Terre Thaemlitz is an American musician, composer, owner of the record label Comatonse Recordings, and a public speaker. Thaemlitz's work critically combines themes of

identity politics Identity politics is politics based on a particular identity, such as ethnicity, Race (human categorization), race, nationality, religion, Religious denomination, denomination, gender, sexual orientation, Socioeconomic status, social background ...

– including

gender Gender is the range of social, psychological, cultural, and behavioral aspects of being a man (or boy), woman (or girl), or third gender. Although gender often corresponds to sex, a transgender person may identify with a gender other tha ...

sexuality Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually. This involves biological, psychological, physical, erotic, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors. Because it is a broad term, which has varied ...

class Class, Classes, or The Class may refer to: Common uses not otherwise categorized * Class (biology), a taxonomic rank * Class (knowledge representation), a collection of individuals or objects * Class (philosophy), an analytical concept used d ...

linguistics Linguistics is the scientific study of language. The areas of linguistic analysis are syntax (rules governing the structure of sentences), semantics (meaning), Morphology (linguistics), morphology (structure of words), phonetics (speech sounds ...

ethnicity An ethnicity or ethnic group is a group of people with shared attributes, which they Collective consciousness, collectively believe to have, and long-term endogamy. Ethnicities share attributes like language, culture, common sets of ancestry, ...

and race – with an ongoing critique of the socio-economics of commercial media production. This diversity of themes is matched by Thaemlitz's wide range of production styles, which include electroacoustic computer music, club-oriented

deep house Deep house is a subgenre of house music that originated in the 1980s, initially fusing elements of Chicago house with the lush chords of 1980s jazz-funk and touches of soul music. Its origins are attributed to the early recordings of Larry Heard ...

, digital

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

, ambient, and computer-composed neo-expressionist piano solos. Graphic design, photography, illustration, text and video also play a part in Thaemlitz's projects.

Activism

As a speaker and educator on issues of non-essentialist

transgender A transgender (often shortened to trans) person has a gender identity different from that typically associated with the sex they were sex assignment, assigned at birth. The opposite of ''transgender'' is ''cisgender'', which describes perso ...

pansexual Pansexuality is sexual, romantic, or emotional attraction towards people of all genders, or regardless of their sex or gender identity. Pansexual people may refer to themselves as gender-blind, asserting that gender and sex are not determ ...

and

queer ''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are non-heterosexual or non- cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against LGBTQ people in the late 19th century. From the late 1980s, queer activists began to ...

, Thaemlitz has participated in panel discussions throughout Europe and Japan, as well as held numerous cross-cultural sensitivity workshops at Tokyo's Uplink Factory near Thaemlitz's current residence in Kawasaki,

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

. Terre Thaemlitz's ''Soil'' and ''Tranquilizer'' releases in the early and mid-1990s served to introduce a "political" form of ambient music, continued in later releases such as ''Couture Cosmetique'' and ''Means from an End'', which aim to recast the usually passive artist-listener-environment equation. Thaemlitz's colleagues in the political ambient music front include the sound activist group

Ultra-red Ultra-red are a sound art collective founded in 1994 by two AIDS activists, Dont Rhine and Marco Larsen. Both are involved in ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power). Originally based in Los Angeles, the art collective has expanded over the years ...

. Following their remixes of Thaemlitz's ''Still Life with Numerical Analysis'' in 1998, Ultra-red joined Thaemlitz on the German label Mille Plateaux for their first two albums: ''Second Nature: An Electroacoustic Pastoral'' (1999) and ''Structural Adjustments'' (2000). Terre Thaemlitz published the essay collection ''Nuisance'' in 2015, which contained essays on identity and music written between 1996 and its year of publication. In the introduction, which was originally written in 2006, Thaemlitz writes, "My intention is to write in defense of pessimism, and to critically reject the incessant optimism lurking at the core of virtually all media, conferences, concerts, events and symposia – "critical media" or not."

