It’s no secret that the original Breakin Wreck logo was a raptified sickle and hammer, the mic and needle being the substitutes. I always felt like we were missing something as we’ve never officially had a DJ member of the crew. Although Dan’s rellies probably think he is a DJ and no matter how many times I tell people I’m a rapper they seem to assume I must have meant DJ, the truth is this partnership between vocal and instrument has been a farce, dominated by the emcee class, the steel wheels have been oppressed. Until now that is, as we have, for the first time in about 5 years, recruited a new member to the motliest crew, Mr Alphabethead.
He’s addicted to tea, he knows more about teeth than Tourette’s knows about STDs, he’s got way longer hair than 22, and he rocks bootcut jeans. But none of that really matters all that much in comparison to what he can do to vinyl. I can honestly say that I am nose in the air proud to welcome Alphabethead as the newest member to the Wreck team. For those of you who don’t know who this guy is, allow me to explain in somebody else’s words…
Somewhere between the worlds of Hip Hop, Post Punk and Free Jazz exists Alphabethead, a tea-drinking, turntable musician from Wellington, New Zealand. A School of Medicine researcher who, after hours, hangs up the labcoat and transforms into a musician as adept at rocking boisterous Hip Hop crowds as he is to intriguing audiences at jazz festivals. Alphabethead has been described as “a virtuoso of the phonograph turntable” and “an outrageous performer whom you really must see to fully comprehend”.
Once a Champion Hip Hop DJ, Alphabethead is now an explorer/destroyer of all sound-on-vinyl. From Mongolian throat singing and psychedelic guitars to field recordings and drum-breaks – no vinyl LP is taboo. His sets always hold surprises and his unique approach allow him to coax wonderfully strange sounds from the turntable; “…a highlight was Alphabethead’s melodic turntable solo” wrote a reviewer. Expect noise, heavy beats and vinyl trashing. Imagine an aggressive Kid Koala or if Mixmaster Mike scratched post punk.
Fun Facts:
* • Consumes 15 cups of Dilmah tea daily (each cup brewed for at
least 6 minutes).
* • Represented New Zealand in the World DJ Championships at the
impressionable age of 19.
* • Has long flowing hair that often whips the needle clear off the
record.
* • Hosts a radio show dedicated to ethnic folk music and nature
field recordings.
* • Needs to seriously purge some of his enormous record collection.
* • Played turntable and percussion in bands performing compositions
tackling such subjects as the First World War, Eugenics and the
works of Edgar Allen Poe.
* • Breaks at least 1 vinyl records per show (money back guarantee).
* • Competed in the 2009 NZ Mountain Bike Championships, getting
absolutely smoked and bailing 8 times.
* • Performed live scores to three short films (using three short
turntables).
* • Has a penchant to fall asleep at the club – always during the
most intense ear-splitting heavy metal, dubstep or free noise.
* • Frequently finds LP’s that don’t exist in his reoccurring record
hunting dreams.
* • Been handed notes after gigs by cute girls with such concise
feedback as “Is this a fucking joke?”.
* • Played with Craze, So So Modern, Ruins, Sage Francis, Beans,
Damo Suzuki, Richard Nunns, The Naked & Famous, The Upbeats,
Akaname...
Download his track “The Crawling Thing” here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?zymcuz3nkzdDownload his OST mixtape here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?uennhumt5mi
