Surkin

Surkin
Birth nameBenoit Heitz
Also known asGener8ion
Born1985 (age 38–39)
GenresFrench house, electro house, chiptune
Years active2006–present
LabelsInstitubes, Marble, Ed Banger, EMI Music Japan
Websitehttp://www.myspace.com/surkin

Benoit Heitz (born 1985), known by his stage name Surkin, is a French musician, record producer, DJ and art director. He is known for his electronic music compositions under the name Surkin and Gener8ion.[1]

Life and career

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Surkin was born in Arles, the south of France. He studied contemporary art at Villa Arson in Nice before moving to Paris to start his music career.[2]

He first gained attention in 2006 with his first releases on the French Institubes music label, DJ performances in clubs and music festivals such as Coachella,[3] Fuji Rock Festival[4] and Ultra Music Festival,[5] and remixes for artists like Paul Johnson, Justice, Chromeo, DJ Mehdi, Kavinsky. During this time, Surkin's productions are notable for their use of heavily modified vocal samples and the use of cut-up.

In 2011 he launched the independent record label Marble along with Para One and Bobmo.[6]

Surkin released his first album "USA" late 2011,[7] which was called by dance magazine Mixmag "one of the most exciting concept albums of the 21st century".[8] The album is influenced by Detroit techno, 80's electro and Chicago House, featuring vocals by Ann Saunderson (from Inner City) and Marshall Jefferson collaborator Kevin Irving.[9]

In 2015 he released the E.P. "The New International Sound Part II" featuring vocals by M.I.A, under the name GENER8ION. The subsequent music video, directed by Inigo Westmeier and executive produced by French director Romain Gavras, was shot at the Chinese fighting school of Shaolin Tagou and featured a synchronized choreography by 36,000 of their students.[10][11][12]

In 2016, Surkin composed the original music of the Nike campaign 'Da Da Ding'[13] which won numerous awards at international advertising competitions [14][15][16] and scored the launch video of the iPhone 7 "Don't Blink" which was shown in September at the Apple keynote in Cupertino.[17][18] In March 2016 he released a visual magazine called "Unite Or Perish" and a new EP under the name Gener8ion called "GN8003" on French label Bromance.[19][20][21]

In 2017 Surkin collaborated with fashion brand Dior to create the music of their campaign Poison Club[22] and composed the music of the global Mercedes-Benz campaign "Never Stop Improving" featuring Roger Federer.[23]

Awards

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  • 2017: D&AD Awards – 'Nike, Da Da Ding' – Wood Pencil - Use of Music for Film Advertising [24]
  • 2017: Cannes Lion – 'Nike, Da Da Ding' – Bronze Lion - Use of Original Music [25]

Discography

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Production

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  • M.I.A. - Bring The Noize (2013, Interscope)

Albums

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  • Action Replay (2007, Institubes/Klee)
  • USA (2011, Marble/Ed Banger/EMI Japan)
  • USA Club Mixes (2012, Marble)

EP and singles

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  • Ghetto Obsession (2006, Institubes)
  • Play Do / I Joke On You (2006, Arcade Mode)
  • Radio Fireworks (2006, Institubes)
  • Fireworks Refired (2007, Institubes)
  • Next of Kin (2008, Institubes)
  • Next of Kin, Mark II (2008, Institubes)
  • Silver Island (2010, Institubes)
  • Fan Out Remixes (2010, Institubes)
  • Ultra Light (2011, Marble)
  • Lose Yourself (2012, Marble)
  • I Want You Back (with Todd Edwards) (2012, Sound Pellegrino)
  • Advanced Entertainment System (2013, Marble)

