Benn Jordan

Benn Lee Jordan (born October 28, 1979) is an American modern jazz and electronic musician operating under many pseudonyms. Since 1999 his most widely distributed and electric music has been released under the name of The Flashbulb. Other names Benn has released as are Acidwolf, Human Action Network, and FlexE.

Benn Jordan
Benn Jordan
Background information
Birth nameBenn Lee Jordan
Also known asThe Flashbulb, Acidwolf, CHR15TPUNCH3R, DJ ASCII, Dr. Lefty, Dysrythmia, FlexE, Human Action Network, Lucid32, MC Flashbulb, rnd16, 66x, Q-Bit
Born (1979-10-28) October 28, 1979
West Englewood, Chicago, Illinois, United States
GenresIDM, breakcore, glitch, drill and bass, ambient, modern classical, acid techno
InstrumentsGuitar, drums, electric guitar, bass, sitar, oud, piano, synths, DAW, sampler
Years active1993–present
LabelsSublight, Alphabasic, Bohnerwachs, Rephlex, Merck, Accel Japan, Nophi, Psymbolic, Reject, Metatone, Billegal Beats
Associated actsGreg Hirte, Kettel
WebsiteBenn Jordan
The Flashbulb
Benn Jordan (YouTube)

Biography

Jordan was born in 1979 and raised in West Englewood, Chicago, by his mother & grandparents. As an only child growing up in a derelict neighborhood, Jordan became an accomplished self-taught guitarist as a child. Due to being left-handed and not having lessons, he learned to play a right-handed guitar upside down, which he continues to do.[1] He began his music career releasing instrumental music on small labels in the United States and Europe in 1996 under various aliases, most notably The Flashbulb. In addition to releasing music and touring, he began to work as a freelance composer for various television and film agencies.

Musical style

As The Flashbulb, Jordan typically releases electronic or cinematic styled music. His style differs strongly between albums, but they all have a cohesive bond tied around intricate drum programming, jazz-influenced melodies, and a wide array of live instrumentation from various instruments Jordan has acquired. He also often records his melodies through MIDI-synced guitars. His guitar style and skill have gained attention because he typically plays the guitar strung backwards, and makes heavy use of fast sweeping and tapping. More recent Flashbulb albums have featured violinist Greg Hirte, who is also featured heavily on The Flashbulb's 2008 album, Soundtrack to a Vacant Life. This album is, as Jordan stated in a 2008 interview, a step away from the breakcore genre. He also said that this step is likely to be a permanent trend in the direction of his music,[2] a move that was supported by releases under his own name, such as Pale Blue Dot and Louisiana Mourning. However, the 2012 album Hardscrabble represents a return to the harder electronic music heard on releases like Kirlian Selections or Flexing Habitual. The record is named for an area in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Jordan's own Chicago.

Under other aliases, Benn Jordan's work varies quite a bit. His Acidwolf and Human Action Network aliases feature retro acid music that uses old drum machines such as the TR-808 and relies heavily on the melodies of the TB-303. Tracks made under the FlexE alias tend to be laid-back and classic acid. According to him, he showcases his more fundamental, classical, and personal pieces under his own name, Benn Jordan.

Composing for television and film

Jordan has seen much success in composing for television and film. In 2006 he composed the original score for the Josh C. Waller short The Nail.[3]

In 2006, Jordan's music ("Passage D" from his album Kirlian Selections) was featured in Dove's "Evolution" promotional campaign for its Campaign for Real Beauty website, which has drawn a large amount of attention from the mainstream media.[4] The campaign took the commercial film winner at Cannes, as well as many other prestigious awards.[5] In addition, Jordan was nominated for a 2007 London International Award for the "Best Use Of Music" category; he went on to win the ceremony's grand prize.[6] In 2008, he was nominated again at the London International Awards for "Best Use of Music," although he did not take the grand prize. In 2008 he was also a Webby Award nominee and took the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival.[7] In 2008, Jordan had completed work in branding, having created stings and trademark sounds for companies such as Dove, Verizon, and others.

