Reference - Metro - Ann Arbor US - Dec 2007

Biography of Reference

Reference is Brian Kage and Luke Hess.

BRIAN KAGE
Kage (Pronounced Ka-ghei), is an up-and-coming Producer/DJ from Detroit. Music had always been a big part of his life leading up to Electronic music. Growing up, he was influenced by rock groups & hip-hop artists such as The Police, The Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, DJ Shadow, Q-Bert, & UNKLE. Kage’s love for the melodic & fun side of music mixed with the sound of driving beats influenced his decision to check out electronic dance music. The group that played the most influential role in his love of electronic music was Underworld, 'I just remember staying up all night listening to the Pearls Girl LP on loop. Every track on that CD was moving. I finally knew what I was meant to do with my life.' At the age of 15, Kage began to experiment with sequencers and musical software like Rebirth-338 for his Apple Macintosh. Once hooked, he began saving some cash for gear, software, and turntables. Without any formal music training, Kage taught himself how to use each piece of gear to generate the sounds he wanted to hear in a production.

Kage's tracks have been receiving great reviews from his peers across the country. Recently, He's signed three of his tracks to Adam Jay's Azure Records for World-Wide release. Kage's also working on original tracks & remixes for labels such as Z'n Recordings, Open Source & Berettamusic. Another one of Kage's Projects is Reassembled. Inspired by the idea of Richie Hawtin’s Closer to the Edit, Kage gathered up about 60 different songs that were done in the software program, Reason, by various artists around the world, cut the songs down into a loop, and reassembled them into a 32 minute mix album. ReasonStation.net will be featuring this mix on their web site along with a tutorial on how it was done. Kage has been playing out since ’99. Such events include DEMF’01 & DEMF’02 at the Nefarious booth, Motor Detroit, & The Necto in Ann Arbor.

LUKE HESS
Luke Hess was born in Detroit, MI. His deep appreciation and understanding of music was formed when he was encouraged to take piano lessons and join a choir at the age of six. He grew up listening to classical, jazz, and 80's music such as Yello, The Talking Heads, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, and New Order. In high school he was subject to the mid-90's rave scene in Detroit, creating a deeper love for electronic music. In college he excelled in mathematics and the sciences gaining him a degree in Electrical Engineering. His background in music and engineering has helped him focus his creative energy on forming a style all his own.

He likes to describe his style of techno as melodic and minimal, spacey and deep, intense yet reserved. His main electronic music influences are from artists and labels such as Rob Hood, Underground Resistance, Richie Hawtin, Thinner, Aril Brikha, Force Inc., Stewart Walker, Etc. His up and coming release in 2004 will better describe his mind as music. You may have seen or heard him play at the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, Visillusion record release, the Original Mothers in Chicago, TO in Toronto, Cloud 9, Detroit Threads, Lilies 21, Tremors, Bumpers, Urban Break, and miscellaneous warehouse and loft parties. Look for great things to come from Luke.