Carl Craig

Carl Craig is a Detroit techno trailblazer, producing and performing since the late 80s, during the genre’s second wave. Through his sonic innovations, entrepreneurship, and being a central figure in Detroit techno, Craig is dubbed as one of the most influential artists of that time, and still to this day.

Craig’s dense discography spans many genres and influences, adding elements from soul, jazz, new wave, industrial, and Krautrock to his techno sound. His catalog is techno-focused but also contains ambient, breakbeat, house, modular synthesizer-based stylings, and IDM. Craig’s music can mainly be found under his own name as well as his aliases— Psyche, BFC, 69, Paperclip People, and Innerzone Orchestra.

In 1995, Craig released his first studio album, Landcruising, on Blanco y Negro Records. Following this project, he released more music under his real name as well as different monikers. 1997’s More Songs About Food and Revolutionary Art is one of his most notable projects, featuring in Pitchfork’s list of "50 Best IDM Albums of All Time” at #29.

Beyond his original work and place in the local scene, the Detroit artist is known for his remixes. He has put his own twist on tracks by Maurizio, Theo Parrish, Tori Amos, Depeche Mode, and more. His remix of “Like a Child” by Junior Boys awarded him his first Grammy nomination in 2008. Further, he’s collaborated on records with Green Velvet (Unity in 2015) and Moritz von Oswald (Recomposed in 2008).

Craig’s most notable accomplishment outside of his creative work is his record label called Planet E Communications, which opened in 1991. Through Planet E, Craig releases music through his different monikers as well as being a home for artists like Moodymann, Kenny Larkin, Recloose, Glimpse, and Kevin Saunderson. To showcase other genres outside of electronic, such as afro blues and space jazz, Craig developed the Planet E subsidiary Community Projects.

Previously seen at events like Desert Hearts, BPM Festival, and Kappa FuturFestival, and still performing to this day, Craig will soon be found at festivals such as Field Day, ARC, and Slumberland.