In July 2012, he released an original score entitled The Universe,[8] which was commissioned by Chicago's Adler Planetarium for a new interactive exhibit dedicated to the evolution of the universe.[9] In 2013, he was commissioned to score their show entitled "Cosmic Wonder".[10][11][12] In 2016 he composed the soundtrack to the Adler Planetarium's sky show Planet Nine.[13]

Jordan currently composes for film, television, and gaming through various agencies; he also currently owns and operates his own production and recording facilities in Smyrna, Georgia.[14]

Alphabasic and music piracy

After the collapse of Sublight Records,[15] instead of taking on another contract, Jordan purchased his previous licenses and released his most anticipated album, Soundtrack to a Vacant Life, on his own record label, Alphabasic Records. On the day of its release, he personally uploaded copies of the album to music piracy sites, including a small HTML file explaining his relaxed views on file sharing and showing listeners where they could give support if they desired.[16] This resulted in attention by the mainstream press, and the album became the most downloaded album on many popular file sharing networks.[17][18]

Jordan has spoken extensively on issues of net neutrality, free speech, and copyright laws in the music world. In an interview with TorrentFreak, he encourages involvement in these issues and warns against corporations like Amazon or iTunes and their ability to stem the free flow of information. File sharing, to Jordan, is a way of bypassing this potential oppression and accessing information freely. In the aforementioned interview, Jordan notes that "file trading is just a peephole to a much larger picture. Copyright, in its current state, holds information at ransom for monetary value. While in music it can stifle culture and art, with literature and education it can be nothing less than a weapon of class warfare."[19]

YouTube

Jordan has a self-titled YouTube channel (previously titled Benn and Gear).[20] On his channel, he creates educational videos relating to music making.[21] In 2020, Jordan was formally threatened with legal action after posting a video about LRADs.[22]

Philanthropy

Benn Jordan was the founder and president of 32 Forty,[23] a non-profit music education center located in south Chicago. The music center (now closed[24]), extended services to help independent recording artists with publishing and licensing. In 2011, Jordan released a large collection of unreleased music, titled "Old Trees (1999-2011)"[25] with all proceeds going to Unicef. Jordan is also an ambassador for Unearthed Pictures, a foundation dedicated to publicizing and stopping the sexual exploitation of children and funding safe houses in North America, Africa, and Asia.

Personal life

In 2014, Jordan left Chicago and moved his home studio to an isolated home in Smyrna, Georgia.[26] He trains and competes in mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in his spare time.[27]

Jordan married his long-time British girlfriend, Nicola Jordan, in November of 2019.[28]

Discography

As The Flashbulb

LPs
  • M³ (2000, Metatone Records)
  • These Open Fields (2001, Alphabasic) (re-released in 2002 as "These Open Fields (Second Edition)")
  • Girls.Suck.But.YOU.Don't (2003, Accel Muzhik)
  • Resent and the April Sunshine Shed (2003, Alphabasic)
  • Red Extensions of Me (2004, Bohnerwachs Tontraeger)
  • Kirlian Selections (2005, Sublight)
  • Réunion (2005, Sublight)
  • Flexing Habitual (2006, Sublight)
  • Soundtrack to a Vacant Life (2007, Alphabasic)
  • Arboreal (2010, Alphabasic)
  • Love as a Dark Hallway (2011, Alphabasic)
  • Opus at the End of Everything (2012, Alphabasic)
  • Hardscrabble (2012, Alphabasic)
  • Nothing is Real (2014, Alphabasic)
  • Solar One (2014, Alphabasic)
  • Compositions for Piano (2015, Alphabasic)
  • Piety Of Ashes (2017, Alphabasic)
  • Dormant (Movement 1 Through 7) (2018, Alphabasic)
  • Our Simulacra (2020, Alphabasic)

[29]

