Electronic music pioneer and DJ Richie Hawtin takes centre stage

Fri, 17 Jul 2015 08:00:00 BST

Regarded as “one of the intellectuals of electronic dance music world’s”, Richie Hawtin now enjoys a growing collaboration with the University 

WHEN superstar DJ and electronic music pioneer Richie Hawtin began his career in the early 1990s, there was no faculty that offered the opportunity to study music technology.  Now it has become a key subject at institutions such as the University of Huddersfield, which has just conferred an honorary doctorate on the British-born Richie, who has earned global fame as disc jockey, musician, event promoter and record company owner. 

After receiving his award from the University’s retiring Chancellor, Sir Patrick Stewart – during one of 31 ceremonies taking place during graduation week – Mr Hawtin congratulated an audience that included large numbers of music technology and popular music graduates on their achievements and he wished them well in their careers, telling them “grab the opportunities that came their way”. 

“Technology changes every day,” he said, “and that’s why I love it, and why, 25 years on I feel more alive than ever.” 

‌Richie Hawtin received the award of Honorary Doctorate of the University for ‘outstanding services to the world of music technology’.  Before the honorary doctorate was conferred, Richie Hawtin received an oration from University of Huddersfield’s Reader in Music, Dr Rupert Till, who is Director of the Popular Music Studies Research Group. 

Dr Till outlined Mr Hawtin’s career as a pioneer of electronic dance music.  As a child he had emigrated with his family to Ontario, and he later became immersed in the Detroit techno music scene.  “His career has developed into that of the archetypal superstar DJ,” said Dr Till. 

Mr Hawtin – who began to issue records as Plastikman in the early 1990s – was a mover and shaker in the music industry, continued Dr Till, and had also been an influential software developer.  He is now based for a large part of the year in Berlin and has been described by the New York Times as “one of the electronic dance music world’s intellectuals”. 

He developed a link with the University when then PhD student Dr Nick Bougaieff first studied Richie Hawtin’s music, then worked with him to develop software tools for his globe-hopping musical performances.  Following this close co-operation, Mr Hawtin’s work featured heavily in the published PhD and http://nicolasbougaieff.com/thesis.

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