Revolutionizing Soundscapes: From Underground Radio to Digital Instruments | Innovative Music Discussion Podcast
In the realm of electronic music, Matt Black stands out as a visionary, merging the worlds of DJing, remixing, and software development to create innovative tools for artists and DJs. As co-founder of Ninja Tune, a UK label, and a member of the band Coldcut, Black's influence extends beyond the stage.
Black's passion for technology and music began as a means of maintaining his identity and continuing to release music. This led to the creation of Ninja Tune, a label that has been at the forefront of integrating technology with music performance and production since its inception in 1990.
One of Black's most notable creations is the iOS app Ninja Jamm, which has had over 600,000 downloads. Designed to cater to his own need for a flexible and powerful instrument, given his inability to play traditional instruments, Ninja Jamm has become a popular choice for musicians and DJs alike. In 2020, an advanced version of the app, Jamm Pro, was released and is now available for download on the App Store.
Coldcut, the band that Black is a part of, has been active since 1987. Throughout their career, they have combined cutting-edge artistic expression with positive activist themes, making them a staple in the electronic music scene.
In addition to his work with Ninja Tune and Coldcut, Black has collaborated with artists and showcased his experiments with innovative technology. For instance, he collaborated with artist Wolfgang Buttress for the BEAM AV installation at Glastonbury 2019, and showcased his experiments with Style Transfer, a cutting-edge new style of visual processing using AI techniques, at Splice festival 2017.
The "Innovating Music" Podcast, hosted by Dr. Gigi Johnson, features guests who are innovators, change agents, entrepreneurs, creators, and researchers in the music industry. In a recent episode, Black shared insights into his journey and the impact of technology on music. The podcast can be subscribed to in various podcast players, including Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Pandora, Overcast, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, YouTube, and others.
As Ninja Tune celebrates 30 years in 2020, it remains one of the world's leading electronic music labels and a beacon for the independent music spirit. The focus of the "Innovating Music" Podcast is on how technology is transforming the creation, collaboration, and community building around music in a connected age. Black's work embodies this transformation, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in electronic music and visual art.
Technology is a vital component in Matt Black's creative process, as he leverages it to develop innovative music tools such as the Ninja Jamm app and collaborate on avant-garde projects like the BEAM AV installation with Wolfgang Buttress.
Black's influence in the music industry stretches beyond Ninja Tune and Coldcut, as he uses technology to integrate artistic expression with activist themes, as demonstrated in his collaborations and experiments in visual processing using AI techniques.