EPs
  • Sleep Radio (1998, Suburban Trash)
  • Ephedrine EP (1999, Metatone Records)
  • Fly! (2001, Metatone Records)
  • Drain Mode = ON (2001, Bohnerwachs Tontraeger)
  • Lawn Funeral EP (2003, Sublight)
  • Binedump EP (2005, Bohnerwachs Tontraeger)
  • That Missing Week EP (December 8, 2007, Alphabasic)
  • Terra Firma EP (December 14, 2011, Alphabasic)
  • aBliss (May 27, 2015, Alphabasic)

[29]

As Benn Jordan
  • Digital Sex (1996) (LP)
  • Sleep (1997) (EP)
  • Phoenix² (1998) (LP)
  • The Best Of Benn L. Jordan Volume 2 (1999, Metatone Records)
  • The Nail (Original Motion Picture Score) (2006, Alphabasic) (EP)
  • Pale Blue Dot (2008, Alphabasic) (LP)
  • Louisiana Mourning (September 1, 2009, Alphabasic) (EP)
  • Old Trees (1999-2011) (2011, Alphabasic) (compilation)
  • The Universe Original Score (July 9, 2012 Alphabasic) (EP)
  • Cosmic Wonder (Original Motion Picture Score) (May 17, 2013 Alphabasic) (LP)

[30]

As other aliases
  • 66x - Diffusion (1994)
  • 66x - 40,000 Whores (1995)
  • 66x - The Art of Killing Pain (1996)
  • 66x - An Opening (1996)
  • DJ ASCII - Untitled (1999)
  • Lucid32 - Lucid32 (1999)
  • Dysrythmia - Clone EP (1999)
  • Dysrythmia - The Puncture (2000)
  • CHR15TPUNCH3R - Sielle (2000, Alphabasic)
  • Q-Bit - I Love Anna Log (2000, Alphabasic) (EP)
  • FlexE - Programmable Love Songs Vol. 1 (2004, Nophi) (LP)
  • Acidwolf - Legacy 1995-2005 (2005, Dirty Dancing Recordings, Alphabasic) (LP)
  • Dr. Lefty - Get Mad Now EP (2006, Reject Records) (EP)
  • Human Action Network - Welcome to Chicago (The Acid Anthology) (2007, Alphabasic) (LP)

Singles
  • "Me Touching Dead Air" (2000, Radio York, UK)
  • "Machine Drum - Late Night Operation (Benn Jordan Mix)" (2009, digital download)
  • "Vague Detroit (UAS 303 Remix)" (2009, Digital Download) as Human Action Network
  • "A Raw Understanding" (February 26, 2010, Alphabasic) as The Flashbulb
  • Bogdan Raczynski - Untitled 7" - (2002, Rephlex) [31] "Fnck You Dj" (remixed by the Flashbulb w/ Nautilis)
  • Various Artists - Big System Morsels (2004, 2playermusic) [32] - "Parkways" as Benn L. Jordan and "Everyday Blue" as The Flashbulb
  • Various Artists - The Sound of One Constant Pitch (2004, Nophi) [33] - "Lawn Wake V (featuring Admiral T)" as The Flashbulb
  • Various Artists - We Are The Music Makers | Volume One (2004, WATMM Records) [34] - "She’s Moving Along Right Now But I’m Not Going To Be Dramatic" as The Flashbulb
  • The Red Moon Big Band - Love At Orange (2004, Maestro-Matic)[35] (LP) (collaboration - credited as Benn Jordan for synthesizer and samples)
  • Machine Drum - Mergerz & Acquisitionz (2006, Merck)[36] - "Cherokee Lectro Mix" (by Acidwolf)
  • Various Artists - 030303 (2006, Marguerita Recordings)[37] - "Blue Morning Drive" as Acidwolf
  • Various Artists - Do:Nation Volume 1 - A Compilation for the Animal Charities of America (2006, Nophi)[38] - "Ant IDM" as The Flashbulb
  • Various Artists - Eyelicker (2006, Sublight)[39] - Hometown UFO as The Flashbulb
  • Various Artists - 30 Days (2006, Peppermill Records)[40] - "Smoking Blue Midi" as The Flashbulb
  • Various Artists - Imaginary Friends (2007, Sublight)[41] - "Our Furry Past Life" as The Flashbulb
  • Digita'lis/Phlox - The Drummondii Days (2007, GOZombie Records)[42] - "A Shape of Strange Faith" (The Flashbulb Remix)
  • Bartel - Bartel (2009, Alphabasic)[43] - "White Grade" (remixed by The Flashbulb)
  • Various Artists - GOZOMBIE Growing Compilation (2010, GOZombie Records)[44] - "Zeke Acid" as The Flashbulb
gollark: No comment, but a deterministic future would not absolve you of blame, apiophilosophohazard.
gollark: Well, according to my messages from the future, in two years you damage the osmarks.tk server infrastructure.
gollark: You utter apioformic magnetite.
gollark: Ilmenite you.
gollark: ALL SHALL BE HTTP.

