Starkey – real name Paul Geissinger – PJ to friends – has carved out a unique space in electronic music exploring the unnamed airspace between grime and dubstep. Despite them being predominately British pursuits and the Philadelphian producers intricately crafted, sci-fi ‘street bass’ has earned respect from both camps.
Starkey released his debut album 2008′s ‘Ephemeral Exhibits’ and his sophomore, 2010′s ‘Ear Drums and Black Holes’, on the Planet Mu Label. He subsequently released the ‘Space Traitor’ series (Vol.1 & Vol.2) on Civil Music and his genre spanning ‘Open the Pod Bay Doors EP’ on Ninja Tune before returning to Civil Music with his third long-player ‘Orbits’.
Starkey’s music brims with big synths and bigger drums. Hard-edged hip-hop and scything bass mix with almost classical compositions and elements, but it’s Grime music that remains at the forefront of his sound.
His break through was perhaps his inclusion is Mary Anne Hobb’s legendary BBC Maida Vale special ‘Generation Bass’. He has since worked on production for Tinie Tempah and Foreign Beggars, collaborated with Pop princess Charli XCX on single ‘Lost in Space’. P Money, Badness, Durrty Goodz, (One time Roll Deep member) Trim, Kozzie and Merky Ace have all manned the mics for Starkey on releases for No Hats No Hoods & Keysound amongst others.
Away from his Starkey moniker, Paul Geissinger is also MOVES!!!, he lectures at Temple University in Philadelphia and runs the Slit Jockey & Seculsiasis labels.
