April 9th, 2024 — Grammy-nominated producer and multi-instrumentalist BT, and Japan’s leading melodic house artist Shingo Nakamura, today unveil their long-awaited debut collaboration, “Lifeforce,” on Monstercat Silk.
Stream – https://monster.cat/lifeforce
For more than two decades, BT has solidified himself as a renowned composer, engineer, and technologist, among other roles. His achievements include a Grammy nomination for ‘Best Electronic/Dance Music Album,’ producing, collaborating, and writing with Death Cab for Cutie, David Bowie, Madonna, Sting, NSYNC, and Britney Spears, and composing original scores for films and TV series including The Fast and the Furious, Smallville, and Six Feet Under. Widely recognized as a pioneer of trance and intelligent dance music, BT has also developed award-winning software such as Stutter Edit and Break Tweaker. Additionally, his innovative live-coded work in web3 initiated him as a NFT100 winner in 2022. Last year, he unveiled his 15th studio album on Monstercat Silk, ‘The Secret Language of Trees,’ taking inspiration from machine learning and AI. In support of the album launch, BT held two sold-out live listening events; his London-based session at The Castle Cinema presented by Pitchback Playback, and for U.S fans, another in Los Angeles’ Sepulveda Screening Room. 2023 also saw him headline Monstercat Silk Showcase’s second night, celebrating the 700th episode at Ora Nightclub in Seattle.
Shingo Nakamura is one of Monstercat Silk’s resident leaders, with immense DSP and radio success. In 2023, he landed as the third most-played artist in the world on SiriusXM Chill, with his record “Come Closer” becoming their the second most-played song of the year, including his residency “Summer of Shingo.” He’s taken his music across the globe to events such as Tomorrowland and Amsterdam Dance Event, and opening for artists including P.O.S (of Above & Beyond) and Marsh. Last year, he returned to the States for the first time in over a decade, where he played back-to-back nights at Monstercat Silk Showcase. This past February, Shingo sold out his San Francisco return at Bergerac, and is looking forward to announcing more live shows soon.
BT and Shingo’s collaboration was fueled by years of mutual respect and admiration – though initially from afar. Throughout Shingo’s career, he adopted elements inspired by BT into his own tracks – leading him to become one of the most highly-respected melodic house producers from Japan. For his part, BT initially discovered Shingo’s music through his wife’s playlists. Reaching out to express his admiration, their exchange led to a profound realization for BT about the electronic music landscape.
“Though often we create in solitude, the true measure of our work’s resonance is felt when it reaches others – whether through the energetic exchange of live performances or the intimate connections forged with fellow artists,” BT shared. It’s in these moments of mutual recognition that an individual’s creative endeavours are validated, revealing a shared humanity.
Incorporating synths that echo traces of euphoric trance and big room over an acid bassline, the duo embrace elements from a bygone era. The collaboration is a testament to BT’s legacy in the scene while highlighting a tale of mentorship and prodigy with Shingo Nakamura, where innovation is passed from one generation to the next shaping a new era in music.
BT comments, “As someone that is obsessed with words (I literally collect them – especially those from other cultures with tremendous specificity) – I was thrilled to talk with Shingo when he visited about some specifically Japanese concepts. We covered everything from Kintsugi to Forest Bathing and of course, Ikigai. When we discussed this concept – I knew somehow it would inform the track name we were working on. That is how we came up with the title.”
Shingo Nakamura adds, “When I visited BT’s house for studio work, we talked about “Lifeforce” (Ikigai). We tried to describe the beauty and strength of life. Composing music is “Lifeforce” (Ikigai) for me, and it all started when I came across BT’s music. What is “Lifeforce” for you? I would be happy if the song could be an opportunity for you to think about it.”
As BT and Shingo Nakamura continue to work on music together and separately, fans can look forward to more magical compositions and live shows to come, including Shingo at Ora Nightclub in Seattle on June 8th, and The Middle East in Boston on September 13th, while BT heads to Webster Hall on May 26th with Paul Oakenfold.
[Taken in BT’s home studio]
BT Bio
With a career spanning over 25 years – BT, also known as Brian Transeau, is a Grammy-nominated music producer, composer, technologist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. He is credited as a pioneer of the Trance and IDM genres that paved the way for modern-day EDM. BT is also a classically trained composer and songwriter. He is credited as a pioneer of a variety of important plugins that producers around the world have gone on to use as essentials such as Stutter Edit 1&2 for Izotope and Phobos & Polaris with Spitfire Audio. He has written, produced, and remixed artists like Peter Gabriel, Depeche Mode, NSYNC, Sting, David Bowie, Death Cab for Cutie, The Roots, Madonna, Britney Spears, Tiesto and more. BT is also an accomplished film-composer, known for his scores on Monster and The Fast and The Furious.
Other notable projects include writing the music for Tomorrowland at Disneyland Shanghai & some of his web 3 projects include a 24 Hour piece of audio visual music for his Genesis.json NFT, Metaversal and fully generative 3D art and infinite music pieces, The Orbs.
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Shingo Nakamura Bio
Shingo Nakamura is a Tokyo-based producer and DJ. Hailing from Ibaraki (Japan), Shingo is especially known for progressive, melodic, and deep house styles that blend deep and lyrical sounds with classical piano. Growing his footprint beyond a dedicated fan base in Asia, he has performed sold-out shows at regarded venues in the US, including San Francisco’s beloved Audio SF and New York’s National Underground. Shingo’s debut album, ‘Sapporo’ (Monstercat Silk), reached #1 on Beatport’s Progressive House Chart, followed by his second album, ‘Days,’ which reached the top of Beatport’s Progressive House and Trance Charts. His discography also boasts records with tastemakers like Jody Wisternoff and James Grant.
Shingo’s highly-anticipated 2021 album, ‘Glow’ (Monstercat Silk), received widespread acclaim with multiple singles peaking at #1 on SiriusXM Chill, followed by album-themed guest mixes on world-famous radio shows, “A State of Trance” and “Group Therapy.” Shortly after, Shingo performed a continuous live mix of ‘Glow’ on a boat in Tokyo Bay, which has since received over 330k views on YouTube. The album’s sweeping success caught the attention of Grammy-nominated producer and composer BT, who contributed an official remix of Shingo’s single, “Darling Midnight,” to his ‘Glow (The Remixes)’ EPs. Fellow Monstercat Silk artists and talented producers, including Julian Gray, Matt Fax, and Meeting Molly, also delivered stunning reworks on each package. Shingo has cemented himself as one of the world’s leading talents in the melodic and progressive house space. Further proof of his respected artistry across the music industry, Shingo was recently selected to help launch Spotify’s new ‘DJ Mixes’ global initiative.
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