References
  1. "MUSEUM GUIDE: Chicago Tribune Q&A with Benn Jordan/Flashbulb for his live concerts at Adler Planetarium".
  2. "Headphone Commute: Conversations With Benn Jordan".
  3. "The Nail". 6 May 2006 – via IMDb.
  4. "Dove "Evolution": Best Commercial of the Decade? - Vapor Music". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  5. "Dove: "Dove: Evolution" Digital Advert by Ogilvy & Mather Toronto". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  6. "London International Awards 2007 Winners Grand Prix, Winner". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  7. "Benn Jordan - Composer".
  8. "The Universe: Original Score, by Benn Jordan".
  9. "A balloon, a camera and a mystery".
  10. "Cosmic Wonder at Adler Planetarium's Grainger Sky Theater".
  11. Cosmic Wonder Press Release - Adler Planetarium
  12. "Space music and the Adler Planetarium's new".
  13. 'Planet Nine,' Adler's best sky show yet, chronicles quest for a Pluto replacement - Chicago Tribune
  14. "Benn Jordan - Composer".
  15. "Sublight Records To Shut Down".
  16. "Hello Downloader".
  17. "Pirated by iTunes, Artist Turns to BitTorrent - TorrentFreak". 6 February 2008.
  18. "Benn Jordan - From Pirates To Profit".
  19. "Music Is Better Off On BitTorrent, Than With Apple or Big Music - TorrentFreak". 24 December 2010.
  20. "Benn Jordan (The Flashbulb) reveal of his new studio and Eurorack case". Recording Studio Furniture Design. 2019-02-16. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  21. "Get to Know The Flashbulb". arts4all.org. 2018-04-02. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  22. @bennjordan. "I've been formally threatened with a lawsuit pertaining to my LRAD video/posts. I have representation and will be defending myself accordingly, but this puts limits on how I can discuss the technology or intent of these devices. Please stay safe in our battle for a better future." Twitter, 5 June 2020, 12:41 p.m. Accessed 2 July 2020.
  23. "32 forty". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
  24. "Alphabasic Music Center - CLOSED - Bridgeport - Chicago, IL, United States".
  25. "Old Trees (1999 - 2011), by Benn Jordan".
  26. "Benn Jordan on Twitter".
  27. "Benn Jordan - Why I Fight".
  28. Benn Jordan (17 November 2019). "Benn Jordan on Instagram". Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  29. "The Flashbulb".
  30. "Benn L. Jordan".
  31. "Bogdan Raczynski - Untitled".
  32. "Various - Big System Morsels".
  33. "The Sound of One Constant Pitch, by Various Artists". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  34. "Various - We Are The Music Makers - Volume One".
  35. "Maestro-Matic Presents The Red Moon Big Band - Love At Orange".
  36. "Machine Drum - Mergerz & Acquisitionz".
  37. "Various - 030303".
  38. "Various - Do:Nation Volume 1 - A Compilation For The Animal Charities Of America".
  39. "Various - Eyelicker".
  40. "Various - 30 Days".
  41. "Various - Imaginary Friends".
  42. "Digita'lis/Phlox - The Drummondii Days".
  43. "Bartel (3) - Bartel".
  44. "Various - Gozombie Growing Compilation".
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