The Hardcore Overdogs: About Bombardier

Bombardier

https://jasonjsnell.bandcamp.com/

This blog entry is about Jason Snell, aka Bombardier - the work on break/hardcore and endeavors combining technology and music.

I am not going into detail about Jason Snell’s, aka Bombardier’s biography. You can read up on him quickly on various outlets [1,2,3].

The gist is that Jason is a prolific multi-disciplinary artist who has produced electronic music since the late 90s, has always connected to technology, and has done exciting work connecting humans and machines.

I want to focus in this entry on the side of using generative AI for music composition [12] as well as the use of brainwaves (i.e., EEG) technology [11].

The reason for this is simply that use of AI in music [4,5], image generation [6,7,8], and subsequently video production [9] is becoming more prevalent and definitely pushes the bar of difficulty in terms of production around (whether lower or higher - that’s up to everyone’s own opinion, e.g., it becomes easier to automatically generate songs that are published on streaming platforms such as Spotify to earn money [10]). Therefore it is crucial to discuss these developments and possibly think about the things to come.

This blog entry is split into two parts. First, we briefly explore Jason’s hardcore, techno, and breakcore work, his label Division 13, and other contributions to these genres.

The main reason for this is mainly caused by this tangible feeling that we have with (hardcore) musicians. Feeling connected and familiar with and seeing ourselves reflected.

The second part is mainly directed toward recent experiments combining AI, motion sensors, and EEG. Thus, making it even more interesting in times like this - where technology and music are (maybe) taking the next step…

Therefore, I am pleased to introduce you to the world of Jason Snell, aka Bombardier.

Human-generated Music

Let’s start at the beginning of Bombardier’s musical output and work to the present.

[Disclosure: The primary source for the following is Discogs and Bombardier’s Bandcamp [13]. In case of notable releases missing that may not be listed on Discogs or I simply forgot, please let me know under…]

Early on, we have the birth of breakcore in the US - which coincidentally happened at the same time in Germany [15].

We start with Bombardier's 1999 debut album release on Vinyl Communications - “Violence”.

<a href="https://bandcamp.bombardier-music.com/album/violence">Violence by Bombardier</a>

I think the words of Michaelangelo Matos (City Pages, New York Press) describe it best: “Bombardier's music impacts like sensory napalm - thickly distorted, explosive, warped, staticky. At his most intense, it sounds like the settling of debris following a nuclear storm. This is as smart as noisecore gets. His set never stops blowing up, never surrenders a shred of intensity. 20 short cuts slamming into each other without a pause for breath, it's as relentless as Bombardier's show”

It feels like the right combination of noise, hardcore, gabber, breakbeat, and industrial - a journey of force.

Next up, we will jump into the future - to 2008. Shortly after the remastered Bombardier Album [14], Adrenaline was released on Division 13.

<a href="https://bandcamp.bombardier-music.com/album/adrenaline">Adrenaline by Bombardier</a>

While there is plenty of Rhythmic Noise to be found, tracks like Delusion of Persecution, Perdition, Demon (Live), and others might still find their way into anxiety-inducing, chaotic and claustrophobic sets that should be blasted on full volume for disorientation.

These tracks are meant for those parties that aim to bridge noise and electronic music and create a trance-like state in the public’s heads.

<a href="https://bandcamp.bombardier-music.com/album/adrenaline">Adrenaline by Bombardier</a>

Bombardier’s most recent release is on the infamous Industrial Strength Records music label. It’s called Circuit Breaker and is on the ‘30 Years of Industrial Strength’ Compilation.

<a href="https://industrialstrengthrecords.bandcamp.com/album/30-years-of-industrial-strength">30 Years of Industrial Strength by Bombardier</a>

The style in this track is a much more focused and clear production. While keeping some noise in it, it reminds me a lot of the past industrial techno releases around Ancient Methods and others. While the distortion is an ongoing theme, it clearly culminates in a harsh, all-encompassing end.

Jason Snell’s output in the past 25 years has been exciting, pushing and crossing boundaries. The selected works in this article are not doing his output justice. I highly recommend checking out the various projects, labels, etc. However, to not push the length of this article, we will explore Jason Snell’s most recent work using AI, EEG, and motion sensors.

AI and Body (?) Music

Motion Sensors

Using Motion Sensors put on different body parts, dancers can interactively create music by … dancing.

According to the descriptions, the sensors transmit the movement to a receiver (i.e., iPhone) which converts it to MIDI signals.

The first video is from the premiere performance with Jadi Carboni and Jason Snell at "Sound Encounters" in Berlin.

The second video is from Los Angeles with two transmission devices.

It would be fun to see what sounds come out at Hardcore & Gabber parties - similar to the music played? Who knows…

Brainwave Dance

The following gets even more futuristic, where Jason Snell successfully attempts to convert his brain activity into music.

Taken from the video description, an astonishing feat and a work (?) of Art.

“We've developed an EEG system that enables me to compose electronic music with my thoughts. I take the electrical activity of my alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and theta waves, process them through a series of algorithms, and output MIDI to control a synthesizer. It is essentially telekinesis with a machine, as I never touch the synthesizer but have full control over it.

Each time I perform with the system, I learn more about my brain and have experienced profoundly deep meditative and ecstatic states. The biofeedback of the music allows me to move up and down a ladder of consciousness, up into emotionally elevated states, or down into the abstract regions of my subconscious.

What began as a curiosity in mental music composition has become an exploration of how this technology can expand my consciousness and the internal sentience of my psyche.

I’m learning to feel the electrical impact of a thought as it ripples through this medium and use my brain as an instrument in live music composition.”

Generative AI

Besides using Motion Sensors and Brain Activity as input to generate music, Jason Snell also has done work in the field of generative AI.

Most notably, you can download an App on Apple devices called Refraktion. (I’m on purpose not including any link as you have to pay for the app, if you’re interested, you’ll certainly find it quickly).

In any case, Jason Snell has conducted an interview with EDM Maniac [16], where they talk about the potential impact of AI.

To summarize the article, Jason states that the app performed very well, catching music labels’ attention and shifting his focus from creating music to other technologies to express his creativity.

Conclusion

In this post, I have focused on an artist who played a key role in breakcore in the Midwest USA, a prolific hardcore (techno) producer who has gone further and decided to combine technology and music.

If you are interested more, please check out:

https://www.jasonjsnell.com/

https://youtu.be/5gGqBRKlge8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL3wLqHtY9M