Gesaffelstein

Mike Lévy (French pronunciation: ​[majk levi]; born June 13, 1987),[1][2][3] known professionally as Gesaffelstein (German pronunciation: [ɡəˈzafl̩ʃtaɪ̯n]), is a French musician, DJ, songwriter and record producer from Lyon. He has worked alongside artists as varied as The Weeknd, Daft Punk, Kanye West, A$AP Rocky, Electric Youth, Haim, Miss Kittin, The Hacker, Jean-Michel Jarre and Pharrell Williams.

Gesaffelstein
Gesaffelstein at Amnesia, Ibiza in 2012
Background information
Birth nameMike Lévy
Born (1987-06-13) June 13, 1987
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • DJ
Instruments
Years active2008–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websitegesaffelstein.com

Name

Gesaffelstein is a portmanteau of Gesamtkunstwerk ("total artwork" in German, also title of an album by the American electro group Dopplereffekt) and Albert Einstein.[4][5]

Career

Mike Lévy was born in Lyon, France, in June 1987. He started producing music at the age of sixteen when he first played an analog synthesizer.[6] He released his first EP in 2008 through the label OD Records. In 2009, he founded with The Hacker, Alex Reynaud and David Rimokh, the independent label Zone.[7]

In July 2012, Gesaffelstein made the cover of DJ Mag with Brodinski.[8] The same year, his track "Viol" was used by Citroën and Givenchy advertisings.[9] He co-produced two tracks on Yeezus, the sixth album of American rapper Kanye West, including the lead single "Black Skinhead" and "Send It Up", both tracks produced with Kanye West, Daft Punk, Brodinski and Mike Dean.[10] On October 28, 2013, Gesaffelstein released his debut album Aleph under Parlophone Records and OWSLA (in North America only), which had been recorded since 2011.[11] His remix of "Shockwave" by The Hacker is featured in the 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V, on the Soulwax FM radio station.

In 2015, Gesaffelstein released the single "Conquistador" in collaboration with Jean-Michel Jarre, which is present on the album Electronica 1: The Time Machine.[12] He also produced the soundtrack for the French-Belgian 2015 film Maryland, directed by Alice Winocour. In early 2018, he produced the tracks "I Was Never There" and "Hurt You" from The Weeknd's My Dear Melancholy, EP.[13]

Gesaffelstein signed to Columbia Records in November 2018, with whom he released the lead single "Reset" from his second studio album Hyperion in the same month.[14] In January 2019, he released a collaboration with The Weeknd titled "Lost in the Fire" as the second single from Hyperion,[15] and later in March 2019 released another collaboration with Pharrell Williams titled "Blast Off".[16] Hyperion was released on March 8, 2019 to mixed reviews.[17][18] On October 3, 2019, Gesaffelstein announced his surprise EP Novo Sonic System, consisting of 6 tracks, which was released the following day.[19]

Musical style

Mixmag describes Gesaffelstein's style as being a "dark and threatening techno, though enchanting";[20] The Inrocks see it as "black, ultra-violent music, [which] revives the techno fundamentals, the intransigence of Underground Resistance, the mental and obsessive structures of Drexciya, the contemporary power and more".[6] Megan Buerger from the Washington Post describes his style has a mixture of dark and underground music, and notes that a specialty of the artist is his use of silences to create a "tension" before a "raucous explosion of bass and percussion".[21]

Rolling Stone magazine sees his music as being "a little more aggressive and punk-rock than normal".[22]

Influences

Gesaffelstein cites as references Dopplereffekt, Kraftwerk, but also new wave formations from the 80s such as D.A.F. or Nitzer Ebb. He also appreciates Joy Division and The Hacker also influenced him a lot.[5]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Details Chart positions
FRA
[23]		 BEL
(Fl)
[24]		 BEL
(Wa)
[25]		 SWI
[26]		 US
Dance
[27]		 US
Heat.
[28]
Aleph 30 77 66 95 16 50
Hyperion
  • Released: March 8, 2019
  • Label: Columbia
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 92
[29]		 — — — 10 —

Extended plays
Title Details
Vengeance Factory
  • Released: February 22, 2008
  • Label: OD
Modern Walk
  • Released: June 25, 2009
  • Label: OD
The Operator[30]
  • Released: November 30, 2009
  • Label: ZONE
Variations[31]
  • Released: November 5, 2010
  • Label: Turbo Recordings
Conspiracy Pt. 1[32]
  • Released: April 25, 2011
  • Label: Turbo Recordings
Conspiracy Pt. 2[33]
  • Released: July 18, 2011
  • Label: Turbo Recordings
Crainte / Errance[34]
(with The Hacker)
  • Released: May 9, 2011
  • Label: ZONE
Bromance #4: Rise of Depravity[35]
  • Released: July 9, 2012
  • Label: Bromance
Novo Sonic System[36]
  • Released: October 4, 2019
  • Label: Columbia

