Markus Popp aka Oval has been one of the most internationally respected and influential producers of contemporary electronic music for years. Oval’s albums, remixes and film soundtracks are regarded as timeless classics, many of them as turning points in the genre.
Popp’s radical, process-oriented, yet always highly musical approach was the anticipation of “glitch”, “clicks & cuts” and “minimal” and continues to inspire/provoke an entire generation of musicians to this day. The characteristic tension between strict formalism and subtle, organic melodicism made his haunting “Music 2.0” unmistakable from the very beginning.
In recent years, Popp’s spectrum has expanded in the direction of interactive works, film music, dance/performance and electronic arts. His spectacular, interactive sound installation “OvalProcess” (a generative oval sound machine based on self-developed music software), for example, was awarded the “Prix Ars Electronica” and shown in numerous museums, galleries and exhibitions.
Markus Popp has successfully presented and discussed his positions on music, software and digital audio workflow at numerous events, conferences, workshops and guest lectures around the world (see separate document for stations). His topics range from subjectivity vs. technology in electronic music and software design to metalcore, open source and videogames.
Starting in 2010, musician Markus Popp surprised with a completely new, organic, “hyperreal” style and a total of more than 150 tracks on two EPs (“Oh! EP”, “Oval/Liturgy Spilt EP”) and two double albums (“O”, “OvalDNA”) – a completely new chapter in Popp’s critical dialog with music.
His current album “OvalDNA” – immediately voted “best new reissue 2012” by Pitchfork.com – a large, multimedia showcase and “open source manifesto” (THE WIRE), is complemented by the lecture/showcase “Oval – Full Circle” (synopsis see separate document), which will be at the center of the 4-day “Oval” course at this year’s Darmstadt Summer Courses for New Music, for example.
Left:
OvalDNA video documentary with interviews & insights into dance rehearsals, Oval in the studio, live set etc
http://vimeo.com/25765283
“Glass UFO” music video
http://vimeo.com/26858902