Marc Houle

Marc Houle (born 1972 in Windsor, Ontario) is a Canadian live act and producer of electronic music. He is considered a live act and not a DJ, since he uses elements of his own productions to create his sets, as well as tracks that he has remixed. Houle came to fame under his first album, Bay of Figs, which was released on Minus. He is most known for being a techno artist, and as part of the core group of artists on Minus before moving on to create his own record label Items & Things with fellow Minus friends, Magda and Troy Pierce.

Houle was largely inspired by the Detroit techno and Chicago house scene as well as new wave music, and the first generation of video games that championed electronic sounds. He often describes his sound as a cross between the two cities, Chicago and Detroit. His sound can be described as a blend of his Chicago and Detroit influences with a good measure of new wave synth sounds. Propelling sounds of the future yet at the same time casting a reminiscent light on 80's synths and video game music, Houle's productions give him a sound that sets him apart in the electronic music industry.

Biography Marc Houle official press photo Houle was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Growing up in a musical family, he started early to play around with musical instruments such as piano and guitar, and owned his first set of drums at the age of four. At the age of fourteen, he began exploring synths with his first Casio keyboard, on which he would eventually record on. For ten years, Houle was the drummer of a local Canadian rock band with regular small gigs in nightclubs all over Ontario. In 1991, he bought his first Roland JX-3P. He met Magda, who was another fellow resident at the club. They became friends, going to the same shows between Windsor and Detroit. At the time, Magda started to tour with Richie Hawtin as opening act, and played stripped down edits of Houle’s tracks. Afterwards, Hawtin invited him to be on his Minus label. Living together in Windsor, Magda would guide Houle’s productions into being club friendly, while Houle would retain a separate synth version for himself.

Although Houle’s first EP wasn't released until 2004, he was constantly producing music at his home in Windsor. He would collect synths and new equipment to make music on from the pawn shops of Detroit. Houle enjoyed making new wave music that was a blend of electro, being a huge fan of the new wave synth lines. During that time, he also made video game music, for which his moniker "Run Stop Restore" was inspired by the key presses on a Commodore 64. and his own video graphics.

During his residency at Richie Hawtin's club 13 Below in Windsor (ON), Houle would "DJ" Electro and new wave music in the sense of radio DJing. Magda and Houle then became friends while playing at 13 Below.

In April - May 2006, Houle participated in the vigorous 50 date "min2MAX tour" to celebrate the Minus "min2MAX" compilation of minimal techno. Houle's track, "Simpler" is part of the compilation. The tour began with 25 dates throughout the European continent, of which Houle played six shows, one of them headlining himself in Belgrade, Serbia. The tour then continued in May in North America as a bus tour across 11 cities in the US and Canada. For the US segment, Houle travelled together with Magda, Troy Pierce, and Richie Hawtin for all dates.

Two years later, in 2008, Houle decided to move to Berlin to continue working on his music and touring with his live performance. The label is characterized by a variety of sounds ranging from disco to techno, with about one release per month featuring the label artists and newcomers. Having a steady output of studio productions himself as well as many unreleased tracks on his hard drive, Items & Things allows Houle to release more of the music he makes. The year of 2012 has seen Items & Things’ first full album: the release of Houle's latest album, "Undercover". There was also an EP release for "Undercover" with several remixes and an additional track, "Triple E." He has also contributed the track "Villains on the Dance Floor" for the label's first compilation and vinyl box set "Variables." In May 2013, Marc Houle and French DJ/producer Miss Kittin released their well received Where Is Kittin EP, with remixes from Dubfire and John Foxx and the Maths. Later in the year, on September 20, Houle released a five-track EP called Razzamatazz with fellow producer Click Box. Both EP releases were housed on Items & Things. Self-sufficient, the label has its own booking agency in addition to their label events called "Down & Out," to celebrate their label and feature their artists. The parties are characterized by a more "underground" feel, dark moods, simple lighting and special decoration. The agency's roster now features Houle, Magda, and Pierce as well as artists Nyma, Madato, Click Box, Bruno Pronsato, Danny Benedettini, Kate Simko, and Chloé.

