Sound Obsession - Vol 47 - Groove Merchant/LRC Special

Kirk Degiorgio

As One, London

In a career spanning 22 years Kirk Degiorgio has earned the tag of 'the producers producer'. From his humble beginnings in 1983 as an electro DJ to his As One productions for Clear, Mo' Wax and Ubiquity, Degiorgio has remained true to his love of everything soulful, edgy and funky. Inspired by a vinyl buying visit to Chicago and Detroit in 1990 Kirk sold all his records and put together ART Studios in the model of those he saw at Transmat and Metroplex. Kirk fused his vision of the Detroit sound with Funk and Jazz influences resulting in a succession of projects under the names Future/Past, As One, Offworld, Esoterik, Elegy and Super-A-Loof. Only recently has he used his actual name for his purist Techno releases for New Religion. He has remixed artists as varied as Azymuth, Coldcut, 4 Hero, Innerzone Orchestra, Papo Vasquez and many more. His collaborations include work with Ian O'Brien, Tony Allen, Carl Craig, Paul Randolph. From 1992 until 1997 Kirk's ART/OpArt labels released important early productions by B12, Carl Craig, Aphex Twin, The Black Dog, Photek and others. Kirk recorded several albums as As One and as producer, writer, backing singer for the hotly tipped band The Beauty Room. This time Kirk examines the history of Frisco's Groove Merchant label.