Floating Points

Last updated

Floating Points
Floating Points (2011) (cropped).jpg
Shepherd performing in Montreal, 2011
Background information
Birth nameSamuel Shepherd
Born1986 (age 3738)
Manchester, England, UK
Genres Electronic, jazz
Years active2008present
LabelsPluto Records
Eglo Records
Luaka Bop
Ninja Tune
Planet Mu
Website floatingpoints.co.uk

Samuel Shepherd, known professionally as Floating Points, is a British electronic music producer, DJ, and musician. He is the founder of Pluto Records, [1] co-founder of Eglo Records and leader of a 16-piece group called Floating Points Ensemble.

Contents

Biography

Raised in Manchester, England, Shepherd studied piano at Chetham's School of Music [2] before receiving a PhD in neuroscience and epigenetics at University College London. [3] He also worked as a DJ at Plastic People, a London club, in the late 2000s. [4] [5]

In late 2008, Shepherd and Alexander Nut launched the Eglo record label. [6] Eglo Records had released music by Floating Points, Fatima, Funkineven, Steve Spacek, Dego & Kaidi, Shafiq Husayn, K15, Mizz Beats, Natalie Slade, Destiny71z, Shy One, Henry Wu, Chunky and others.

In 2010, Shepherd performed with a 16-piece live incarnation of Floating Points, entitled the Floating Points Ensemble. The group won an award for "Best BBC Radio 1 Maida Vale Session". [7]

In 2015, Shepherd founded Pluto records. He released projects such as Eleania, Kuiper, Crush, and Reflections: Mojave Desert from the label. [8] [9]

Shepherd's musical influences include Claude Debussy, Olivier Messiaen, and Bill Evans. [4] He began releasing work under the Floating Points moniker in 2008, [10] and in 2017 toured with The xx. [11]

He has also remixed musicians such as Thundercat, Caribou, Basement Jaxx, Skepta & Headie One.

Career

Shepherd's first release was the Vacuum EP in 2008 on Eglo Records. Over the next few years, he would continuously release EPs and singles on Eglo, but also other labels such as Planet Mu. Notable releases included 2011's Shadows EP and 2014's "King Bromeliad" / "Montparnasse".

On 6 November 2015, Shepherd released the first Floating Points album - Elaenia. Around its release, Shepherd launched an 11-piece live show and immediately sold-out a string of global live dates including headline shows at Islington Assembly Hall and two dates at Electric Brixton in London. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, Elaenia received an average score of 85, based on 20 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [12] Hamill Industries and Floating Points created the exhibition ‘Future Shocks’ at 180, The Strand in London in collaboration with FACT. The exhibition featured an installation by Hamill called “Vortex”. [13] In 2017, Shepherd released Reflections: Mojave Desert. The album recording was accompanied by a short film produced by long-time collaborator Anna Diaz Ortuño of Hamill Industries. The album was recorded in August 2016 in the Mojave Desert when Shepherd and his band were rehearsing for their upcoming US tour. Floating Points explained: "Whilst we were out playing and exploring the area around us – the sound reflecting from the rocks, the sound of the wind between them, complete stillness at night and packs of roaming coyotes in the distance, it became apparent that we could use this as its own unique recording environment”.

On 29 March 2019, Shepherd contributed a DJ mix to the Late Night Tales series.

On 18 October 2019, Shepherd released the album Crush. It received positive reception upon release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from music publications, the album received an average score of 81 based on 16 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Shepherd embarked on a tour following the album's release, selling out shows at Printworks, Elysee Montmartre, and Funkhaus.

During lockdown, Shepherd collaborated with KDV Dance Ensemble and Boiler Room to host an interactive live stream on Zoom. He was Interviewed by New York Times. [14]

On 26 March 2021, Shepherd released a collaborative album with Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra, entitled Promises. It was nominated for the Mercury Prize 2021 and reached #6 in the Official UK Albums Chart and #1 in the Official UK Vinyl Albums Chart. [15] [16] [17] The album was released on New York label Luaka Bop. Sanders was impressed by Elaenia and befriended Shepherd, who was 40 years younger than him. Sanders proposed that they produce a collaborative album. Shepherd composed the music and played both electronic and non-electronic instruments. [18] [19] [20]

After Sanders' death in 2022, Shepherd put together a one-time live performance of the album at the Hollywood Bowl, conducted by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson with an ensemble cast including Sam Shepherd, Kieran Hebden, Dan Snaith, Shabaka Hutchings, Kara Lis Coverdale, Hinako Omori. The Independent reviewed the performance, calling it “A near perfect body of music paired with a beautiful tribute” and gave it 4/5 stars.