Soundtracks
Title Details
Maryland (Disorder): Original Motion Picture Soundtrack[37]
  • Released: September 11, 2015
  • Label: Parlophone, Warner Music France

As lead artist
Title Year Chart positions Certifications Album
FRA
[23]		 AUS
[38]		 BEL
(Fl)
[24]		 CAN
[39]		 DEN
[40]		 GER
[41]		 NLD
[42]		 SWE
[43]		 UK
[44]		 US
[45]
"Pursuit"[46] 2013 96—[upper-alpha 1]——————— Aleph
"Hate or Glory"[48] ——————————
"Conquistador"[12]
(with Jean-Michel Jarre)		 2015 —————————— Electronica 1: The Time Machine
"Reset"[49] 2018 —————————— Hyperion
"Lost in the Fire"
(with The Weeknd)		 2019 782443141749609927
"Blast Off"[54]
(with Pharrell Williams)		 ——————————
Title Year Chart positions Album
FRA
[23]		 AUS
[38]		 CAN
[39]		 DEN
[40]		 GER
[41]		 NLD
[42]		 SWE
[43]		 US
[45]
"In Distress"
(A$AP Rocky featuring Gesaffelstein)		 2014 ———————— Divergent: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
"Hurt You"
(The Weeknd featuring Gesaffelstein)		 2018 10337173285633343 My Dear Melancholy
"I Was Never There"
(The Weeknd featuring Gesaffelstein)		 11240123791674035

Other charted songs
Title Year Chart positions Album
US
Dance
[55]		 FRA
[23]
"Aleph" 2013 - 200 Aleph
"So Bad"
(featuring Haim)		 2019 50 - Hyperion

Other appearances
Title Year Album
"Control Movement"[56] 2011 Bromance #1
"Calling from the Stars"
(with Miss Kittin)		 2013 Calling from the Stars

Songwriting, production and technical credits
Title Year Artist(s) Album Occupation(s)
"Black Skinhead" 2013 Kanye West Yeezus Additional producer
"Send It Up" Songwriter, co-producer
"The New International Sound"[57] 2014 GENER8ION Homieland, Vol. 1 Mixer
"Euphoria"[58]
(featuring Remy Banks)		 2016 Boys Noize Mayday Composer, writer
"Fior di Latte" 2017 Phoenix Ti Amo Assistance

Remixes
Track Year Artist(s) Title
"So Glad" 2009 I Am the Cosmos Gesaffelstein Remix
"Lump" F+S
"Les Enfants" 2010 Cassius
"Body of Eyes" Sei A Gesaffelstein Violation Remix
"Heliochrome" Chateau Marmont Gesaffelstein Remix
"New Disco Beat" David Carretta
"What's the Point" Ali Renault
"All You Need" 2011 Miss Kittin
"ZZafrika" ZZT
"The Day" Moby
"All You Need Is Techno" Arnaud Rebotini
"Speechless"
(featuring Carl Craig & La Scalars)		 Agoria
"Big Bad Wolf" Duck Sauce
"Hilinner" Crackboy
"Blue Jeans" 2012 Lana Del Rey
"Lemonade" Boys Noize & Erol Alkan
"Shockwave" The Hacker
"Cover Your Eyes"
(featuring Wave Machines)		 The Shoes
"Rocket Number 9" Zombie Zombie
"The Black Brad Pitt"
(featuring Danny Brown)		 Evil Nine
"Aftermaths" VCMG
"Helix" 2013 Justice Gesaffelstein Vision Remix
"Jacques in the Box" Laurent Garnier Brodinski & Gesaffelstein Dirty Sprite Remix
"Goodbye" Depeche Mode Gesaffelstein Remix
"Bankrupt!" 2014 Phoenix
"Hate or Glory" Gesaffelstein
"A Palé"[59] 2020 Rosalía

Notes
  1. "Pursuit" did not enter the Ultratop 50 chart, but peaked at number 83 on the Ultratip chart.[47]

