Jeff Mills combines tech and classical to make stellar music

Considered to be one of the biggest names in the Detroit Techno Music movement, for his latest piece, Jeff Mills has composed and recorded music to honor British composer Gustav Holst and the 100th anniversary of his score, “The Planets”.  The original is often played in classical venues around the world and includes an auditory tour of each of the nine planets in our solar system.  Ten years in the making, Mills has engineered an enhancement of the composition to include his personal brand of Tech-Pop.  Through the skills of the master DJ, listeners are sure to become caught up in Mills’ fascination with space and his use of music as a type of science fiction. “The way both of these genres are being fused together, and at times, indistinguishable from one another, is an important step forward when compared to the previous projects I’ve written for orchestras”.

Mills began his career in Detroit, Michigan with the birth of the electro sound as a radio DJ known as “The Wizard”.  He eventually brought his musical talent to Chicago, establishing his recording label, Axis.  Now living part time in both Chicago and in Paris, he has formed an evolving relationship with his supporters in France.  Igniting his passion for the fusion of image and sound, Mills was invited to collaborate on soundtracks for the rerelease of the silent movie Metropolis, and with the companies MK2 and Cinématheque française.  The documentary by French filmmaker Jacqueline Caux, Man from Tomorrow about Techno Music featured Mills and his music. His collaboration with the Montpellier Philharmonic Orchestra, and various other partnerships with French arts, resulted in his 2007 award of the “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres” from the French cultural ministry. 

Joâo Messias

 Jeff Mills will be appearing this season with Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse in a performance of his “Light from the Outside World”.  When asked about performing in Toulouse: “it was a place that I always look forward to because the parties are always special – always with lots of energy.”  “Light from the Outside World” is a collection of tracks that I’ve made over the many years that were arranged for the classical performances.  I worked with the arranger/composer/artist Thomas Roussel to create classical version of such tracks like Gamma Player, The Man Who Wanted the Stars, The Bells along with tracks like Amazon and Sonic Destroyer that I made with Mike Banks of Underground Resistance.  It’s a really good collection covering the past few decades of my career.”

 Mills continues to pursue his career as a DJ all over the world, to present himself and other artists to his fans as his contribution to the culture and art form of techno music. “I suppose I’m fixated on the ideas of what tomorrow might be like for us – for humanity.  I’m convinced that the best days of our existence have yet to come and that we’ll reach a pinnacle point within this Century where enormous strides in expanding our species’ reach will be elevated.  I sense Space and what’s out there will play a huge roll on how we’ll advance.”

 “I’m influenced by great science fiction writers, NASA, cosmonauts and the impactful work of physicists and astrologists, but mostly by the human nature of people” says Mills about his work.  The future is a powerful force which constantly presses Mills forward in his personal journey of the creative process.  Mills is currently working on several new projects that include film, music videos, live dance presentations, art instillations, concerts with classical orchestras, and other collaborations.  We look forward to hearing what he has produced for his next adventure – it will be “out of this world!”    

Light from Outside the World, December 1 and 2, 2016
Jeff Mills, DJ and Christophe Mangou, Conductor
Bookings : www.onct.toulouse.fr