6 - The Michigan Daily -- Weekend etc. - Thursday, February 9, 1995 Richie Hawtin blows up like plastik explosives ......-... By Ben Ewy Daily Arts Writer Regardless of what you've heard, techno started in Detroit. The dark, minimal sound of Detroit Acid-House has influenced electronic musicians all over the world. One of the most popular, well recognized DJs in De- troit and the world is Richie Hawtin. At the precocious age of 23, Richie is slowly becoming the spokesman for the Detroit sound. Richie is per- aaps best known for his projects un- Jer the Plastikman moniker. In addi- tion to the Plastikman title, Richie Also works under the FUSE name as well as doing various re-mixes under bus own name. Richie's current Dis- :ography is two pages long and reads ike Techno's Greatest Hits. In addi- ion to being a musician, Richie, with )artner John Aquaviva, owns and runs t8 Records. Richie's fame is not lim- ted to Detroit; he is internationally ecognized and spent part of last sum- mer re-creating his now historic "Spastik" parties in Europe. I was recently afforded the opportunity of talking with Richie and what follows is excerpts from our conversation. Richie was introduced to the De- troit scene in late 1987 when he and brother Matt infiltrated the mostly Black Detroit scene and became known as "those White techno kids." Richie is very appreciative of his early experience: "I wouldn't be here without going to clubs in Detroit in the late '80s and listening to music. Without Jeff Mills, Blake Baxter, Derrick [May], Kevin [Saunderson] and Juan [Atkins] and all those kids who used to go to The Music Institute, the Shelter, the Majestik or the City Club, I wouldn't have gotten into all of this. Those people showed me how special this music is, how special Detroit is and how special the artists are here. These people pushed me to DJ and finally to make music." Richie eventually began to make his own music after being exposed to "anything from New Order, to Kraftwerk, to Severed Heads. I started listening to the Chicago House and the Detroit techno stuff. I liked the Acid-House from Chicago but when I first heard, the future Detroit Acid tracks, I knew that this was it. Detroit techno is futuristic music, it's elec- tronic, it doesn't rely on vocals, its really stripped down; that's what pulled me in from the beginning. That sound is why I got into (making music and DJing)." Being both a DJ and a musician affects the way Richie spins records and the way he makes his music. "I love DJing and making music; they're both really important to me and I wouldn't give either one up. It's cool to be able to understand what works on the dance floor and then under- stand what could work on the dance floor." Richie's music is unique for Technobmusic because it can be en- joyed either at parties or at home. "Sometimes DJs just want to make DJ records and make thing they know will work on the dance floor in a typical way. For example, things on my album like "Plastique" I play in Detroit and people fucking wig and dance real hard to it, because there's lots of rhythm and its a really dancey record. But, you can also listen to the track at home because its not a typical dance record." When asked about the interna- tional success of the Detroit scene Richie pointed to the individuality of the Detroit artists: "Detroit is weird, it's sort of off the beaten path for people from Europe, they always stop in New York and LA; not everyone goes to Detroit. So, Detroit is a bit isolated and I think people from here have always stuck to their guns and done what they wanted. You have Derrick, Kevin and Juan and they all have really good music, but they don't sound like each other. You also have Kenny Larkin and Underground Re- sistance. We all have our own sound but we all have the Detroit tinge in our music. Whereas a lot of other places you go, they have a sound and that is the sound that everyone is doing. Detroit has a really individual sound and all of artists have individual styles. I think that makes Detroit really spe- cial and I think that is what helps myself and all the guys from Detroit do really well." The new Plastikman album "Musik" is a huge success. It has a very distinct mood: "I tried to draw a line down the middle of the album where it's never really evil, or dark and it's never happy. The listener is kind of on a tight-rope. You're al- ways falling to one side of the spec- trum, but you never fall off." Richie is a perpetual workaholic and currently has many new projects in the works: "Musically I'm work- ing on a new FUSE album. I would like to do a video with brand new tracks so you can play the video at a club; you can chill out at home. On the +8 side, we've signed this new band called Legion of Green Men. We're also putting out a new album by Speedy J. We are also, of course, going to be throwing more parties." Richie disagrees with the notion of keeping his music "underground": "I think that is stupid. If you make good music, you're being disrespect- ful to yourself and the people who want to hear your music. I make my music basically for myself and my friends from Detroit. If anyone else want to hear my music they are free to; I'm not going to change it for them though. If they hear it and like it, that's cool. If they hear it and don't like it, that's cool as well. To each ........+: v: v::?"'"..>., v...,, v."fv:.v: i: ri $::" ..1......n n.,}.fi:: ' ,.S %$ U $'.. .x. .r ..:......::::: xv;: :: w::::.v:,:.:." :s }:::rn::L* . ..r..,.,,, IY~i .{" .:f.. Jr iff . ,> ::r.S.. . . .. .. . . . . . . . r Ii} :1"f"i: .i:;;v":5. . .j "'j :." f ,F t l f : fr''"f{^.i v :j :;;:r;:".; jit, S"'". { :: y :' :. f:L. " ;;i ":"'{,,+::x: { I . Save on pictures Ir o 1of your best frien1-dI 'Try Kinko's New Photolab! 