EntropiK
Encyclopedia
Entropik are a multi-genre duo from Leeds, UK whose cinematic music is distinguished by their use of cello and their fusion of Classical, Electronica and World elements. Their influences are diverse and include Peter Gabriel
, Robert Fripp
, Elbow
, Brian Eno
, Dead Can Dance
, Tangerine Dream
, The Insects, Lisa Gerrard
, Howard Shore
and Hans Zimmer
. Formed in 2007, the duo consists of Daniel Cullen (producer
, guitar
and bass) and Deryn Cullen (cello
and keyboards)
teen drama 90210
) and advertising campaigns.
In 2010 the duo's music gained further recognition through two international music competitions: The People's Music Awards
, where they were runners up in the electronica category; and The Hitachi G-Tech Driven Creativity Awards, where they were runners up in the Professional Music category. In 2009 they won Best Short Film score in the Humfest film and music festival. This year (2011) they finished in third place in The People's Music Awards
classical category.
Entropik have collaborated with fellow independent artists, Ancient Astronauts on both of their albums, We Are to Answer (2009) and Into Bass and Time (2011). The albums were released by ESL Music, the label run and owned by IDM masters, Thievery Corporation
. Both albums, released in physical and digital formats, were favourably received by fans and critics.
Entropik's latest release, Cellotronics was released as an 8 track EP in August 2009. It is the 2nd album from the duo and shows a greater focus on the direction of their sound and musical ideals. The following year the EP was removed for remastering and had a further 6 tracks added. In 2010 it was re-released as a full album of cello-driven electronica and downtempo with world and classical influences.
with a strong classical influence. Following this release, they began to experiment more with the electronica elements of their music, moving away from orchestral samples and developing a more psychedelic sound. They also began digitally manipulating the cello to create contrasts between conventional sounding cello and a more synthesised, treated sound. Cellotronics features a mixture of ambient, introspective tracks chiefly inspired by the Frippertronics
technique devised by Robert Fripp
along with tracks featuring Middle Eastern and Oriental world influences.
Following their collaboration with Ancient Astronauts in which they successfully experimented with a world music flavour they have also added this element to some of their own compositions.
Entropik's film and media music is more diverse, ranging from the aforementioned Electronica
and New Age
styles to classical
and conventional film music styles influenced by composers such as John Williams
, Howard Shore
and Hans Zimmer
.
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
, Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
, Elbow
Elbow (band)
Elbow are an English rock band. They have played together since 1990 and recorded five studio albums, the most recent of which is Build a Rocket Boys!, released in March 2011...
, Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
, Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
, Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...
, The Insects, Lisa Gerrard
Lisa Gerrard
Lisa Gerrard is an Australian musician, singer, and composer who rose to prominence as part of the music group Dead Can Dance with former music partner Brendan Perry....
, Howard Shore
Howard Shore
Howard Leslie Shore is a Canadian composer, notable for his film scores. He has composed the scores for over 80 films, most notably the scores for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, for which he won three Academy Awards. He is also a consistent collaborator with director David Cronenberg,...
and Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer
Hans Florian Zimmer is a German film composer and music producer. He has composed music for over 100 films, including critically acclaimed film scores for The Lion King , Crimson Tide , The Thin Red Line , Gladiator , The Dark Knight and Inception .Zimmer spent the early part of his career in the...
. Formed in 2007, the duo consists of Daniel Cullen (producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and bass) and Deryn Cullen (cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
and keyboards)
History
Since releasing their first album in 2007 "Reflections on Time", Entropik have made a name for themselves both as innovative music-makers and as film music contributors. Much of their professional focus has been on the world of film and TV where their music has been used in award-winning films, documentaries, PC games, major TV series (including CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
teen drama 90210
90210
90210 may refer to* Beverly Hills, California, ZIP code 90210* Beverly Hills Post Office* Peltola, Oulu, Finland, postal code 90210* Beverly Hills, 90210, an American teen drama television series that ran between 1990 and 2000...
) and advertising campaigns.
In 2010 the duo's music gained further recognition through two international music competitions: The People's Music Awards
The People's Music Awards
The People’s Music Awards is the first global unsigned music awards. It was founded on 15 September 2008 by Managing Director Dylan Satow. The purpose of the awards is to get unsigned artists to be heard by industry professionals and people through the awards website. The winners of the awards are...
, where they were runners up in the electronica category; and The Hitachi G-Tech Driven Creativity Awards, where they were runners up in the Professional Music category. In 2009 they won Best Short Film score in the Humfest film and music festival. This year (2011) they finished in third place in The People's Music Awards
The People's Music Awards
The People’s Music Awards is the first global unsigned music awards. It was founded on 15 September 2008 by Managing Director Dylan Satow. The purpose of the awards is to get unsigned artists to be heard by industry professionals and people through the awards website. The winners of the awards are...
classical category.
Entropik have collaborated with fellow independent artists, Ancient Astronauts on both of their albums, We Are to Answer (2009) and Into Bass and Time (2011). The albums were released by ESL Music, the label run and owned by IDM masters, Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation is a Washington, D.C. based recording artist and DJ duo consisting of Rob Garza, Eric Hilton, and their supporting artists, including current drummer Jeff Franca...
. Both albums, released in physical and digital formats, were favourably received by fans and critics.
Entropik's latest release, Cellotronics was released as an 8 track EP in August 2009. It is the 2nd album from the duo and shows a greater focus on the direction of their sound and musical ideals. The following year the EP was removed for remastering and had a further 6 tracks added. In 2010 it was re-released as a full album of cello-driven electronica and downtempo with world and classical influences.
Musical style
Entropik's first release, Reflections on Time (2007) is predominantly New AgeNew Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
with a strong classical influence. Following this release, they began to experiment more with the electronica elements of their music, moving away from orchestral samples and developing a more psychedelic sound. They also began digitally manipulating the cello to create contrasts between conventional sounding cello and a more synthesised, treated sound. Cellotronics features a mixture of ambient, introspective tracks chiefly inspired by the Frippertronics
Frippertronics
Frippertronics was a specific tape looping technique used by Robert Fripp. It evolved from a system of tape looping originally developed in the electronic music studios of the early 1960s that was first used by composers Terry Riley and Pauline Oliveros and made popular through its use in ambient...
technique devised by Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
along with tracks featuring Middle Eastern and Oriental world influences.
Following their collaboration with Ancient Astronauts in which they successfully experimented with a world music flavour they have also added this element to some of their own compositions.
Entropik's film and media music is more diverse, ranging from the aforementioned Electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
and New Age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
styles to classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
and conventional film music styles influenced by composers such as John Williams
John Williams
John Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
, Howard Shore
Howard Shore
Howard Leslie Shore is a Canadian composer, notable for his film scores. He has composed the scores for over 80 films, most notably the scores for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, for which he won three Academy Awards. He is also a consistent collaborator with director David Cronenberg,...
and Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer
Hans Florian Zimmer is a German film composer and music producer. He has composed music for over 100 films, including critically acclaimed film scores for The Lion King , Crimson Tide , The Thin Red Line , Gladiator , The Dark Knight and Inception .Zimmer spent the early part of his career in the...
.
Singles
- 29 Days Later - Digital Download (2010) (featured on the Reel Rock Tour DVD 2010)
- The Pentagram - Digital Download (2010) (runner up in the Hitachi G-Tech Driven Creativity Awards - professional music category)
Albums
- Reflections on Time - Digital Download (2007)
- Cellotronics - CD & Digital Download (2010)