In 2022, Shepherd released the singles Vocoder, Grammar, Promises, Birth4000, and Someone Close. In 2023, Shepherd released Birth4000.

He collaborated as a producer for Japanese American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada album Bad Mode, working on the songs Bad Mode, Kibunja Naino (Not In The Mood) and Somewhere Near Marseilles.

Shepherd composed an original score for Mere Mortals for the San Francisco Ballet which premiered on 26 January 2024. The ballet, featuring choreography from Aszure Barton, contextualised the ancient parable of Pandora’s Box in AI. Shepherd worked with long-time creative collaborators Hamill Industries. The initial run of shows sold out. [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] A second run is planned for April 2024.

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

EPs

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pharoah Sanders</span> American jazz saxophonist (1940–2022)

Pharoah Sanders was an American jazz saxophonist. Known for his overblowing, harmonic, and multiphonic techniques on the saxophone, as well as his use of "sheets of sound", Sanders played a prominent role in the development of free jazz and spiritual jazz through his work as a member of John Coltrane's groups in the mid-1960s, and later through his solo work. He released more than thirty albums as a leader and collaborated extensively with vocalist Leon Thomas and pianist Alice Coltrane, among many others. Fellow saxophonist Ornette Coleman once described him as "probably the best tenor player in the world".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahmoud Guinia</span> Musical artist

Mahmoud Guinia was a Moroccan Gnawa musician, singer and guembri player, who was traditionally regarded as a Maâllem, i.e. master. The family name is Gania, which also was the spelling in the passport of the artist.

Graham Haynes is an American cornetist, trumpeter and composer. The son of jazz drummer Roy Haynes, Graham is known for his work in nu jazz, fusing jazz with elements of hip hop and electronic music.

Clifton "Jiggs" Chase is an American musician, composer, and influential record producer from New Jersey, United States. One of the earliest known recordings is his organ playing on the 1967 Buddy Terry recording Natural Soul, alongside Woody Shaw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Big Town</span> American country band

Little Big Town is an American country music vocal group from Homewood, Alabama. Founded in 1998, the group has had the same four members since its founding: Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook. Their musical style relies heavily on four-part vocal harmonies, with all four members alternating as lead vocalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kahil El'Zabar</span> American drummer

Kahil El'Zabar is an American jazz multi-instrumentalist and composer. He regularly records for Delmark Records.

<i>Featuring Pharoah Sanders & Black Harold</i> 1976 live album by Sun Ra

Featuring Pharoah Sanders and Black Harold is a jazz album by Sun Ra, recorded live on December 31, 1964, but not released until 1976, on Ra and Alton Abraham's El Saturn label. An expanded version of the album was reissued in 2009 by ESP-Disk, and again in 2017 by Superior Viaduct. A complete version of Sun Ra's performances on December 30 and 31, 1964 were released in 2012 on the Pharoah Sanders album In The Beginning 1963-1964.

Stafford James is an American double-bassist and composer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Escreet</span> Musical artist

John Escreet is an English pianist, composer and improviser. He has lived in the United States since 2006 and currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Future (rapper)</span> American rapper (born 1983)

Nayvadius DeMun Cash, known professionally as Future, is an American rapper and singer. Known for his mumble-styled vocals and prolific output, Future is considered a pioneer of the use of Auto-Tuned melodies in trap music. Due to the sustained popularity of this musical style, he is commonly regarded as one of the most influential rappers of his generation.

<i>Izipho Zam (My Gifts)</i> 1973 studio album by Pharoah Sanders

Izipho Zam (My Gifts) is the third album led by saxophonist Pharoah Sanders recorded in 1969 but not released on the Strata-East label until 1973. It features Sanders with a large ensemble.

<i>Welcome to Love</i> 1991 studio album by Pharoah Sanders

Welcome to Love is an album led by saxophonist Pharoah Sanders recorded in 1990 and first released on the Dutch Timeless label. The album features jazz standards, many of which were also recorded by John Coltrane.

<i>Elaenia</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Floating Points

Elaenia is the debut studio album by British electronic musician Sam Shepherd, released under his alias Floating Points on 6 November 2015 by Shepherd's own Pluto label and Luaka Bop. Shepherd created the artwork for the album by connecting fibre-optic cables to a home made harmonograph. Shepherd had originally conceived the album to contain only one track but was advised against the idea and eventually cut the music into seven songs. Elaenia's title track was named when Shepherd experienced a dream about a bird that became engulfed in a forest after he had been reading the speculative fiction novel Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by American neuroscientist David Eagleman.

Josef Leimberg is a producer, lyricist, and trumpet player from Los Angeles. He contributed to Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy Award-winning album, To Pimp a Butterfly, and is currently signed with World Galaxy, the jazz imprint of Alpha Pup Records.

