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David Kennedy (born 1988), professionally known as Pearson Sound, is an electronic dance music producer, mix engineer and DJ based in London. His style is a combination of house, dubstep, UK funky, UK garage and jungle. In October 2024, a review of his EP release stated: "Which Way Is Up cements Pearson Sound's position as one of UK electronic music's all time greats."[1]

Career

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Early in his career, Kennedy released some music under the names Ramadanman (until 2010)[2] and Maurice Donovan.[3] He has worked under the Pearson Sound alias since 2008 and tracks under old and new names featured in his FabricLive.56 mix. He has released several acclaimed EPs and singles, including "Blanked",[4] "Deep Inside" and "Thaw Cycle". He has completed remixes for artists such as Radiohead, Depeche Mode, the XX, Disclosure and MIA, on labels including XL, Warner and Columbia.[5] He was voted by the public as one of Resident Advisor's top 100 DJs in the world in both 2010 and 2011.[6]

In 2007, he founded the record label Hessle Audio with Ben Thomson (Ben UFO) and Kevin McAuley (Pangaea). Since then, Hessle Audio have been featured regularly in major dance music publications,[7][8] as well as touring across the world.[9] On their 15th anniversary in 2022, a cover feature in Crack magazine stated: "Pound for pound, Hessle Audio are surely the most influential British club label of their generation".[10]

Kennedy released his debut self-titled album in 2015 on Hessle Audio.[11] The album was well received critically and scored 8.1 by the website Pitchfork.[12] His single "XLB" was voted as the second best track of 2016 by Resident Advisor.[13]

Kennedy makes regular appearances on BBC Radio 1 who describe him as a 'key figure in the [UK bass] scene',[14] as well as co-hosting a regular show on London's Rinse FM.[15]

Aside from DJing, producing and mixing, Kennedy also ran for many years a vinyl-only club night called Acetate at the Leeds nightclub Wire, featuring guests such as Gilles Peterson and Four Tet, and he was a headline act at the club's final club night weekend before its closure in June 2024.[16]

Personal life

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Kennedy was brought up in north London and studied at Highgate School[17] and the University of Leeds. His mother is the civil engineer Joanna Kennedy. He lives in south London.[10] [18]

Discography

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Albums

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  • Pearson Sound (2015), Hessle Audio

EPs

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  • "Hornet" / "Twister" / "Slingshot" / "Which Way Is Up" (October 2024)[19]
  • "Red Sky" / "Sinkhole" / "Freefall" / "Around in Circles" (2022)[20]
  • "Alien Mode" / "Cobwebs" / "Everything Inside Out" (2020)[21]
  • "Rubble" / "Earwig" / "Our Spirits Soar" (2018)
  • "Robin Chasing Butterflies" / "Eels" / "Heal Me" (2017)[22]
  • "REM" / "Gridlock" / "Figment" / "Crimson (Beat Ritual Mix)" (2013)
  • "Lola" / "Power Drumsss" / "Starburst" (2013)
  • "Clutch" / "Underdog" / "Piston" (2012)

Singles

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  • "Hornet" (June 2024)[23]
  • "XLB" (2016)
  • "Thaw Cycle" / "Freeze Cycle" (2015)
  • "Raindrops" (2014)[24]
  • "Quivver" (2013)
  • "Untitled" / "Footloose" (2012)
  • "Faint", with Joy Orbison and Boddika (2012)
  • "Deep Inside" / "Working With" (2011)

References

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  1. ^ Bužinel, Jaša. "Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for October". The Quietus. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  2. ^ "RA: Ramadanman".
  3. ^ Ellis, Huw. "Maurice Donovan - Babeh". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Top 100 singles of 2010". Fact Magazine. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Discogs: Pearson Sound". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Top 100 DJs of 2011". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  7. ^ Carnes, Richard. "Label of the month: Hessle Audio". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  8. ^ "Label Focus: Hessle Audio", Mixmag, Patrick Hinton 14 November 2016
  9. ^ "Hessle Audio goes on tour". XLR8R. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  10. ^ a b "On and on and on: the first fifteen years of Hessle Audio". Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Pearson Sound: Pearson Sound | Album Review". The Irish Times, Chris Jones, 14 March 2015
  12. ^ Gaerig, Andrew. "Pearson Sound review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  13. ^ "RA Poll: Top 50 tracks of 2016". Resident Adviser. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  14. ^ "BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix". BBC. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  15. ^ "Hessle Audio: Rinse FM". Rinse FM. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  16. ^ Muk, Isaac. "RIP Wire: The Leeds club's closure leaves a rich legacy and a huge void". Crack magazine. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  17. ^ Hodgson, Ben (Spring 2016). "Pearson Sound - self-titled album review". The Cholmeleian: 16. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Pearson Sound". Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  19. ^ Lawson, Michael. "Pearson Sound reveals new EP on Hessle Audio". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Pearson Sound Announces new 'Red Sky' EP on Hessle Audio". Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  21. ^ Hawthorn, Carlos. "Pearson Sound - Alien Mode". Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  22. ^ Smith, Mark. "Pearson Sound - Robin Chasing Butterflies". Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  23. ^ Babbington-Fowles, Tom. "Pearson Sound - Hornet". Record Report. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Review: Pearson Sound, 'Pearson Sound'. NPR, 17 March 2015
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