Biography
Originally from Cincinnati, Bryan Charles Hollon, known professionally as Boom Bip, first built recognition as an American producer focused on underground hip-hop during the early 2000s before expanding into multiple strains of rock and electronic music. Rather than relying on samples or loops, he frequently constructs tracks with live instrumentation, and his full-band performances have appeared at festivals such as Coachella and Glastonbury. He has produced remixes and worked alongside numerous musicians that include Four Tet, Lali Puna, Snow Patrol, and Peter Bjorn and John, yet he earned particular notice for Neon Neon, the partnership he formed with Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys.
After participating in several high-school groups, Hollon took up DJing in 1993 during his college years in Cincinnati. His unconventional turntablist techniques gradually drew attention, leading to the 1998 12-inch The Low End Sequence, an EP of jazzy, abstract hip-hop instrumentals created with DJ Osiris that marked Mush Records’ inaugural release. Two years afterward the same label issued Circle, Boom Bip’s complete-length project with Anticon-affiliated MC Doseone; the record stood out as a boldly experimental effort that pushed hip-hop conventions and slowly developed a devoted audience. Beginning in 2000 Boom Bip started issuing Doo Doo Breaks, a sequence of LPs aimed at DJs, still on Mush, before shifting to Warp’s newly established hip-hop subsidiary Lex, which stayed linked to Warp until 2005, for all later material.
His first proper solo album, Seed to Sun, appeared on Lex in 2002. Primarily composed of melodic, detailed instrumentals, the set nevertheless included guest raps from Buck 65, Dose One, and Nacky Koma. Two EPs, From Left to Right and Morning and a Day, followed, presenting both new material and remixes by Boards of Canada, Venetian Snares, Mogwai, and additional artists; together with recordings from a John Peel radio session these tracks were gathered on the 2004 CD Corymb. Boom Bip’s subsequent solo release, 2005’s Blue Eyed in the Red Room, distanced itself further from his hip-hop origins by relying almost exclusively on live playing and incorporating guest vocals from Nina Nastasia and Gruff Rhys.
After handling production duties for Busdriver’s 2007 album RoadKillOvercoat, Boom Bip issued Sacchrilege, a five-track EP of bright, uptempo electro-tinged dance pieces. He pursued the same approach with Neon Neon, the Gruff Rhys collaboration initiated by their earlier work together on Blue Eyed in the Red Room. The pair put out two singles in 2007 (“Raquel” and “Trick for Treat”) before delivering the full-length Stainless Style, an intriguing set of ’80s-styled electro and new wave loosely drawn from the life of car designer John DeLorean; the album received strong notices and secured a nomination for the 2008 Mercury Music Prize.
Boom Bip resumed solo activity in 2011 with Zig Zaj, a release oriented more toward rock that included contributions from members of Franz Ferdinand, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Empire of the Sun, and additional acts. The next year he joined visual artist Charlie White for Music for Sleeping Children, a wry yet poignant EP assembled from interview samples with adolescent girls. Boom Bip and Gruff Rhys reconvened for Neon Neon’s second album, Praxis Makes Perfect, this time centered on Italian publisher Giangiacomo Feltrinelli; the record surfaced in April 2013 and featured narration by Asia Argento plus vocals from Cate Le Bon and Italian pop star Sabrina Salerno. In April 2014 the limited vinyl-only EP Years of Lead followed, issued for Record Store Day.
After participating in several high-school groups, Hollon took up DJing in 1993 during his college years in Cincinnati. His unconventional turntablist techniques gradually drew attention, leading to the 1998 12-inch The Low End Sequence, an EP of jazzy, abstract hip-hop instrumentals created with DJ Osiris that marked Mush Records’ inaugural release. Two years afterward the same label issued Circle, Boom Bip’s complete-length project with Anticon-affiliated MC Doseone; the record stood out as a boldly experimental effort that pushed hip-hop conventions and slowly developed a devoted audience. Beginning in 2000 Boom Bip started issuing Doo Doo Breaks, a sequence of LPs aimed at DJs, still on Mush, before shifting to Warp’s newly established hip-hop subsidiary Lex, which stayed linked to Warp until 2005, for all later material.
His first proper solo album, Seed to Sun, appeared on Lex in 2002. Primarily composed of melodic, detailed instrumentals, the set nevertheless included guest raps from Buck 65, Dose One, and Nacky Koma. Two EPs, From Left to Right and Morning and a Day, followed, presenting both new material and remixes by Boards of Canada, Venetian Snares, Mogwai, and additional artists; together with recordings from a John Peel radio session these tracks were gathered on the 2004 CD Corymb. Boom Bip’s subsequent solo release, 2005’s Blue Eyed in the Red Room, distanced itself further from his hip-hop origins by relying almost exclusively on live playing and incorporating guest vocals from Nina Nastasia and Gruff Rhys.
After handling production duties for Busdriver’s 2007 album RoadKillOvercoat, Boom Bip issued Sacchrilege, a five-track EP of bright, uptempo electro-tinged dance pieces. He pursued the same approach with Neon Neon, the Gruff Rhys collaboration initiated by their earlier work together on Blue Eyed in the Red Room. The pair put out two singles in 2007 (“Raquel” and “Trick for Treat”) before delivering the full-length Stainless Style, an intriguing set of ’80s-styled electro and new wave loosely drawn from the life of car designer John DeLorean; the album received strong notices and secured a nomination for the 2008 Mercury Music Prize.
Boom Bip resumed solo activity in 2011 with Zig Zaj, a release oriented more toward rock that included contributions from members of Franz Ferdinand, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Empire of the Sun, and additional acts. The next year he joined visual artist Charlie White for Music for Sleeping Children, a wry yet poignant EP assembled from interview samples with adolescent girls. Boom Bip and Gruff Rhys reconvened for Neon Neon’s second album, Praxis Makes Perfect, this time centered on Italian publisher Giangiacomo Feltrinelli; the record surfaced in April 2013 and featured narration by Asia Argento plus vocals from Cate Le Bon and Italian pop star Sabrina Salerno. In April 2014 the limited vinyl-only EP Years of Lead followed, issued for Record Store Day.
Albums
Blue Eyed in the Red Room
2021
Sun Choke
2016
Zig Zaj
2011
Corymb
2004
Morning and a Day
2004
Seed to Sun
2002
Singles
