Frank Heiss
Frank Heiss (July 24, 1971 – April 15, 2018) was an American electronic record producer best known by his alias HEISS. He previously toured and/or recorded under the aliases as tube, HearNow, Bionic Harmonic, and The Hick Step Massive.[1]
Frank Heiss | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Frank Carter Heiss |
| Also known as | HEISS, HearNow, tube, The Hick Step Massive, Lofi Junkiez, Hardware Junkiez |
| Born | July 24, 1971 Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Died | April 15, 2018 (aged 46) |
| Genres | EDM, jungle, downtempo, hip hop, breaks, acid |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer |
| Years active | 1996–2018 |
| Labels | Transcendent Tunes, EMI/Harvest Records, Rising High Records |
| Associated acts | Falu, D.V.S* |
| Website | HEISSmusik.com |
Heiss has released a large number of LPs, EPs, singles, and remixes, and in 2013 released the original album Ascensio(N), which Lost in Sound described as spiritual in tone, stating that "each track is stylistically unique. Heiss weaves through styles...from jazz fusion to drum n bass to reggae, and everything in between."[2] The following year he released the remix album Awaken(D), featuring guest artists such as D.V.S*. Heiss was the owner of the record label Transcendent Tunes, which features music by future bass producers who seek a connection to the Divine.[3]
Early life, education
Frank Carter Heiss was born on July 24, 1971 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. His father is a contemporary classical composer, and Heiss developed an early interest in music, picking up drumming.[3] He began his musical career as a drummer while attending Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs New York,[3] where his college band Conjunction Junction opened for Phish in 1990.[4]
After hearing the hardcore dance music popular in the UK,[5] and inspired by the production of DJ Premier[3] and Pete Rock on the Nas album illmatic,[5] he sold his drum set in favor of an Akai MPC-3000 and became a beat programmer and producer.[3]
Music career
Early years
In 1995, Heiss released the electronic EP Radical Technology under his full name on Rising High Records in the United Kingdom. This was followed in 1996 by the EP Flashdancers On Acid, a collaboration with Dr. Walker that was released on Sm:)e Communications in New York City.[6] In the mid-1990s he also signed a recording contract with the New York City label Liquid Sky Music, under the moniker 'tube.'[3] This was during the rise of American rave culture.[7]
In 1998 while performing in and around Cologne, Germany[7] another recording contract was established under the moniker HearNow,[8] this time with Harvest/EMI - the label once home to Pink Floyd, Soft Machine and Deep Purple.[7] In 1999, he toured as tube with the "To The Planet's Edge" tour in support of the Leeds UK goth band The Sisters Of Mercy.[9]
The next phase in the career was a period of reflection and primarily studio only output.[3] During this time that he wrote for and licensed music to a variety of television shows including One Life to Live,[10] All My Children, and General Hospital. He also began his country/breakbeat mashup project known as The Hick Step Massive.
