Robot Bomb Shelter

Robot Bomb Shelter – Staring At Screens - 2010

http://www.robotbombshelter.com/

Jake Brower is not a DJ. That’s not to say DJs are not artists and top-notch entertainers in their own right. In fact, there is an impressive number of world renowned DJs that earn rock star salaries by slapping down and mixing other artist’s music for the masses in sold-out stadiums. Where Jake differs, is that under the name Robot Bomb Shelter, he creates and performs electronic dance anthems that are on the spot and improvised, so no two shows are ever alike.

Staring At Screens is 10-track release by Robot Bomb Shelter that embodies all that is great about modern electronic music. Although simple and instantly danceable, the songs contain a layered complexity that warrants closer inspection, ideally while sitting in a comfortable chair, wearing a good set of headphones and at high volume.

The album’s first track “codatylate” contains distinct elements of Progressive House, a genre made wildly popular by big name producers like Deadmau5, but has a darker Hard Trance essence reminiscent of Green Martian. This interweaving of electronic styles exists throughout the entire album, making it challenging to define not only this album, but Robot Bomb Shelter’s overall style. Listening to “conflex” we are reminded of The Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim, “braindaedalus” contains traces of Dutch electronic producer Speedy J’s 1995 G-Spot release and “aestheticalistic” envelopes Detroittechno king Plastikman’sethereal minimalist approach.

Comparing this CDwith these electronic masters shouldn’t be interpreted as any degree of lack of originality on Robot Bomb Shelter’s part. Quite the contrary. The music is undeniably original, fresh and infectious, and a comparison of the album to these artists is testament to the care and quality of the music Jake creates and the artists he obviously respects. Put this CD on at your next party, stand back, and watch your guests take notice. Guaranteed, they’ll ask who is coming out the speakers and jot down Robot Bomb Shelter’s name. - Dave MacIntyre - The Examiner.com

Robot Bomb Shelter aka Jake Brower visited during Canadian Music Week and wowed the audience with his on-the-spot electro grooves. He’s a name to watch as popularity in the genre continues to grow and we hope to see him for 2012’s CWM.

Visit his website for more info and to sample his amazing dance offerings:

http://www.robotbombshelter.com/ - Dave MacIntyre, examiner.com

"My interview with Jake from Robot Bomb Shelter is by far my favorite conversation with a musician. He was so friendly and open, and had such a great story."

Read the entire article and listen to the audio interview at http://blog.roadtripnation.com/2011/04/26/musician-interview-robot-bomb-shelter/ - Roadtrip Nation

Jake Brower of Robot Bomb Shelter has it going on. An impressive musical resume with decades of smashing work dating back to 4th grade when he was already getting familiar with a variety of instruments. Unless you’ve lived your life under a rock or stuck at home for agoraphobia you’ve most likely danced your ass off to some of Jake’s music, whether you knew it or not. I got Jake to catch me up on what’s happening in his world professionally and personally. Personally I think Jake’s quite the looker, professionally Jake is quite the master. Check out we has has to say!


San Francisco Electro/Techno musician/producer/controllerist (not a DJ) Robot Bomb Shelter (aka Jake Brower) has been producing his brand of electronic dance music for 2 decades.



Q & A:
AB: Brilliant name! How was it birthed?
My partner and I were house sitting for 2 friends that were going to be moving away. They had their house all packed up and they were away looking for an apartment in Florida. I happened to look on a side table among all the boxes and papers and I noticed some random words scribbled on a crumpled up piece of paper. In one corner it said, “Robot,” and another corner said, “Bomb Shelter.” The 3 words literally lifted off the page and struck me in the face. At that instant, I became Robot Bomb Shelter. I had been going by “Fraktal,” but that wasn’t working.

AB: I see you have in bold, several times that you are not a DJ. Define controllerist.

A controllerist is someone who uses hardware controllers to manipulate software. in my case, I use hardware such as the iPad and the Akai APC40 and other tools to create music in real time on the stage. I am not a DJ, but instead a musician/producer like other electronic bands. I just happen to do it as a solo artist. I play my own original music and my shtick is being able to create a set live on the fly.

AB: Your music has been highly successful decades. What keeps you ticking and fresh?

Thanks! Constant learning and being influence by artists all around me. I spent the better part of 10+ years just learning the technology and then 10+ more learning more technology and how my music sets me apart from everyone else. Now, here I am 24 years later and I my sound is uniquely my own. I still learn something new every day and try to incorporate that into what I do to see if it fits…some does and some doesn’t.

