Tycho (musician)

Tycho
Hansen performing in 2012
Hansen performing in 2012
Background information
Birth nameScott Hansen
Also known asISO50
Born (1977-02-07) February 7, 1977 (age 47)
OriginSacramento, California,
United States
Genres
Years active2002–present
Labels
Websitetychomusic.com

Scott Hansen (born February 7, 1977), known professionally as Tycho (/ˈtaɪkoʊ/ TY-koh), is an American musician, record producer, composer, and songwriter based in San Francisco. He is also known as ISO50 for his photographic and design work.[4][5] His music blends multiple stylistic components, including downtempo guitar, analogue synthesis, and ambient elements such as breathing and found sounds of weather broadcasts and dialogue.

History

Tycho's first EP, titled The Science of Patterns, was released in 2002. The first Tycho album, Past Is Prologue, was released in 2006. At this time Tycho was a solo project created by Hansen.[6]

Tycho signed to Mom+Pop[7] and Ninja Tune[8] in 2019 but has also released music on Ghostly International, Merck Records and Gammaphone Records.[when?] The fourth studio album, Epoch, received a nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album in the 2017 Grammy Awards.[9]

Tycho received a second Grammy nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album for his fifth studio album, Weather, in the 2020 Grammy Awards.[10] In February 2020, Tycho released Simulcast, an instrumental version of Weather he previously promised fans.[11][12]

Name Origin

The name Tycho is inspired by the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe.[13]

Sound

Hansen's music project Tycho is influenced by and has been compared to artists such as DJ Shadow, Ulrich Schnauss and Boards of Canada.[14] His music captures the sound of lo-fi analog media while remaining both progressive and futuristic in composition and style. Themes of nostalgia, longing, childhood and the natural world are interspersed throughout Tycho's work. Brief interludes or vignettes also feature in his earlier work. In Past Is Prologue, Hansen includes excerpts from broadcasts accompanied by atmospherics to capture a specific moment or mood. His music is characterized by a mixture of electronic synths, live instrumentation, and vintage sound clips.

Until the release of the album Dive, Hansen worked as a solo artist and used the digital audio workstation, Cakewalk Sonar, to work with analog, virtual analog hardware, digital hardware and VSTI synthesizers, as well as samples derived from live instrumentation, played by Hansen himself. While creating the album, he switched over to REAPER, a more dynamic program which he credits with allowing him to finish Dive. The album tour had a live band for the first time, hybridizing the electronic music experience with the dynamic energy of a performance featuring live instrumentation. After touring, Hansen decided to permanently open up the solo project, and work both on tour and in the studio alongside two other band members, Zac Brown on bass guitar and guitar and Rory O'Connor on drums. When performing, all the guitars are live, played either by Hansen or Brown. Bass guitar is also always live, with the exception of the song "Hours". Drums are played live by O'Connor, and lead synthesizers are also live. Hansen often plays guitar while triggering samples with his foot. His goal is to find the balance between the fluid nature of a live show with artists playing physical instruments and the precision and ability to stay true to the album of electronic music.[14]

Band members

Tycho performing at the Roadrunner in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2022
  • Scott Hansen – synthesizers, guitar, bass guitar, visuals, programming
  • Zac Brown – bass guitar, guitar
  • Rory O'Connor – drums, percussion
  • Billy Kim (touring member) – bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, visuals
  • Hannah Cottrell – vocals

Past members

  • Joe Davancens (touring member) – bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, programming

Discography

Main article: Tycho discography

Studio albums

References

  1. ^ Mettler, Mike (March 31, 2015). "Interview: Tycho (Scott Hansen) on touring, digital vs. analog". Digital Trends. Retrieved December 29, 2016. Ambient chillwave maestro Tycho always has his head in the clouds — something the man also known as Scott Hansen takes as quite the compliment.
  2. ^ Hathaway, Aaron (March 25, 2015). "Tycho's ethereal chill-wave mesmerizes Majestic". The Badger Herald. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  3. ^ "Photos: Lotus and Tycho at Red Rocks, 09/17/16". The Denver Post. September 19, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2016. Electronic jam band Lotus and chillwave producer Tycho performed at Red Rocks on Saturday, September 17.
  4. ^ "About ISO50 » ISO50 Blog – The Blog of Scott Hansen (Tycho / ISO50)". Blog.iso50.com. 2007-09-11. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  5. ^ "ISO50 Portfolio - The Visual work of Scott Hansen". Iso50.com. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  6. ^ "Tycho | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  7. ^ "Welcome Tycho to the Mom + Pop Music Family!". Mom+Pop. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  8. ^ "Tycho signs to Ninja Tune for vocal-heavy new album, Weather". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  9. ^ "2017 Grammy Awards: Complete list of nominees". Los Angeles Times. 2016-12-06. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  10. ^ "Tycho". GRAMMY.com. 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
  11. ^ "Tycho Simulcast". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  12. ^ "Tycho: Simulcast". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  13. ^ "Tycho: Music By A Visual Imagineer". NPR.com. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Tycho AMA". Reddit.com. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2014.