Howie B

Artist? Producer? Howie B can be attributed to any musical profession – and every time it will be both true and false at the same time: he is a jack of all trades, and the range of his activities is broader than any definitions. In the late 80s, a young man then still known by his real name Howard Bernstein came to London and got a job as a studio runner – of course, not out of great love for trays and aprons, but out of a desire to learn how to press buttons, twist knobs, and transform music. Patience and hard work beat all: by his own admission, Howie B served 300,000 cups of tea in three years of work – and learned all the lessons. After that, the story begins of one of the most important musical people of the 90s – one of those who are always in the shadows but usually manage the process. He constructed the sound of Massive Attack and Tricky; he can certainly be called one of the creators of classic Bristol trip-hop. He produced the U2 "Pop Mart" tour – so much so that he is still remembered as the best show of the band. He has worked with Madonna, Björk, Goldie; recorded with Jamaican veterans like Sly & Robbie and Horace Andy; did remixes for Serge Gainsbourg and several dozen others; wrote solo albums with intricate electronics; in short, everywhere you turn – he's there, he participated in everything, influenced everything, a true hero of the era. DJ, sound designer, label owner, film composer – Howie B can take on any role. By the way, his latest record is called "Music for Astronauts and Cosmonauts" and serves as a soundtrack for a flight around the Earth. An eloquent detail – and it becomes clearer how to better define what Howie does. Music of the spheres, no less.