Jordan Reyne
Encyclopedia
Jordan Reyne is an experimental musician from New Zealand
, who has been variously described as "industrial-tinged folk“ and "antipodean Steampunk
“ yet defies any cut and dried description. She combines the two usually disparate genres of folk
and industrial
, bringing in celtic
vocal melody
, historically based narrative
and the sounds of steam, iron and industrial "found sound". Several of her releases are set in the time of the Industrial Revolution
.
She has been nominated three times for a New Zealand Music Award and released five CDs with the assistance of Creative New Zealand
, the New Zealand Arts Council
. The newest of these "How the Dead Live" was an Arts Council and Department of Conservation commission based on one of New Zealand's first pioneer women who arrived in New Zealand from Gravesend London in 1874.
Between 1999 and 2005 Jordan wrote under the moniker "Dr Kevorkian & the Suicide Machine", and also performed live under this name. Two of her CDs were also recorded under this title, which gained her attention and a following internationally in the darkwave
and steampunk
scenes. Jordan is also involved in the electronic music scene and has performed as a guest artist for several well known New Zealand hip-hop and electronic acts including Strawpeople
, Breaks Co-op
, and Baitercell and Schumacher. A collaborative track between Jordan and Johnny Chrome appears on the Cafe Del Mar
25th Anniversary album.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, who has been variously described as "industrial-tinged folk“ and "antipodean Steampunk
Steampunk
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United...
“ yet defies any cut and dried description. She combines the two usually disparate genres of folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
, bringing in celtic
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
vocal melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
, historically based narrative
Narrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
and the sounds of steam, iron and industrial "found sound". Several of her releases are set in the time of the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
.
She has been nominated three times for a New Zealand Music Award and released five CDs with the assistance of Creative New Zealand
Creative New Zealand
The Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa is the national arts development agency of the New Zealand government, investing in artists and arts organisations, offering capability building programmes and developing markets and audiences for New Zealand arts domestically and internationally...
, the New Zealand Arts Council
Arts council
An arts council is a government or private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts mainly by funding local artists, awarding prizes, and organizing events at home and abroad...
. The newest of these "How the Dead Live" was an Arts Council and Department of Conservation commission based on one of New Zealand's first pioneer women who arrived in New Zealand from Gravesend London in 1874.
Between 1999 and 2005 Jordan wrote under the moniker "Dr Kevorkian & the Suicide Machine", and also performed live under this name. Two of her CDs were also recorded under this title, which gained her attention and a following internationally in the darkwave
Darkwave
Dark Wave or darkwave is a music genre that began in the late 1970s, coinciding with the popularity of New Wave and post-punk. Building on those basic principles, dark wave added dark, introspective lyrics and an undertone of sorrow for some bands...
and steampunk
Steampunk
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United...
scenes. Jordan is also involved in the electronic music scene and has performed as a guest artist for several well known New Zealand hip-hop and electronic acts including Strawpeople
Strawpeople
Strawpeople are a New Zealand band. They were created by Paul Casserly and Mark Tierney after they had met while working at the Auckland university radio station now known as 95 bFM....
, Breaks Co-op
Breaks Co-Op
Breaks Co-op is a New Zealand band, formed in 1997, first through music company FMR and more recently with EMI.The band members are Andy Lovegrove, Zane Lowe, and Hamish Clark....
, and Baitercell and Schumacher. A collaborative track between Jordan and Johnny Chrome appears on the Cafe Del Mar
Café del Mar
Café del Mar is a bar located in Sant Antoni de Portmany, Ibiza. It is known for its sunsets and chill-out music.- Beginning :The Café del Mar was founded by Ramón Guiral, Carlos Andrea, and José Les on 20 June 1980.- Decoration :...
25th Anniversary album.
Albums
- Birds of Prey (1997), Lost Records, New Zealand.
- The Ironman (2000), Universal Music, New Zealand - as "Dr Kevorkian & the Suicide Machine".
- The Loneliest of Creatures (2002), DDV Laboratories/Mediatrix, New Zealand - as "Dr Kevorkian & the Suicide Machine".
- Passenger (2004), Jayrem Records/Mediatrix, New Zealand.
- How the Dead Live (2009). Sounz, New Zealand.
- Children of a Factory Nation (2011). 2011, New Zealand.
Collaborations
- Breaks Co-opBreaks Co-OpBreaks Co-op is a New Zealand band, formed in 1997, first through music company FMR and more recently with EMI.The band members are Andy Lovegrove, Zane Lowe, and Hamish Clark....
- "Transister" (1997) - StrawpeopleStrawpeopleStrawpeople are a New Zealand band. They were created by Paul Casserly and Mark Tierney after they had met while working at the Auckland university radio station now known as 95 bFM....
- "Wire" (2004) - Baitercell and Schumacher - "Leap of Faith" (2005)
External links
- Official website
- Jordan Reyne on Reverbnation
- Jordan Reyne on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Jordan Reyne on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....