Jason Forrest is an electronic music producer known for noisy experimental electronica and breakcore. Largely produced and performed on a single computer (including live shows), his songs tend to be constructed from digital samples of found sounds and other artists' music.
Until 2004 he recorded under the name Donna Summer then in 2007 he began to re-use the updated "DJ Donna Summer" for the production an performance of dance music.
Besides being a fan himself, there is no connection between Forrest and the pop music/disco artist, Donna Summer. In a 2003 interview with the CBC Radio program, Brave New Waves, he stated that by being a middle class white male using this name he was "subjecting people to a fake issue of diversity" and forcing them "to consider gender a little bit more."
Some of the more conspicuous samples of other artists to be found in Forrest's work include ones from Laurie Anderson, Joe Jackson, Elton John, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Pat Benatar. This (along with his former stage name) shows his interest in appropriation as an artistic concept. Along with many images featured on the Cock Rock Disco website it also shows his interest in recontextualizing popular culture from past decades.
Forrest grew up in South Carolina, has lived in Atlanta and New York City and currently (Winter, 2010) resides in Berlin. He has a BFA in Photography.
He created the record label Cock Rock Disco to release his own recordings. The label now carries a 20+ artists including Duran Duran Duran and dev/null. Forrest's most recent recordings have come out on the Sonig record label.
In late 2008 Forrest started Nightshifters website, a digital-only label focusing exclusively on new club music from around the world. The label represents 6 artists including his DJ D.S. moniker and releases Ep's approximately every 6-8 weeks.
Forrest is working on 2 new releases, "Raw" (As DJ D.S.) - a 4 track EP on Nightshifters promised for Feb 2009, and an as-yet untitled new full-length LP for the summer of 2010.
Forrest is also the host of "Advanced D&D With Donna Summer" on independent free form radio station WFMU.
From Wikipedia:Jason Forrest is an electronic music producer known for noisy experimental electronica and breakcore incorporating many ideas of mash-up and rock and roll. Largely produced and performed on a single computer (including live shows), his songs tend to be constructed from digital samples of found sounds and other artists' music. Until 2004 he recorded under the name Donna Summer, an allusion to disco singer Donna Summer.
In 2005 RES (magazine)RES magazine named Forrest's "Steppin Off" video, by director Jon Watts, music video of the year. In 2006 Res magazine named Forrest's video "War Photographer", directed by Joel Trussell video of the year, and online magazine Pitchfork Media also named it in their top 5 videos of the year. Both videos have won several awards at various international film and video festivals and have both been widely viewed, downloaded and acclaimed.
Forrest has released on many labels, but primarily on Köln Germany's Sonig record label. He also has releases on Irritant records (UK), Omeko (JP), MeWe le Disque (BE), Mirex (DE), Broklyn Beats (USA), and Hoss (USA).
Some of the more conspicuous samples of other artists to be found in Forrest's work include ones from Laurie Anderson, The Who, Supertramp, Steely Dan, Joe Jackson, Elton John, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Pat Benatar. This (along with his former stage name) shows his interest in appropriation as an artistic concept. Along with many images featured on the Cock Rock Disco web site it also shows his interest in recontextualizing popular culture from past decades.
Forrest grew up in South Carolina, has lived in Atlanta and New York City and now (Winter, 2009) resides in Berlin. He has a BA in Photography. He previously worked as a professional artist as well as an art critic for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution news paper.
Besides being a fan himself, there is no connection between Forrest and the pop music/disco artist, Donna Summer. In a 2003 interview with the CBC Radio program, Brave New Waves, he stated that by being a middle class white male using this name he was "subjecting people to a fake issue of diversity" and forcing them "to consider gender a little bit more."