James Watts is the mind behind KiloWatts and his many different projects and styles. His work embraces the bulk of electronic genres, including breaks, IDM, techno, and downtempo. His fluency in piano is evident throughout his work, as is his penchant for jazzy riffs, intelligent structure, wistful melodies, and an often cheeky take on the current state and history of electronic music as a whole. His album “Ground State” is out on Native State Records, home to fellow pioneers Bluetech and Shen. It’s a collection of sweaty psychedelic downtempo grooves, churning molasses-thick basslines, and undulating synthetic sonorous mandalas. KiloWatts has albums on Artificial Music Machine that are full of visionary dimensions, fusing together a dexterous knowledge of sound synthesis, deep emotional articulation, and solid melodic intuition. Peppered throughout these monumental statements are releases with class labels such as Harmonious Discord, Thoughtless Music, and his own outlet, KiloWatts Music, that celebrate his adept technical expertise, often bringing a whirlwind of mindblowing digital wizardry in the form of glitches and edits.
He began making music in the early 90s with DOS-based trackers and releasing them on BBSs through the demoscene. He was a driving force in the foundation of Soulseek Records, a netlabel celebrating independent musicians during a time of heavy backlash from the record industry against filesharing. The label helped show that independent electronic musicians can use filesharing to their advantage by promoting and collaborating with eachother. The label was born among a flurry of netlabels, many which still exist today.
An ever-growing list of projects and collaborations exists. Skeetaz, with breakbeat cohort Bil Bless brings hard-hitting digital glitched-out psychedelic funk. His collaboration with singer Peter Van Ewijk is a mystical ride with vocals and guitar, nested atop edgy electronica. With Tanner Ross, an eerie style of dark techno is born under the name Voodeux for Dirtybird’s techno sublabel Mothership. Fellow Philadelphian MC Amagine delivers consciousness-driven motifs in their digital glitch-hop project called Super Galactic Expansive.
Out Now
--- remember deletions ---
--- reawaken divinity ---
--- return to determinate energy ---
01/12 - Portland, OR - Someday Lounge w/ SOTEG & Skeetaz, Crush 01/23 - New York, NY - Libation (Healing Ananda Benefit) 02/01 - Philadelphia, PA - Awesome House 03/01 - Los Angeles, CA - Space Island 03/08 - Austin, TX - Squid Collective 04/02 - Chicago, IL - Butterfly Social Club, Psymbolic 05/09 - Washington, DC - Flash, 88 Degrees 06/14 - Belden, CA - Gemini Festival 06/20 - Artemas, PA - Gaian Mind Summer Festival 07/19 - Philadelphia, PA - Zot, Gaian Mind Monthly 07/26 - New Jersey Pine Barrens - Philadelphia Shamanista Initiative 08/09 - Austin, TX - New Guild 08/23 - Philadelphia, PA - Awesome Backyard 08/30 - Philadelphia, PA - Super Galactic Expansive @ The Fire 09/06 - Philadelphia, PA - Crossdressing House 09/12 - Black River Falls, WI - Earthdance 09/26 - Seattle, WA - Decibel Festival, Native State Records Showcase 09/27 - Vancouver, BC - New Forms Festival 11/21 - Vancouver, BC - Nourish, Jyotih Network 11/22 - Victoria, BC - Sunset Room 12/31 - San Francisco, CA - TantraSF
"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. ... No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others"'
~~Martha Graham, Dancer and Choreographer, 1894-1991
(Thanks Gift Culture for unearthing this wonderful quote)
Hey James, thanks for being my friend. You have some of the most inspiring beats ever made! Im coming up to San Francisco to party with you on New Years!! Can't Wait! -Colter
I have a hard time believing i haven't made a comment yet, on: a) the very sexy page and b) the tunes!! and of course c) thanks for the add . . R I S E . . Naïve .
I cannot WAIT for the Native State showcase at Decibel! Seattle is STOKED- melt our faces off and make our brains run out of our ears, please and thank you!
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