The Rhythmist

Derek (aka The Rhythmist, Number 8 ) has been making electronic music since 1987. His deep and shuffled grooves layered with abstract textures and funky, disjointed melodies have a futuristic quality that gets your body moving. Inspired by groups like Art Of Noise, Kraftwerk, and Mantronix he started an all-synth band in high school with some friends. The band broke up shortly after graduating, so he started working on music solo. His first release on a label was in 1994 on Flask (once a subdivision of the now defunkt Silent Records) under the alias ‘Number 8... He teamed up with local veteran Mattski and Solid Trax label manager Lucas Rodenbush to launch the Trax Cafe project in 1997. Their EP helped Derek to land apperances on two compilations and to get his own EP on Resource Records in 2000. He has also done releases for the Audio Abuse and Medasu labels.Derek launched the DoBox Recordings netlabel in 2003, and also is currently working with his partner Mattski in relaunching Trax Cafe as a digital record label.