Releases as HEISS
- Awake(N)
After the hiatus from music and the tour lifestyle, Heiss decided to stop using multiple monikers and simply go Heiss, or HEISS. He has stated, "I settled on 'HEISS' because it... encompasses everything I do under myself, with no leaning towards any specific genre or style."[11] Making a return to live performance in 2012, HEISS released the full-length album Awake(N). In a review about the style, "Awake(N) is a 12-track compilation of electronic originals caked with a thick layer of hip-hop and instrumental influences. As you venture further into the album you start to become more familiar with his cohesive blend of glitch hop and breakbeat styles which are consistently paralleled with instrumental backdrops."[1] Awake(N) was followed by a series of singles; "The Captive Mind" featuring Soham, "Jivanmukta," and "Svadu."[6]
- Ascensio(N)
His full-length album Ascensio(N) was released on November 12, 2013.[2] According to The Untz, "there is an underlying tone of spiritual downtempo on all twelve tracks."[12] A review by Lost in Sound stated, "In this most recent endeavor, he continues to narrate the spiritual journey he began to describe in 2012′s Awake(N)." Also, "Positive and conscious lyrics are interspersed throughout the album," with Heiss writing and singing some of them himself. Others lyrics were contributed by guests artists, including emcees Jackson Whalan, Soham, singer Falu, and multi-instrumentalist Michael Garfield. About the style, "while there is an underlying musical and lyrical feeling holding the entire collection together, each track is stylistically unique. Heiss weaves through styles, hinting at a wide variety of genres, from jazz fusion to drum n bass to reggae, and everything in between."[2]
- Awaken(D) remix album
With the name HEISS he founded the Transcendent Tunes, which focuses on "sacred bass music." Heiss has stated, "I don’t want the label to focus solely on bass music, or glitch, or any specific style, but music that emphasizes the betterment of the human soul and spirit."[13] The first album on the label was Awaken(D), released on April 14, 2014.[11]
Awaken(D) is an album of remixes by D.V.S* Skytree, Supersillyus, Soulacybin, Living Light, Push/Pull, Futexture, Erothyme and others.[14] According to a review in Lost in Sound, "AThere’s no place for genres in this album – it’s an exploration of countless rhythms, BPM’s, and frequencies. Awaken(D) truly is a magical collection of sacred bass music."[13] From the album TrustTheBrain.com selected the Supersillyus remix of Heiss' track "Drop the Fuss" as one of its Top 7 Tracks Out This Week.[15]
Style, equipment
HEISS incorporated a wide variety of styles, not settling into a specific genre. However, he frequently used the stylings of genres including IDM, jungle, downtempo, hip hop, breaks, and acid.[2] He used both analog and digital musical equipment.[9]
Personal life
Heiss died unexpectedly on April 15, 2018.[16]
Discography
Albums
| Yr | Release title | Artist(s) | Label | Notes, role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | I'd Love To Turn You On | Bionic Harmonic (Frank Heiss, Deknow) | Whole Tone | double album |
| 1997 | Hanging By A Thread | Frank Heiss | Syncom Productionz | double album |
| 1997 | Alive | tube | Home Entertainment | January 1, 1997, CD/12" vinyl[17] |
| 1998 | HearNow Bending Spoons | Frank Heiss | EMI/Harvest | CD, 16 Feb 1999[8] |
| 2000 | Steak | tube | Whole Tone | January 1, 2000 |
| 2001 | Mental Illness | tube | Whole Tone | |
| 2002 | USEN3 (compilation) | DJ Not (Frank Heiss) | Whole Tone | January 2001 |
| 2002 | Me, Myself and Why (compilation) | Frank Heiss | Whole Tone | January 1, 2002 |
| 2004 | Still Alive | tube | Whole Tone | |
| 2008 | Back to Basics | tube | Whole Tone | |
| 2010 | The Sixth Sense | tube | Whole Tone | |
| 2012 | Awake(N) | HEISS | Transcendent Tunes | 12 December 2012 |
| 2013 | Ascensio(N) | HEISS | Transcendent Tunes | November 12, 2013 |
| 2014 | Awaken(D) (remix album) | HEISS | Transcendent Tunes | April 14, 2014 |
EPs
| Yr | Release title | Artist(s) | Label | Notes, role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Radical Technology | Frank Heiss | Rising High Records (UK) | 12" vinyl |
| 1996 | Flashdancers On Acid | Frank Heiss and Dr. Walker | Sm:)e Communications (NYC) | |
| 1998 | Ice Queen | Brotherz In Armz (Heiss, Ingmar Koch) | Syncom Productionz (gmbh) | |
| 1998 | Ordinary People | HearNow (Heiss) | Harvest Records | |
| 1998 | For The Young At Art | HearNow | Eat Raw (GER) | 12" vinyl |
| 1999 | Untitled | The Dank (Heiss, Michael O'Connell) | Hotel Lotte | 12" EP |
| 2001 | Leaving My Bed Today | The House Of Naught | ||
| 2004 | The Hick Step Massive | The Hick Step Massive | The Hick Step Massive | November 9, 2004 |
| 2010 | The Litmus Test EP | Frank Heiss | Acid All Stars | |
Singles
| Year | Title | Artist | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Nuttin' But An E Thang" | Phuturistic Phunk | ||
| 1997 | "All Natural" | Tube | ||
| "Ziehen" | ||||
| 1998 | "Still Crazy After All These Beers" | LoFi Junkiez | ||
| "Let's Get Mental" | tube | |||
| 2013 | "The Captive Mind" (feat. Soham) | HEISS | ||
| "Jivanmukta" | ||||
| "Svadu" | ||||
| "Practice Laughter Yoga" (feat. Soham) | Mycelium Music | Included on Summer V/A Compilation 2013 | ||
Remixes
Frank Heiss remixes of material by other artists.
