Kirk Degiorgio was born in East London in the late 60’s and raised in Suffolk. He started producing music in the early 90’s and is now a techno producer. He founded the labels A.R.T Records and Op-Art Records and releases on them as well as B12 Records, R&S Records, New Electronica and others. His style is a mixture of Detroit-style techno, mixed with funk, soul and jazz fusion.
Kirk’s earliest musical passions were soul and jazz, however a fresh sound started filtering back from Detroit to London; this new sound of Detroit Techno inspired Kirk to start producing his own music. Learning from great inspirations such as Herbie Hancock; he recorded his first tracks using equipment borrowed from techno legend Derrick May. In the early 90’s he began making music using the name ‘As One.’ He then went on to set up A.R.T (Applied Rhythmic Technologies.)
A.R.T was formed in 1991 and released early tracks from Black Dog, B1, Redcell, Stasis and Neuropolitique; the label gained wider acknowledgement through their co-release projects. With A.R.T Kirk proved he had an ear for groundbreaking sounds: ‘A.R.T Records produced some of the best ambient techno ever made’ (Mark Pritchard/Global Communications)
Degiorgio slowed A.R.T.’s already leisurely release schedule in 1996, going on to establish Op-Art as a more artist-orientated label geared aimed at a larger audience.
Degiorgio’s own music is often inspired by his love for the Carl Craig/Derrick May style and a passion for the mid-70’s experimental jazz and funk fusions of Herbie Hancock and Miles Davies.
As the 2000’s hit Degiorgio put together three volumes of The Soul of Science, which were various-artist compilations that helped connect the dots between jazz and techno. In 2001 Kirk released his ‘Offworld’ project with Far Out Recordings; in keeping with Far Out Recordings Brazilian roots it features warm Brazilian vibes provided by special guests Azymuth with J.R Bertrami, Alex Malheiros and Ivan Conti who both appear on a few tracks.
Kirk’s subsequent TV and soundtracks (Adidas/Fanta/Microsoft) have given him the financial freedom to take his music to new levels. This unique position puts him at the forefront of experimentation and unlike most artists from his era he has kept his sound fresh. As a producer he is versatile and equally able to crossover to the mainstream. Kirk continues to make and produce superb recordings.