Marc Houle Remiix App In addition to the release of Houle's Undercover album in spring of 2012, he also released a Remiix app developed by the online music and technology company, Liine. Liine, whose offices are located at Minus headquarters in Berlin, has developed prior Remiix apps for artists such as Dubfire, Joris Voorn, Plastikman, and Oliver Huntemann. Houle has worked with the Liine app developers contributing tracks for the Minus Remiix App and later for his own. The Marc Houle Remiix app allows the user to take loops or parts of Houle's tracks, and rearrange them with the option of adding effects such as reverb or delay. The user then has the option to export their remix to their social media of choice. The app features tracks of Houle's both old and new, such as: "Bay of Figs," "Edamame," "On It," "Porch," Triple E," "Mooder," and "Undercover." The Marc Houle Remiix app can be purchased in the iTunes App store. In February 2013, there is an updated planned, with new artwork as well as 28 basslines and 32 drum loops.

Production Heavy into analog synths for production, Houle has mentioned he uses the following top five favorites: Juno-60 for basslines and pads, Korg Mono/Poly for leads, ARP 2600 for synths, SH-101 for synths, and the DX7 for different synth sounds as well. In his musical production, he tends to "round off midrange," saying that his musical influences tended to not have midrange in their work as well. Houle also has mentioned that he sees music as an experiment for "conceptual question."

Other projects Houle was also involved in a few side projects of his own. One of them, "2VM", was a short project where he teamed up with Veronica Vasicka. Together they produced one release called "Placita" (7"). His other project, Raid Over Moscow, was more of a band with musical influences of the late seventies/early eighties. Their release, "Rush to the Capsule" was released on Turbo Recordings.

Discography

Albums 2017: Sinister Mind 2015: Restored MINUSMIN35 2014: Cola Party IT030 2012: Undercover IT012 2010: Drift MINUS98 2008: Sixty-Four MINUS64 2006: Bay of Figs MINUS42 2004: Restore MINUS23

EPs 2016: Silver Siding EP IV66 2014: Fusion Pop EP IT029 2013: Razzamatazz EP IT025 2013: Where is Kittin? EP IT022 2012: Zorba EP WYS!015 2012: Undercover Single IT011 2009: Salamandarin MINUS88 2009: Licking Skin MINUS78 2007: Techno Vocals MINUS50

Remixes 2015: Words Gone Popof HOTC060 2015: Obsessed M.A.N.D.Y. GPM263 2014: Zipp Krankbrother NA006 2014: Shame Cube Sian OCT62 2014:Pulse Train Nicolas Bougaïeff TRAPEZ155 2014: Exit Strategy Arthur Oskan RTCOMP429 2014: The Butcher Battant 64784 2013: Isolation Vosper MEANT017 2013: Dream City Tunnel Signs HAKT006 2013: Caminho De Dreyfus Red Axes feat. Abrão Correspondent16 2013: Kybernetik Nyma IT020 2012: Brickwall Alexis Raphael (Jackathon) HPJJ002 2012: Erma Remain & Electric Rescue IDEAL22 2012: Very Bad Marc Houle IT015 2011: All I can Think About App WYS008 2011: Michael Jackson Phil Kieran & Green Velvet PKRD009 2011: Headcase Plastikman MINUS100 2011: The Night Terence Fixmer TURBO105 2009: The Butcher Battant, Butcher, Bruise KTDJ016 2008: Subtil Midimiliz SONICULTURE009 2008: I Am Alloy Mental SKINT145D 2008: Modern Walk Gesaffelstein GL31 2007: Nimrod Matt Tolfrey LEFTCD001 2007: Ardorant Tractile MINUSPROMO 2006: Asteroid Compound Louderbach UND/009 2006: 150 Reasons To Bite You Jorge Savoretti ESPERANZA003 2006: Turbo Dreams Ellen Allien & Apparat BPC124 2006: 25 Bitches Troy Pierce MINUS39 2005: Strawberry Dream Imiafan 4MG1201 2005: Kill The Pain Slam feat. Dot Allison SOMA180 2005: Sequential Circus Actual Jakshun MINUS27

Contributed

2012: Villain Of The Dance Floor Variables Compilation IT016 2011: Slowpe Down & Out Vol. 1 IT07 2009: Helen In The Keller Helen In The Keller EP MINUS80 2007: Porch Expansion | Contraction MINUS58 2007: A-Sides For Life Kontakt | Min2MAX Tour MINUS:K3 2007: Extreme Spies & Lies IT02 2006: Turtle Feet Kontakt | RTW KONTAKTRTW 2006: Simpler min2MAX MINUS40 2006: Kicker Spaceships And Pings IT01 2005: Ranchor Keeper DE9 | Transitions MINUS32 2005: East To West Minimize To Maximize MINUS25 2004: Geometry Geometry EP MINUS20