telegraaf.nl". www.telegraaf.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-03-08.
- ^ Kamer, Gijsbert. "Stephen Emmer vond bijzonzer stel soulvocalisten - Recensies - Voor nieuws, achtergronden en columns". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-03-15.
- ^ a b c "'Ik kreeg er een Louis-van-Gaal-gevoel van: enorm serieus zwaar op de hand zijn over iets ondergeschikts'". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-09-03.
- ^ "Van ambtenaar tot kunstenaar | Vrij | Telegraaf.nl". www.telegraaf.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ "Muziekencyclopedie - Stephen Emmer". www.muziekencyclopedie.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-09-10.
- ^ "Digging Up Dutch Undergrounds - an interview with Oscar Smit and Marcel Harlaar of Vinyl Magazine - Luifabriek". Luifabriek. 2014-03-07. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
- ^ Foster, Richard (2017-03-01). "'Moderne Muziek': Vinyl magazine and the Dutch post-punk movement". Punk & Post Punk. 6 (1): 14. doi:10.1386/punk.6.1.7_1. ISSN 2044-1983.
- ^ Krahmer, Daan (April 14, 2016). ""Joy Division kwam live écht binnen"". 3voor12. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ Simpson, Dave (April 21, 2014). "A Factory Night review – 'Section 25: the best new/old band in Britain?'". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ "The Quietus | Features | A Quietus Interview | Not So Polite: Wally Van Middendorp Of Minny Pops Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ Kellman, Andy. "Minny Pops". allmusic.com. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ Griggs, Eleanor (January 11, 2012). "Minny Pops New Album And Tour". The Quietus. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ Skene, Gordon (2017-11-16). "Minny Pops In Session – 1980 – Past Daily Soundbooth". Past Daily. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
- ^ a b "Stephen Emmer komt met ambitieus album | bndestem.nl". www.bndestem.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-03-17.
- ^ "RARE MINIMAL SYNTH WAVE COLD WAVE VPRO NWW". www.popsike.com. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
- ^ Harrison, Ian (March 26, 2014). "Stephen Emmer & Glenn Gregory – Untouchable". Mojo. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
DUTCH MUSICIAN STEPHEN EMMER worked with the unique voice of Associates' Billy Mackenzie on his 1982 imaginary soundtrack Vogue Estate.
- ^ "Stephen Emmer & Glenn Gregory – Untouchable". Mojo. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ "Vogue Estate, track listings and credits". Discogs. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
- ^ "Muziekencyclopedie - Stephen Emmer". www.muziekencyclopedie.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-09-03.
- ^ Wright, Jade (2009-06-26). "Lotus Eaters relish return to home stage at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall". The Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
- ^ "Stephen Emmer: Recitement Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ^ "VARIOUS ARTISTS: Chamber Music [Fire] / STEPHEN EMMER: Recitement [Supertracks] - Magnet Magazine". Magnet Magazine. 2008-07-22. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
- ^ Peavy, April (2008-10-21). "Global hit". Public Radio International. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
- ^ "Subtiel tegen het ritme stotteren". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-03-19.
- ^ "Interview - Stephen Emmer pays tribute to lost art of pop crooning". Chaos Control Digizine. 2014-09-07. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^ "Stephen Emmer & Julian Lennon 'Sleep For England' - Classic Pop Magazine". Classic Pop Magazine. 2014-12-02. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^ Wijlaars, Bart (December 19, 2014). "Telegraaf Top 2014: Beste Nederlandse albums". Telegraaf. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ "Stephen Emmer – Interview". The Strange Brew. 2017-03-17. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ^ "Soul and Classical Meet in A Global Collab". Sonic Scoop. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^ Bruger, Tina. "Stephen Emmers Home Ground: bekijk de trailer" (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-03-15.
- ^ "Stephen Emmer - Home Ground (2017) (Review)". SoulTracks - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews. 2017-06-19. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
- ^ Jouvenaar, Co (November 2, 2006). "Crossing Border highlights: Stephen Emmer". 3voor12. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ "Holiday On Ice, on the rocks". FIGARO (in French). 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
- ^ Concerts, Big. "Cartoon Network Live! | Big Concerts". www.bigconcerts.co.za. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
- ^ "Here's your first look at Cartoon Network Live in South Africa". Channel. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ^ a b "Amerikaanse muziekprijs voor Stephen Emmer | Nieuws | Telegraaf.nl". www.telegraaf.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-05-29.
- ^ a b "Stephen Emmer". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-09-04.