References
  1. "Birthdays: June 13". Houston Chronicle. June 13, 2018. DJ/producer Gesaffelstein is 31
  2. "Celebrity birthdays for June 13, 2017". The Mercury News. June 13, 2017. DJ/producer Gesaffelstein is 30
  3. Battan, Carrie (March 25, 2019). "Gesaffelstein's Dance Music Punctures the Coachella Bubble". Mike Lévy, a thirty-one-year-old Frenchman who records as Gesaffelstein
  4. Makarechi, Kia (December 5, 2013). "Gesaffelstein Produces For Kanye, Embarks On Live Tour And Keeps A Few Secrets". Huffington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  5. "Main Square Festival 2014 : Gesaffelstein, qui es-tu ?". France 3. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  6. Géraldine Sarratia. "Gesaffelstein, nouveau prince de la techno française". Les Inrocks..
  7. "Zone : le noir label de The Hacker et Gesaffelstein fête ses 10 ans - Tsugi". Tsugi. March 26, 2019.
  8. "French new wave! Brodinski & Gesaffelstein bring the Bromance to SW4". DJ Mag. July 2012..
  9. "Musique de la pub Citroën DS4 – Just Mat". reclame.fr..
  10. Caramanica, Jon (December 5, 2013). "Gesaffelstein, a.k.a. Mike Levy, at Webster Hall". The New York Times.
  11. "Gesaffelstein's Debut Album 'Aleph' - Out Now!". EDM Sauce. January 17, 2019.
  12. "Gesaffelstein & Jean-Michel Jarre Collaborate For 'Conquistador'". Harder Blogger Faster. April 20, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  13. Meadow, Matthew (March 29, 2018). "BREAKING: The Weeknd Calls On Skrillex, Daft Punk, Gesaffelstein & More For New EP [MUST LISTEN]". Your EDM. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  14. Gesaffelstein Returns, Signs to Columbia Pitchfork
  15. "The Weeknd's Got Everyone Excited Teasing New Music 'Lost In The Fire'". Capital. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  16. "Gesaffelstein & Pharrell Williams Go Pop In The Shadows On 'Blast Off': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  17. "Gesaffelstein's 'Hyperion' Is a Moody Mix Of Pop, Goth & Cinematic Scores: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  18. Larry Fitzmaurice (March 12, 2019). "Gesaffelstein – Hyperion". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  19. "Gesaffelstein surprises fans with new EP, 'NOVO SONIC SYSTEM'". Dancing Astronaut. October 3, 2019.
  20. Bridget Mills-Powell. "Brodinski: the family guy". Mixmag. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2019..
  21. Buerger, Megan (August 31, 2012). "Gesaffelstein album review: 'Rise of Depravity'". pp. WW.6..
  22. Skrillex (May 31, 2012). "Who Should Be Big". p. 24. Missing or empty |url= (help).
  23. "lescharts.com - Discographie Gesaffelstein". lescharts.com.
  24. "Discografie Gesaffelstein". Ultratop. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  25. "Discographie Gesaffelstein". Ultratop. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  26. "Discographie Gesaffelstein". hitparade.ch. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  27. "Gesaffelstein Chart History: Dance/Electronic Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  28. "Gesaffelstein Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  29. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes – SNEP (Week 11, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  30. "Zone 1: The Operator - Single by Gesaffelstein on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  31. "Turbo 093 - Variations par Gesaffelstein sur Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  32. "Turbo 099 - Conspiracy Pt.1 - Single par Gesaffelstein sur Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  33. "Conspiracy, Pt. 2 - Single by Gesaffelstein on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  34. "Zone 4: Crainte / Errance - Single by Gesaffelstein & The Hacker on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  35. "Bromance #4: Rise of Depravity - Single by Gesaffelstein on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  36. "Novo Sonic System - EP by Gesaffelstein on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  37. "Maryland (Disorder) [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] - Album by Gesaffelstein on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  38. "Discography Gesaffelstein". australian-charts.com. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  39. "Gesaffelstein Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  40. "Discography Gesaffelstein". danishcharts.dk. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  41. "Diskografie Gesaffelstein". offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  42. "Discografie Gesaffelstein". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  43. "Discography Gesaffelstein". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  44. "Gesaffelstein ft Weeknd | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  45. "Gesaffelstein Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  46. "Pursuit - Single by Gesaffelstein on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  47. "Gesaffelstein – Pursuit". Ultratop. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  48. "Hate or Glory (Radio Edit) - Single par Gesaffelstein sur Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  49. "Reset - Single by Gesaffelstein on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  50. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  51. "BRIT Certified - bpi" (To access, enter the search parameter "Gesaffelstein"). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  52. "Gold/Platinum - Gesaffelstein". Music Canada. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  53. "Gold/Platinum: Gesaffelstein - RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  54. "Blast Off - Single by Gesaffelstein & Pharrell Williams on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  55. "Gesaffelstein Chart History: Dance/Electronic Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  56. "Bromance #1 - Single - Single by Gesaffelstein & Brodinski on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  57. "Album Bromance Presents Homieland vol.1, Various Artists - Qobuz: download and streaming in high quality". Qobuz. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  58. "Album Mayday, Boys Noize - Qobuz: download and streaming in high quality". Qobuz. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  59. "A Palé (Gesaffelstein Remix) - Single by Gesaffelstein & ROSALÍA on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
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