Juan Atkins

Juan Atkins (born September 12, 1962),<ref name="residentadvisor489520"/> also known as Model 500 and Infiniti,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is an American record producer and DJ<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> from Detroit, Michigan.<ref name="djmag2019">Template:Cite web</ref> Mixmag has described him as "the original pioneer of Detroit techno."<ref name="mixmag2015">Template:Cite web</ref> He has been a member of the Belleville Three,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cybotron,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Borderland.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early life

Juan Atkins was born in Detroit, Michigan.<ref name="residentadvisor489520">Template:Cite web</ref> His father was a concert promoter.<ref name="redbullmusicacademy2017"/> At an early age, he played guitar and bass guitar in funk/garage bands with his friends.<ref name="redbullmusicacademy2017"/> After his parents split, he moved to Belleville, Michigan.<ref name="redbullmusicacademy2017"/> In junior high school, he met Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson.<ref name="latimes2003"/> The three would later be known as the Belleville Three.<ref name="latimes2003">Template:Cite web</ref> At the age of 15, he bought his first synthesizer, a Korg MS-10.<ref name="djmag2019"/>

Career

Juan Atkins formed Cybotron with Richard Davis in 1980.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The duo's debut studio album, Enter, was released in 1983.<ref name="metrotimes2018"/> Atkins and Davis split ways in 1985.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1985, Atkins founded the record label Metroplex.<ref name="metrotimes2018">Template:Cite web</ref> In that year, he started making solo records under the alias Model 500.<ref name="redbullmusicacademy2017">Template:Cite web</ref> As Model 500, he released Deep Space in 1995,<ref name="xlr8r2014"/> Mind and Body in 1999,<ref name="xlr8r2014"/> and Digital Solutions in 2015.<ref name="xlr8r2014">Template:Cite web</ref>

He is also one half of the duo Borderland along with Moritz von Oswald.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The duo released Borderland in 2013<ref name="factmag2016"/> and Transport in 2016.<ref name="factmag2016">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2015, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Metroplex, Juan Atkins collaborated with VAVA Eyewear.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Artistry

John Bush of AllMusic explains that Atkins "explor[ed] his vision of a futuristic music that welded the more cosmic side of Parliament funk with the rigid computer synth pop embodied by Kraftwerk and the techno-futurist possibilities described by sociologist Alvin Toffler." Aesthetically, Atkins drew upon dystopian science fiction narratives to construct his sonic landscapes. Later in his career, he began incorporating elements of contemporary dance music, while retaining what critics consider to be his signature sense of melody.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He has stated that George Clinton's bands Parliament and Funkadelic were important to his "musical awakening."<ref name="djmag2019"/> He grew up listening to The Electrifying Mojo's radio shows.<ref name="djmag2019"/> He also acknowledged Kraftwerk as one of the influences on his music.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Legacy

John Bush of AllMusic conferred the title of "godfather of techno" on Atkins, and said his discography is "perhaps the most influential body of work in the field of techno." He stated: "Though it's often difficult (and misleading) to pick the precise genesis for any style of music, the easiest choice for techno is an Atkins release, the 1982 electro track 'Clear,' recorded by Atkins and Rick Davis as Cybotron."<ref name=":0" /> Mixmag has described him as "the original pioneer of Detroit techno."<ref name="mixmag2015" />

Discography

Studio albums

• 3MB Featuring Magic Juan Atkins (1992) Template:Small
• Deep Space (1995) Template:Small
• Skynet (1998) Template:Small
• Mind and Body (1999) Template:Small
• The Berlin Sessions (2005)
• Borderland (2013) Template:Small
• Digital Solutions (2015) Template:Small
• Transport (2016) Template:Small
• Mind Merge LP (2017) Template:Small

Compilation albums

• Classics (1993) Template:Small
• The Infiniti Collection (1996) Template:Small
• Wax Trax! MasterMix Volume 1 (1998)
• 20 Years 1985 - 2005 (2005)

EPs

• The True Techno EP (1992) Template:Small
• The Future Sound EP (1993)

Singles

• "No UFO's" (1985) Template:Small
• "Night Drive" (1985) Template:Small
• "Testing 1-2" (1986) Template:Small
• "Play It Cool" (1986) Template:Small
• "Technicolor" (1986) Template:Small
• "It's Channel One" (1987) Template:Small
• "Sound of Stereo" (1987) Template:Small
• "Make Some Noise" (1987) Template:Small
• "Beat Track" (1987)
• "Interference" (1988) Template:Small
• "The Chase" (1989) Template:Small
• "Ocean to Ocean" (1990) Template:Small
• "Jazz Is the Teacher" (1993) Template:Small
• "I See the Light" (1993) Template:Small
• "Sonic Sunset" (1994) Template:Small
• "The Flow" (1995) Template:Small
• "Starlight" (1995) Template:Small
• "I Wanna Be There" (1996) Template:Small
• "Be Brave" (1998) Template:Small
• "Update" (2002) Template:Small
• "Outer Space" (2004) Template:Small
• "OFI" / "Huesca" (2010) Template:Small
• "Control" (2012) Template:Small
• "Riod" (2016) Template:Small

Filmography

Feature films

• High Tech Soul (2006)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Short films

• Black to Techno (2019)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:AllMusic
• Template:Discogs artist
• Template:IMDb name