AB: A flash back question? Where were you in the early 90's? Can you remember? lol

I had just moved to Seattle in the early 90s and it was the height of both grunge and Detroit Techno. I was in quite a haze myself, but there I was…a new kid in a new city and so much music to be made. Believe it or not, I was also a gogo boy during the early 90s, too. I was exposed to a lot of great music and people during that phase.

AB: Do you think there is some music made to played to an audience on drugs? What’s your take on that?

Of course there is, BUT any music can be that way. The way I feel is that, if someone wants to be high while listening and dancing to great music, so be it. As long as you know your limits and aren’t harming yourself or others. The key is to leave the club when you’ve come down from an amazing experience and not to do it again for a while; don’t make it a regular occurrence.

AB: I read that you use a ton of tools to make such powerful beats. What are some unusual things you have used?

I have so many tools at my disposal that I’ve acquired over the years…some hardware and some software. I use many of the industry standards for music making especially in terms of music software. I use pretty much the entire line of Native Instruments’ software (Massive, Kore, Battery, Absynth, Reaktor) as well as reFX and Spectrasonics. I create music on both Cubase and Ableton.

For unusual things I’ve used…in my early days, I used to record sounds with a pocket recorder and then sample them into my DAW to create unusual drum riffs.

AB: Can you think of anyone song that should never be touched and alway left in its original form?

Hmmm….Anything by The Smiths should never be touched. They represent such a huge part of my growing up and it is a sin when I hear someone remaking a Smiths or Morrissey song. They are classics and should stay so.

AB: Love the name of the song “Dirty Sunshine”. Is there a story behind that title?

I was learning how to create killer dirty bass about 4 years ago and one day in San Francisco (where I’ve lived since 2002), I was taking a walk outside and humming my track, which was still in progress, and I looked up on that beautiful day and the name just struck me. I never name any of my tracks until the album is complete and then I wait to be inspired.

AB: I’m a sucker for song mash-ups. It’s the only way to make me listen to some of todays pop songs when they’re are mashed with something heavy. Are you a fan of mash-ups?

I am not really a big fan of mash-ups. I am with yo - Accidental Bear

Jake Brower, also known as Robot Bomb Shelter, is changing the dance floor experience with his innovative, fresh and extremely infectious brand of techno. What sets Robot Bomb Shelter apart is the fact that he creates the music on the spot. The beats are not pre-recorded, and Jake is not a DJ. The music is unique, improvised and always original. Most importantly, the music is amazing!

Robot Bomb Shelter took time from his busy schedule to answer some questions about his music, influences and upcoming plans.

Read the full article at the link below. - examiner.com

Read the full interview I did for Bearotic online magazine at:

http://www.bearotic.com/2010/04/14/robot-bomb-shelter-electronic-dance-beat/ - Bearotic magazine

Review and Photos by Dave MacIntyre

I never make it part of my normal routine to start off a Canadian Music Fest evening with bass-heavy electronic music and then move on to folky-acoustic sets. Really good techno is infectious and gets trapped in my head, making the appreciation for a banjo playing musician challenging. So what made Wednesday night different then? Jake Brower did.

To the misfortune of patrons who didn’t arrive early, the artist better know as Robot Bomb Shelter, the San Francisco based electro wizard worked his brand of catchy dance tunes to a steadily filling room. What makes RBS’s music so unique is the fact that he creates it on the spot using a laptop and an Akai APC40. Everything coming from the speakers is improvised, original and highly magnetic in its appeal, as those who did take advantage of the roomy dance floor would testify. It was a fantastic set, but as feared, ruined any hopes I had of listening to other bands that night. I headed home with Robot Bomb Shelter’s 10-track CD Staring at Screens booming through my speakers.

http://www.robotbombshelter.com - Dave MacIntyre, Lithium Magazine

a true masterpiece, "SYNTHETIC FAMINE" will kick lazy asses on any dance floor. BooM Namasté - 604-Tokay - ReverbNation

Dirty Sunshine is a fantastic piece of work. Excelent production.

Elaine, ReverbNation - ReverbNation

Incredible sense of when the beats should drop that makes ya' move~ Insane arpeggios never before imagined that sound more robotic then humanoid, with organic bass bringing it back down to earth. - Hiraether, ReverbNation