<i>This Is for You, John</i> 1984 studio album by Benny Golson

This Is for You, John is an album by saxophonist/composer Benny Golson that was recorded in 1983 and released on the Japanese Baystate label the following year. The album features saxophonist Pharoah Sanders performing tunes associated with, or inspired by, John Coltrane and was reissued on the Dutch Timeless label in 1986.

<i>Crush</i> (Floating Points album) 2019 studio album by Floating Points

Crush is the second studio album by British electronic musician Sam Shepherd, released under his alias Floating Points on 18 October 2019 by Ninja Tune.

<i>Late Night Tales: Floating Points</i> 2019 compilation album by Floating Points

Late Night Tales: Floating Points is a DJ mix album curated by Floating Points for Late Night Tales series, released by Night Time Stories on 29 March 2019. The album includes a variety of genres that influenced Floating Points during the years, including ambient, jazz, soul, psychedelic pop, folk, electronic, and it features artists such as Sarah Davachi, William S. Fischer, Azimuth, Max Roach, and Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 in jazz</span> Overview of the events of 2021 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of jazz in the year 2021.

<i>Promises</i> (Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra album) 2021 studio album by Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra

Promises is a 2021 studio album by the British electronic musician Floating Points, the American jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra. It was released on 26 March 2021 through the New York label Luaka Bop. It consists of a single 46-minute composition noted for its "dreamlike" quality. The album has received acclaim from music critics, and was shortlisted for the 2021 Mercury Prize. Promises was the final album Sanders released before his death in 2022.

<i>Life</i> (Art Davis album) 1986 live album by Art Davis Quartet

Life is a live album by double bassist Art Davis. His second release as a leader, it was recorded on October 5, 1985, in New York City, and was issued in 1986 on CD and vinyl by Soul Note. On the album, Davis is joined by saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, pianist John Hicks, and drummer Idris Muhammad.

References

  1. "Pluto · Record label ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  2. Hutchinson, Kate (29 October 2015). "I DJ, therefore I am: Floating Points on musical experiments and marathon sets". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 20 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  3. Titmus, Stephen (3 November 2015). "Floating Points: Extraordinary lengths". Resident Advisor . Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  4. 1 2 Bromwich, Jonah Engel (16 October 2019). "Floating Points, Electronic Music's King of Pain". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  5. Murphy, Rhodes (28 October 2019). "How Floating Points, producer and neuroscientist, made the perfect soundtrack for our existing chaos". Document Journal. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  6. "Eglo Records". Eglo Records. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  7. "Eglo Records". Eglo Records. Archived from the original on 27 November 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  8. "Pluto · Record label ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  9. Helfet, Gabriela (26 September 2017). "Floating Points' Pluto Records drops secret 12". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  10. Jeffries, David. "Artist Biography". AllMusic . Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  11. O'Connor, Roisin (17 October 2019). "Floating Points review, Crush: An insight into Sam Shepherd's brilliant mind". The Independent . Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  12. Elaenia by Floating Points , retrieved 16 April 2024
  13. "Vortex". Hamill Industries. 20 September 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  14. "Floating Points featuring KDV Dance Ensemble & Friends". BOILER ROOM. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  15. "Promises by Floating Points".
  16. "Promises, by Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & the London Symphony Orchestra".
  17. Russonello, Giovanni (25 March 2021). "Pharoah Sanders and Floating Points Meet in the Atmosphere". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  18. "Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders' Promises Is a Remarkable Intergenerational Collaboration". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  19. Shaffer, Claire (16 February 2021). "Pharoah Sanders Announces First Album in a Decade With Floating Points". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  20. FT (24 April 2021). "ASTRAL TRAVELING". Artforum. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  21. Howard, Rachel. "Review: San Francisco Ballet's AI-themed 'Mere Mortals' scores passionate success without scandal". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  22. "SF Ballet Premieres 'Mere Mortals,' a Must-See Blend of Mythology, Technology, and Choreography". SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports. 2 February 2024. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  23. Katz, Leslie. "AI And Humanity Dance A Charged Duet In 'Mere Mortals' At S.F. Ballet". Forbes. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  24. Examiner, Garth Grimball | Special to The (31 January 2024). "SF Ballet begins new era by breaking barriers". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  25. "Are the myths of Pandora and Prometheus a parable for AI?". The Economist. ISSN   0013-0613 . Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  26. Kellman, Andy (6 November 2015). "Elaenia". AllMusic . Archived from the original on 7 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  27. "Reflections – Mojave Desert by Floating Points on Apple Music". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  28. Minsker, Evan (28 August 2019). "Floating Points Announces New Album Crush, Shares New Song: Listen". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.