Discography

Albums

*''Tranquilizer'', Instinct Ambient, 1994, EX-283-2 *''Soil'', Instinct Ambient, 1995, AMB:007-2 *''Die Roboter Rubato'', Mille Plateaux, 1997, MP34 *''Couture Cosmetique'', Caipirinha Productions, 1997 (US); Daisyworld Records, 1997 (Japan) *''G.R.R.L.'', Comatonse Recordings, 1997, C.003 *''Means From An End'', Mille Plateaux, 1999, MPCD53 *''Love For Sale'', Mille Plateaux, 1999, MPCD53 *''Replicas Rubato'', Mille Plateaux, 1999, MPCD71 and MPLP71 *''Fagjazz'', Comatonse Recordings, 2000, C.007 *''Interstices'', Mille Plateaux, 2000, MP94 *''Oh, No! It's Rubato'', Mille Plateaux, 2001, MPCD103/MPLP103 *''Lovebomb / Ai No Bakudan'', Mille Plateaux, 2003, MP117 *''Lovebomb / Ai No Bakudan'', double disc DVD & audio CD re-issue, Comatonse Recordings, 2005, D.001 *''Trans-Sister Radio'', Grain of Sound/Base Recordings, 2005, GOS018/BRCD00505 *''K-S.H.E (Kami-Sakunobe House Explosion): Routes Not Roots / Ruutsu De Ha Naku Ruuto'', Comatonse Recordings, 2006, C.013.CD *''Terre Thaemlitz presents... You? Again?'', Mule Electronic, 2006, MED05 *''DJ Sprinkles: Midtown 120 Blues'', Mule Musiq, 2008, MMD7 *''Terre Thaemlitz: Soulnessless'', 2012 *''Where Dancefloors Stand Still'', Mule Musiq, 2013, MMCD41

12" EPs

*''Comatonse.000'', Comatonse Recordings, 1993, C.000 (contains "Raw Through A Straw" and "Tranquilizer") *''Comatonse.000.R1'', Comatonse Recordings, 1997, C.000.R1 (translucent vinyl re-issue of C.000 with previously unreleased outro "Pretty Mouth (He's Got One)") *''Terre's Neu Wuss Fusion: She's Hard'', Comatonse Recordings, 1998, C.004 *''DJ Sprinkles: Sloppy 42nds'', Comatonse Recordings, 1998, C.006 *''DJ Sprinkles: Bassline.89'', Comatonse Recordings, 2001, C.008 *''Social Material: Class/Consciousness'', Comatonse Recordings, 2001, C.009 *''Terre's Neu Wuss Fusion: A Crippled Left Wing Soars With The Right'', Comatonse Recordings, 2002, C.010 *''Teriko: Hystoric Trace ("Fake")'', Hysteric Trace, 2003, INEX-002 *''The Opposite Of Genius Or Chance'', EN/OF, 2003, EN/OF 013 *''Comatonse.000.R2'', Comatonse Recordings, 2004, C.000.R2 *''K-S.H.E (Kami-Sakunobe House Explosion): Route 1'' EP, Comatonse Recordings, 2006, C.013.EP1 *''K-S.H.E (Kami-Sakunobe House Explosion): Route 2'' EP, Comatonse Recordings, 2006, C.013.EP2 *''K-S.H.E (Kami-Sakunobe House Explosion): Route'' 3 EP, Comatonse Recordings, 2006, C.013.EP3 *''You? Again? 1'', Mule Electronic, 2006, M019 *''You? Again? 2'', Mule Electronic, 2006, M020 *''You? Again? 3'', Mule Electronic, 2006, M025 *''Terre's Neu Wuss Fusion: She's Hard Remixes'', Mule Musiq, 2007, MM019 *''DJ Sprinkles: Grand Central, Pt. I'', Mule Musiq, 2008, MM033 *''DJ Sprinkles: Brenda's $20 Dilemma (Kuniyuki Remix)'', Mule Musiq, 2009, MM034 *''DJ Sprinkles: Grand Central (Motor City Drum Ensemble Remixes)'', Mule Musiq, 2009

7" singles

*''A-MUSAK'', Germany: A-Musik, 1999, A-14 *''Selling'', Netherlands: Bottrop-Boy, 2000, B-BOY 003 *''Chugga: A Big 7-Inch'', Austria: Klanggallerie, 2003, GG73

DJ mixes

*''DJ Sprinkles: DEEPERAMA (Module Party 5)'', Japan: Comatonse Recordings, 2003, DCM5 *''DJ Sprinkles' DEEPERAMA (Module Party 8)'', Japan: Comatonse Recordings, 2004, DCM8 *''PASTIME PARADISE'', Japan: Comatonse Recordings, 2004, DPP1 *''DJ Sprinkles' DEEPERAMA (Module Party 9)'', Japan: Comatonse Recordings, 2004, DCM9 *''DJ Sprinkles' DEEPERAMA (Module Party 10)'', Japan: Comatonse Recordings, 2004, DCM10 *''DJ Sprinkles' DEEPERAMA (Module Party 14)'', Japan: Comatonse Recordings, 2005, DCM14

Collaborations

*''Web'', Subharmonic, 1995 (with Bill Laswell) *''Yesterday's Heroes: 1979'' (with Haco), France: La Louche qui Fait déborder le Vase, 2004, LOUCH 001 *''Complete Spiral'' 12", Comatonse Recordings, 2012 (with Mark Fell) *''Fresh Insights'' 12", Comatonse Recordings, 2015 (with Mark Fell)

Internet-only releases

* ''Below Code'', Comatonse Recordings, 2006, C.012 To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Comatonse Records, Thaemlitz released a free best-of compilation CD. Physical copies are no longer in print, but MP3s are available for free (along with a bonus track that did not fit on the original release) through Comatonse.

