Authentek is an electronic music producer and composer known for blending various genres such as ambient, downtempo, illbient and experimental in an emotive and cinematic style. His music often incorporates smooth, atmospheric textures, with intricate rhythms and melodic elements that evoke a sense of depth and introspection. The Authentek sound tends to have a relaxed yet immersive quality, making it ideal for background listening, while also rewarding closer, more attentive engagement.
The Authentek story begins in a section of New York City known as Hell's Kitchen. Authentek, an experimental musician with a knack for inventing his own instruments, had been squatting in an old warehouse for almost a year composing his unique brand of acid-laced, Drum 'n' Bass. The warehouse was in foreclosure and not having to pay for rent or utilities afforded him the opportunity to self-mutate from his Illbient roots. Authentek had been at the forefront of the Illbient movement, which, at the time, was a fresh perspective on electronic music where musicians were free to explore the fringes of sound and regurgitate it in an electronic landscape. Its events, with names like Unity Gain and DecayNY, pushed the boundaries of truly live electronic performance and featured broken beats, mutilated sound and disturbed visuals...
As more musicians, attracted by the aesthetic and vibe of this collective, "performed" at the seminal Illbient events in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, many of the pioneers moved on to redefine themselves in still unnamed forms of future music. Authentek was forging ahead into new electronic music territory.
Creating his own instruments from thrown away synthesizers, computers and other industrial waste, Authentek challenged himself to create a sound that no one else would be able to duplicate.
"He was always around, but never there," recalls Brian Bell, an assistant to Peter Max, who often let him sleep on the floor of his loft.
Authentek never really wanted to be a musician in the traditional sense. He wanted to create big pounding sound. As a master percussionist who had studied with New York's top African Drummers, he had a deep understanding of how rhythm affected the human body. But as powerful as his drumming was, it was never big enough. It had to be larger, meaner and louder. About this same time, he discovered electronic music when a local Trance act asked him to perform at an upcoming show. The response was phenomenal, and the band asked him to come over to their studio to do some "sampling." Their small home studio was Authentek's moment of clarity.
"Digital technology had lowered the entrance fee for musicians like me to create their own high quality personal studios," he observed. And Authentek loved the idea of being self-sufficient. From that moment forward, Authentek began assembling his own home studio and his life would never be the same. "I'll admit it. I'm a full-on, unabashed gear junkie." he confesses with a smile.
"The Space" turned into the perfect environment for the next evolution of electronic music in New York. Authentek was able to steal enough electricity from the building next store to create the quintessential electronic recording studio and PA. With his beats reverberating on the outside walls, he soon got curious neighborhood house heads peaking their heads in the windows. Before they knew it, "The Space" was hosting banging house parties with top local DJ's and, of course, Authentek playing live. The vibe at these gatherings was quite intense and the attendees all knew they were part of something special. With the NYC local government cracking down on dance clubs, The Space became an oasis in the world of corporate clubbing. For those fortunate enough to attend these parties, it was everything they wanted, without having to ask.
The gatherings were building a lot of momentum and soon local labels sent their A&R reps to check it out.
"FutureMusic were the only cats that truly understood what we were trying to achieve," Authentek recalls. "The music at that time was hard and tribal, but also melodic and progressive, not easily definable."
"Many of the other labels that came around were interested in our sound, but wanted us to change this or go more in one sort of direction, FutureMusic just said, 'we love what you're doing, let's put out some records.'"
Authentek's first record with FutureMusic was "Shaka." The original mix was a favorite with The Space's party people and Authentek would often close their set with this heady, spellbinding and cinematic progressive house journey.
"The first time I heard 'Shaka' at The Space," Adam Mosko, A&R rep for FutureMusic, recounts, "the sun was coming up and everyone just stopped. Everyone just put their arms around the person nearest to them and smiled blissfully as the track summed up their glorious evening. Nobody wanted that moment to end. It was magical."
As word of The Space, and Authentek, spread, so did the problems. The cops began showing up at the events. "Since the parties were peaceful, they would just tell us to turn the music and down and leave. They had no idea that we were there illegally," Walid Osman, a documentary filmmaker, remembers. Then someone dropped dime.
Authentek came back to The Space after playing a show in Philly and it was boarded up with a long letter saying the building was condemned. He had to climb up the drainpipe in the back and literally break out the front door in order to liberate the equipment from his studio. The party was officially over.
But this end was only the beginning for Authentek's music explorations. He has continued to compose original music, now exploring ambient and Dub Techno realms.
