DeepChord aka. Rod Modell is a sound-designer with 25 years involvement in electronic music and over 50 releases under various aliases and styles. Beginning with more "industrial" and "ambient" forms of sonic experimentation (working with Kim Cascone and his -then- record-label Silent, and performing with notable industrial acts such as Chris & Cosey and SPK). While attending Art School for Photography, Rod lived in Detroit's Eastern-Market area, the location of the infamous "techno boulevard", and home to Derrick May, Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson during that time. Submersed in the blossoming Detroit Techno scene (early 1990's), a journey from a more experimental sound into Detroit's techno-world was inevitable. Modell co-founded the Deepchord record label in Detroit during the mid-90's. Deepchord respected and admired (fellow Detroiters) Underground Resistance for their D.I.Y. attitude and independence. It was because of this respect and admiration that Deepchord declined offers from top techno labels of the time, in favor of doing it by themselves. Many consider Deepchord to be the second wave of the "Basic Channel sound", and came years before the onslaught of imitators.
After 16 releases on Deepchord, Rod went onto co-found Echospace. Echospace released two full length albums and five 12" singles on Modern Love (Boomkat), and a slew of releases on their Echospace imprint. 2007's "The Coldest Season" and 2010's "Liumin" are critically acclaimed electronic music classics, and were on top-lists of prestigious resources such as The Wire, xlr8r, and Resident Advisor. Rod also operated an audio-mastering facility in the Detroit area from 1995-2005, employing his services to many electronic record labels, including Richie Hawtin's M-NUS imprint. Rod's recent projects include a collaboration with K Soublis (Fluxion) for Echocord in Denmark (Echocord #046 - "Waves EP"), remixes for fellow Detroiter Aaron Carl (R.I.P.) on Millions Of Moments (#MOM 004), remixes for DFA Records (#dfaemi 2194), reworkings of Juan Atkins' "Starlight", Remakes of "Miranda" for Convextion, and new versions of Slam's Groovelock for Soma Quality Recordings in Glasgow. Deepchord has also been featured on numerous mix cd's, including Deadbeat's (Scott Monteith) "Radio Rothko" (theAgriculture, Brooklyn NY), and "Electronic Flavors" mixed by Henrik Schwarz.
During the last 5 years, Rod has been travelling often, preferring to spend as much time as possible living abroad, and has performed in 18 countries. Modell performs a 60-90 minute live-set of dub-inspired dance-floor friendly techno, influenced by Jamaican Dub and his Detroit-techno heritage. Alternately, Rod is also available for pure beat-less ambient / chill live-sets.
Deadbeat aka. Scott Monteith has been making music under the name Deadbeat for just over 12 years now. He’s originally from Canada and has lived in Montreal for most of his life. Scott is now based in Berlin, producing his own special blend of dub laden, minimal electronica.
Having worked with a virtual who’s who of some of the most respected pioneers in the scene such as Stefen Betke (Pole), Barbara Preisenger, Marc Leclair (Akufen) and Mike Shannon, he’s released records on labels including Cynosure, ~scape, Wagon Repair, Spectral Sound, Musique Risquée and Echochord. Scott is currently working on new material for his new album which will be released in September 2012 on his own imprint BLKRTZ.
Scott’s vast mix marks the 60th mix in the IA MIX Series and features an impressive selection of producers such as Tim Hecker, Demdike Stare, Dadub, SCB, The Mole, Sigha, Shed, 2562, Cobblestone Jazz and many more.
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