- 1997: "Abducted" by DJ Soul Slinger (tube Remix)
- 1999: "Flow Motion" by Can from the album Sacrilege (Air Liquide Remix) - production
- 2000: "Electro Organic Sound System" by Percussive Wave (Frank Heiss Remix)
- 2012: "Gunsligin Rambler" by Gangstagrass (The Hick Step Massive Remix)
- 2013: "Keep It Sacred, Keep It Safe" by Skytree (HEISS Remix)
- 2014: "Ecliptic Mystic" by Living Light (HEISS Remix)
- 2014: "The Silly Revolution" by Supersillyus (HEISS Remix)
Further reading
- Discographies
- Writing
- "Confessions of a Hardware Junkie" by Frank Heiss (Lost in Sound, May 4, 2013)
- "Confessions – Known, Loved, and Lost ‘The MPC-3000′" by Frank Heiss (Lost in Sound, June 25, 2013)
- "Confessions – Mostly, Battery Operated Devices" by Frank Heiss (Lost in Sound, March 6, 2014)
- Interviews
- "Frank Heiss Comes Full Circle". Glide Magazine. April 13, 2011.
- "Sacred Bass Producer HEISS discusses his latest release, "Awaken(D)"". Electronic Current. April 15, 2014.
References
- Silva, Alex (February 6, 2013). "Heiss: Awake(n) Review". The Untz. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- gnomefire (November 12, 2013). "Heiss – 'Ascensio(N)' Review & Exclusive Interview". Lost in Sound. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- "Bio". HeissMusik.com. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- "The Field House, Skidmore College". Phish.com. October 5, 1990. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- "Confessions of a Hardware Junkie" by Frank Heiss (Lost in Sound, May 4, 2013)
- Frank Heiss at Discogs
- Berhiaume, Dan (April 13, 2011). "Frank Heiss Comes Full Circle". Glide Magazine. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- "Hearnow – Bending Spoons". Discogs. 16 Feb 1999. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- "Confessions – Known, Loved, and Lost ‘The MPC-3000′" by Frank Heiss (Lost in Sound, June 25, 2013)
- "Fall" by Frank Heiss" - One Life to Live
- Rodriguez, Julian (April 15, 2014). "Sacred Bass Producer HEISS discusses his latest release, "Awaken(D)"". Electronic Current. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- Horne, Jacki (November 13, 2013). "Heiss - Ascensio(N) review". The Untz. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- Satellite Man (April 14, 2014). "Heiss – 'Awaken(D)' Remix Album Review". Lost in Sound. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- "HEISS – Awaken(D) (FREE DL!!) [Electronic//Bass]". Funkadelphia. April 16, 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- "Staff Picks: Top 7 Tracks Out This Week – 4/13 – 4/20". TrustTheBrain.com. 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-04-26. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- "FRANK CARTER HEISS's Obituary on Boston Globe". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
- "tube - Alive". Discogs. 1997. Retrieved 2014-05-28.