Radio dramas

* ''Trans-Sister Radio'' – Germany:

Hessischer Rundfunk (; "Hesse Broadcasting"), shortened to HR (; stylized as hr), is the German state of Hesse's public broadcasting corporation. Headquartered in Frankfurt, it is a member of the national consortium of German public broadcasting corporations, A ...

Radio, Channel HR2, Frankfurt M, 2004. Premier airdate November 17, 2004. Hörspiel, Redaktion: Manfred Hess. Also released on CD (Portugal: Grain of Sound/Base Recordings, 2005, GOS018/BRCD00505). * ''The Laurence Rassel Show'' (with Laurence Rassel) – Germany: Hessischer Rundfunk Radio, Channel HR2, Frankfurt M, 2006. Premier airdate April, 2006. Hörspiel, Redaktion: Manfred Hess.

Filmography

* ''ffwd_mag'' (DVD + magazine) Italy: .::invernomuto::., 2005, Issue 3. Audio and photography. * ''Lovebomb / Ai No Bakudan'' (full-length film/music videos) Written, directed, filmed and edited by Terre Thaemlitz. Originally released on VHS (Japan: Comatonse Recordings, 2003, V.002). In English and Japanese. Japan: Comatonse Recordings, 2005/2003, D.001.NTSC , D.001.PAL. * ''Interstices'' (short film/music videos) Written, directed, filmed and edited by Terre Thaemlitz. Commissioned by Lovebytes and funded by the Arts Council of England. Released with "Silent Passability" on DVD (Japan: Comatonse Recordings, 2005, D.000.NTSC). Originally released on VHS (Japan: Comatonse Recordings, 2001, V.001) and DVD ("Volatile Media," UK: Lovebytes, 2002, DSP2). Japan: Comatonse Recordings, 2005/2001, D.000.NTSC. * ''Silent Passability (Ride to the Countryside)'' (music video) Written, directed, filmed and edited by Terre Thaemlitz. Released with ''Interstices'' on DVD (Japan: Comatonse Recordings, 2005, D.000.NTSC). Originally released on VHS (US: Comatonse Recordings, 1997, V.000). Japan: Comatonse Recordings, 2005/1997, D.000.NTSC. * ''Modulations'' (documentary) Directed by Iara Lee, produced by

George Gund III George Gund III (May 7, 1937 – January 15, 2013) was an American businessman and sports entrepreneur. Biography Gund III was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 7, 1937, to Jessica Roesler and George Gund II, a powerful banker in Cleveland. A ...

, (US: Caipirinha Productions, 1998). Interview. * ''Neue Kraft, Neues Werk (Transcodeur Express)'' (documentary) Directed by Ninon Liotet and Olivier Schulbaum, (Germany:

ZDF ZDF (), short for (; ), is a German public-service television broadcaster based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. Launched on 1 April 1963, it is run as an independent nonprofit institution, and was founded by all federal states of Germany ( ...

2002). Interview and music. * ''Synthetic Pleasures'' (documentary) Directed by Iara Lee, produced by George Gund, (US: Caipirinha Productions, 1995). Three tracks featured on soundtrack. Sound engineering for trailer.

Awards

* Album of the YearAlbum of the Year
/ref> 2009, for DJ Sprinkles – ''Midtown 120 Blues'',

Resident Advisor ''Resident Advisor'' (also known as ''RA'') is an online music magazine and community platform established in 2001 and dedicated to showcasing electronic music, artists and events across the globe. Its editorial team provides news, music and ev ...

* Honorable Mention In Digital Musics, 1999 ORF Prix Ars Electronica * Best Ambient/Experimental Artist 1997, 1997 Readers' Poll results in '' URB Magazine'' (US: March/April 1998) * Best DJ 1991, Underground Grammy Award from the House of Magic, Midtown

Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...

drag circuit

References

External links

Terre Thaemlitz
– official site *
Comatonse Recordings
– Terre Thaemlitz record label {{DEFAULTSORT:Thaemlitz 1968 births Living people American electronic musicians American ambient musicians American transgender musicians LGBTQ people from Minnesota LGBTQ DJs American women in electronic music American political music artists Deep house musicians American women DJs Transgender women musicians