Remixes

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Year Artist Title Label
2005 M.I.A. "Sunshowers" (Surkin vs. M.I.A.) Institubes
2006 Para One "Epiphanie Teaser" (Surkin Megamixx) Institubes
Para One "Midnight Swim" (Surkin Drowning Mix) Institubes
2007 Boys Noize "Don't Believe the Hype"
(Surkin Remix No. 1) & (Surkin Remix No. 2) 		Boysnoize Records
Chromeo "Fancy Footwork" (Surkin Rogue Teens Remix) Vice/Turbo
DJ Mehdi "Lucky Boy" Ed Banger Records
Foals "Hummer" Transgressive Records
Goose "Low Mode" (Surkin Mode) Skint Records
Justine Electra "Killalady" City Slang
Kate Wax "Catch the Buzz" Mental Groove Records
Klaxons "Golden Skans" Because Music
Paul Johnson "Hot" Blackjack
Spencer Parker "Open Your Eyes" Cr2 Records
Teki Latex feat. Lio "Les Matins de Paris" Virgin
VHS or BETA "Burn It All Down" Astralwerks
Yuksek "Composer" Relish Recordings
2008 Justice "DVNO" Ed Banger Records
Nacho Lovers "Acid Life" Scion Audio/Visual
2009 The Juan Maclean "One Day" DFA
Street Fighter IV "Bionic Commando"
2011 Canblaster "Totem" (Surkin 'Gravity' Edit) Marble
2012 Mademoiselle Yulia "Bam Me" EMI Music Japan
Drop the Lime "Bandit Blues" Ultra Records
Usher "Scream" RCA
M.I.A. "Bad Girls"
2013 Kavinsky "Odd Look" Mercury
2014 Charli XCX "Boom Clap" Atlantic

References

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  1. ^ "M.I.A. Teams With Surkin's Gener8ion on "The New International Sound Pt. II"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  2. ^ Lochanski, Tess (2016-03-03). "gener8ion, le porte-parole du cool globalisé de notre génération". i-D (in French). Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  3. ^ surkin coachella 2008, archived from the original on 2021-12-15, retrieved 2019-10-03
  4. ^ "Fuji Rock Festival 14 - English". fujirock-eng.com. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  5. ^ Duran, Jose D. (2009-02-13). "Full Ultra Music Festival Lineup Revealed". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  6. ^ "Surkin, Bobmo, and Para One Unveil New Marble Imprint, XLR8R". 25 March 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  7. ^ http://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=15137 - Surkin readies debut album, USA
  8. ^ Mixmag, December 2011. Album Of The Month "Surkin - USA"
  9. ^ "Surkin - USA Review Clash Magazine". 28 November 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Watch 36,000 Chinese Fighters Battle in the Video for M.I.A and Gener8ion's "The New International Sound Pt. II"". Vice (in Danish). 2015-06-16. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  11. ^ "M.I.A and Gener8ion's new vid features 36,000 Chinese fighting school kids". It's Nice That. 2015-06-16. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  12. ^ Collins, Hattie (2015-06-15). "m.i.a and generation enlist 36,000 kung fu kids for new video". i-D. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  13. ^ "Surkin". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  14. ^ "Prix de la Création Musicale". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  15. ^ "Cannes Lions 2017: Wieden+Kennedy's Da Da Ding brings final Gold for India". www.bestmediaifo.com. June 25, 2017. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  16. ^ "Nike Da Da Ding". www.dandad.org. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  17. ^ "Apple". Creaminal Music Supervision Agency. 2016-09-08. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  18. ^ Smith, Marshall (2016-09-07). "Everything You Need to Know About the Apple iPhone 7 Event In 2 Minutes". Industry Tap. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  19. ^ "Gener8ion: Lancement du magazine Unite Or Perish". Beware Magazine (in French). Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  20. ^ "Gener8ion Magazine". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  21. ^ "L'Album de la Semaine: Gener8ion, "G8N003 - EP"". Clique.tv (in French). 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  22. ^ Dior Poison Club (Official), retrieved 2019-10-03
  23. ^ "Your Shot: Never Stop Improving with Mercedes-Benz, Roger Federer and antoni". lbbonline.com. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  24. ^ "D&AD Awards 2017, Nike Da Da Ding". D&AD. June 6, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
  25. ^ "Cannes Lions 2017: India wins 7 Lions in Creative Effectiveness, Radio, and Film Craft". Best Media Info. June 6, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
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