Alex Gimeno

Last updated
Alex Gimeno
Ursula1000.jpg
Background information
Born (1966-11-24) November 24, 1966 (age 53)
New York, New York, United States
Genres Trip hop, electronica, breakbeat
Occupation(s) Musician
Years active1999–present
LabelsEighteenth Street Lounge/Insect Queen Music
Website Official website

Alex Gimeno (born November 24, 1966) is an American music producer, multi-instrumentalist and DJ best known for Ursula 1000, a wide-ranging musical project "experimenting with international styles" [1] including lounge, electronic dance, glam rock and cha cha. [2]

Contents

Gimeno was born in Manhattan, New York, United States. During his childhood, he and his family moved to Miami Beach. He moved back to Brooklyn in the late 1990s.

Influences

In his youth, Gimeno was exposed to 50s and 60s exotica, world music, bossa nova and mambo through his parents, which deeply influenced him. His own personal tastes were deep in new wave, post-punk, glam rock, hip hop and acid house. He began collecting records as a teenager and in his own words, "never stopped". By 2005, he owned over 20,000 records, filling up an entire room in his apartment. His father worked as a musician and was a member of a flamenco band called Los Chavales de España.

Career

Gimeno entered the music business around 1990. He was a DJ in Miami Beach for nearly a decade, and early in his career, he played drums for a band called 23. He also had his own show on the pirate radio station WOMB.

After extensive work as a DJ, he sent a demo of original work to Washington, D.C.-based record label ESL Music, which was immediately interested in signing him. On that label, Gimeno has released a number of original albums and several mix sessions.

He has done remixes for Quincy Jones, Felix Da Housecat, The Faint, Fort Knox Five to a "slew of television remodels for themes to Sesame Street, The Powerpuff Girls, The Incredibles, and Yo Gabba Gabba. Scenes and promos for Sex And The City, Greys Anatomy and How I Met Your Mother, and Modern Family" [3] have also featured several of his remixes, as have marketing campaigns for AT&T, Samsung, Adidas, Grand Marnier and the Emmy nominated documentary NY77: The Coolest Year In Hell [4] . His songs have been used in video games like Destroy All Humans!, NBA 2K9 and Tap Tap Revenge. His song "Kaboom" was featured in the 2018 Olympics!

His collaborations with Fred Schneider, Lady Bunny, Puddles Pity Party, Isabelle Antena, Shag, Cristina, Los Amigos Invisibles, Dr. Luke and Kool Kojak to name a few brought forth sheer magic on the albums The Now Sound of Ursula 1000, Kinda Kinky, Here Comes Tomorrow, Mystics, Mondo Beyondo [5] , Voyeur, Galleria and Esoterique [6] . All Systems Are Go Go and Ursadelica showed the world his dj skills and ear for the best in hip shaking groovers. Undressed had it all re-imagined by electronics finest like Deekline, Ladytron, Product.01, Malente and more.

He has performed in over 30 countries and created sound design/runway music for Issey Miyake, Desigual, Prada, Miu Miu, Hugo Boss, Miss Sixty and Christian Dior.

In 2013, he started his own label called Insect Queen Music, releasing side projects such as the space disco influenced Quentin Quatro. The Disco Quatro EP and the Quatrophonic EP were released in 2014. Pretty Pretty Pegasus, his ambient side project, came out in 2018. Why Insect Queen? Ursula 1000: “I have no idea. I thought it sounded like a cool name for a band actually. I liked the vagueness to it. I can see a gothic heavy metal record being put out on a label like that, as well as my own stuff.” [7] His latest album Esoterique marks a 20 year anniversary since his debut release and features remixes from Jazzanova and Fantastic Plastic Machine.

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Remixes

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References

  1. Gregson, Henry. "Ursula 1000 – Esoterique". MXDWN.
  2. "DJ brings big-party sound to Hawai'i". The Honolulu Advertiser. 2007-12-30. p. 53. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  3. Nubian, Jonn. "Feature: Ursula 1000 The Esoterique Interview by Jonn Nubian". YRB Mag.
  4. "NY77: The Coolest Year in Hell Awards". IMDB.
  5. "Ursula 1000 Retro funk banger 'Mondo Beyondo'". Rolling Stone.
  6. Steffen, Chris. "Album Premiere: Ursula 1000, 'Esoterique'". All Music.
  7. Hernandez, Jorge. "URSULA 1000 CHATS INSECT QUEEN, ESL RECORDS & THE SOUND OF THE '80S". DJ Mag.
  8. "CD Review - Ursula 1000 Here Comes Tomorrow". Harbour City Star. 2006-03-25. p. 36. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  9. "New Album "VOYEUR" OUT NOW!! » Preview Quentin Quatro's Quatrophonic!". Ursula 1000. 2014-02-20. Retrieved 2015-12-05.
  10. Metzger, Richard. "'Vampire Vamp': Fred Schneider and Ursula 1000 bring back the Halloween novelty song". Dangerous Minds.