24 exposure process & single print from I35mm film. C41 process film only. No 1 0 *4qj limit on amount of rolls. Volume may 1 ju tcompromise lhr turnaround.I Redeem onIly at " I. 9 530 East Liberty! !1 761-4539 i OPEN EARLY. OPEN LATE. (OPEN WEEKENDS. I Richie Hawtin, also known as Plastikman and other things, looks inward. their own." You can expect to hear Richie playing regularly in Detroit. Richie's next party is February 11th; you'll have to find out for yourself though where it is. Additionally, Richie will be embarking on the "Fuk" tour where he and John will be doing live techno PA's. The tour will end in Detroit in March. Now remember kids, keep your eyes to the future and your ears to the underground. Keeping love alive could all just be a matter of more romance By Liz Shaw here's your chance to get in good with - those who live in the dorms may sonal one is don't break up Daily Weekend Editor them until at least July. If there's want to take a rain check on this one significant 2 days beforeh With Valentine's Day just around anything thing that's bound to help for a while). they would be timely. the corner, all you fortunate / unfortu- you get back that lovin' feelin', it's a If you're in a hurry, Godek has an u Buy a kind of flowers nate folks with significant others need little romance and a few tips out of index in the front of the book that tells roses - be unique to get on your toes. Has your boy- Gregory J.P. Godek's "1001 Ways you where to look for the kind of ro- *Write a poem or love friend /girlfriend been complaining To Be Romantic" ($11.95, Casablanca mance you're interested in, including Make it into a real ho] that your relationship just doesn't have Press). categories on romantic games, love the day off from work (or c the same punch, the same verve, that Godek's book, which is designed songs, and specific things for men or stay in bed, go to the movie it once had? Are you lost as to what it both for couples and single romantics, women to do for their loved ones. So dinner, or make love all da is that punch and verve is? Well, then has over one thousand and one sugges- here's the deal: we'll supply you with a What about birthdays? with your and), since other than letter liday. Take lasses)-and sgo out to y. Hey, I'm 0. tions for ways to keep your love life on track and interesting. The suggestions range from the obvious (#6 Listen) to the silly (#320 Mail him/her a book of matches with "I'm hot for you" written inside) to the sexy (#245 Make love in every room of your house or apartment few, because we know you have trouble thinking of this stuff yourself, but for goodness sake, do a good job. Remem- ber, the book is dedicated "the millions of men who desperately need it." I suppose we'll start with Valentine's Day suggestions (my per- UNIVERSITY HOUSING IJ m mY Studies in Safety 201: Let's face it, the world around us is not as safe as it could be. And whether you're a woman or a man, safety is always a concern. You want to live where you feel safe. - a r r: . .... °:r ",.: r: r t r --------- X J i. t r . . m I telling you, these are prime romance times. Send 20 cards to him/her on their 20th birthday Send 21 bottles of beer for their 21st birthday Send 30 roses on their 30th birth- day (you get the picture) . On your lover's birthday, send his/her mother a "thank-you" card Celebrate half birthdaysr And you know those gamesJlmen- tioned? None are quite as good as one I borrowed from a friend a few months ago, that is also, by the way, mtqntioned in the book. "An Enchanted Evening" is a board game for couples *out the disclosure of love secrets and the re- wards to be reaped through giving the right answers. Look into it ifyou have a free evening and you want to spend it in the comfort of your abode. Person- ally, we didn't make it past the third card, so it's a good game if you don't want to admit you're in the mood (with a vengeance). Other games that Godek suggests are: Car games like kissing at every stop light, kissing every time you see a certain type of car, and making love at rest stops (he doesn't say if he means all rest stops . ) "All Day Foreplay,"' for those of you who have early classes and work late into the night, the sheer frustration this one may keep you from attempting it. You and your lover should plan in, the morning to have sex that night, then call each other with reminders and sexys suggestions all day. .Pickasmall, inanimateobjectand take turns exchanging it back and forthi in creative and /or funny ways. Song couples wait a few days in between giving, some wait months. Try to be. truly creative (or else this is just truly boring). What is one to do if they are single, you ask. Well, cry a lot and complain about it, I suppose. Okay, really, there is a section for singles as well (married folks and marrieds with children, too). 0Mail the person you're interested in a copy of your resume with a note attached saving "I'd like you to get to U ,. Ff " li,_nliy rr+ r? r %"'r+"1 ljfl',lr, ... t 't } . f .';/''r r. rfir ."' ." ,."r r . r , ,r : t tr f tflrY! ,f "f r '/'i'' "trt i r F:';r fr '! f eft{ r°:' 'f "r f r f i I '' F v'' .J Housing Security and the He Department of Public Safety Anot patrol University Housing Univer both day and night. that wil In an emergency situation, s help is right around the corner. While we hope that you never find yourself Ple in a crisis situation, it's good to know that someone is watching out for you. ousing Security. her one of the basic rsity Housing services I help you sleep a little Sounder at night. Pasant dreams. PEDAL FOR THE PLANET THIS SUMMER with Bike-Aid is... *bicycling across the U.S. in a community of 15-20 others *raising money for environmentally sustainable development eparticipating in educational exchanges with local communities anvprionino° lift o itq fiillpctl! I I 1'rr r 2:f :':: : i$ : " .C:: .}: }h X:rr sti jJ ' I