The Untold Story of JEREMY KOLOSINE (Futurisk)

Episode Overview

• Jeremy Kolosine, founder of the pioneering Florida synth-punk band Futurisk, shares his journey from a David Bowie-obsessed teen to an influential figure in electronic music.
• The episode covers the DIY origins and chaotic, conceptual performances of Futurisk, a band that was often ahead of its time in the South Florida rock scene.
• Kolosine recounts humorous and bizarre stories from his career, including playing in a biker bar and a freezer, and a memorable performance with a symphony orchestra involving a circuit-bent Furby.
• The conversation explores his major influences, such as Suicide and Devo, and highlights his later work with projects like 8-Bit Operators, which earned him validation from his musical heroes.

Key Concepts

• Early Musical Awakening: A defining moment in Kolosine's youth was seeing David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust tour, which he describes as a point of "arrested development" that set his entire artistic path in motion.
• Synth Punk Pioneers: Futurisk was one of the first bands in South Florida to embrace a heavily electronic sound, using synthesizers and drum machines, which distinguished them from the prevailing rock scene.
• DIY and Conceptual Art Ethos: From using a record store's shrink-wrap machine to package his own records to performing early solo shows by letting his machines play while he sat in the audience, Kolosine's career was defined by a resourceful, do-it-yourself spirit.
• The Chaos of Experimental Performance: Kolosine's stories highlight the unpredictable and often humorous nature of live experimental music, from disastrous gigs that led to success to rogue circuit-bent toys interrupting a symphony orchestra.
• Artistic Validation: A recurring theme is Kolosine receiving approval and recognition from his idols, including members of Kraftwerk and Martin Gore of Depeche Mode, for his tribute albums, validating his experimental interpretations of their work.
• Circuit Bending: Kolosine discusses his use of circuit bending—modifying electronic toys like the Furby and Speak & Spell—to create new and unpredictable sounds for his 8-Bit Operators project.

Quotes

• At 4:27 - "I was like arrested development from then on." - Kolosine describes the lasting impact of seeing David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust tour at age 12, a formative experience that set him on his musical path.
• At 8:36 - "I would set it up and... sit in the audience." - Kolosine explains the conceptual nature of his first solo show as Futurisk, where he let the machines perform on their own while he watched from the crowd.
• At 24:24 - "...I just basically fired them one day when I was on purple microdot, to be honest." - Kolosine gives a candid reason for the dissolution of the band's first lineup.
• At 55:24 - "In the middle of the next piece, the 'Waltz of the Flowers' by Tchaikovsky... your damn Furby will yell out, 'Don't leave me!'" - Recalling the moment his forgotten circuit-bent Furby came to life during a quiet classical performance.
• At 66:41 - "I approve all these songs as covers." - Quoting an email from Martin Gore of Depeche Mode, who personally stepped in to resolve a publishing issue and give his blessing to the 8-Bit Operators' tribute album.

Takeaways

• True innovation often arises from a DIY ethos and working within limitations, proving that creativity is not dependent on large budgets or traditional resources.
• The most memorable and impactful moments in a creative career often come from embracing chaos, experimentation, and performances that don't go according to plan.
• The long-term impact of pioneering work can lead to validation from unexpected sources, even decades later from the very artists who inspired you.