20 000 Leagues Deep

Theo Parrish (Sound Signature - Detroit, USA) is the purveyor of a lo-fi, slowed-down, twisted house sound - bridging the gap between crackling techno and the Detroit soul of his equally reclusive partner in production, Moodymann.

Theo Parrish produces a unique musical signature and delivers outrageous sets in venues throughout the greater Detroit area and alongside exclusive club residencies in London & Japan. Sound Travelsý he's gained the attention and respect of DJs, producers, listeners and dancers worldwide, with Sound Signature music being charted by the most worthy and intredid of explorers in the deepest and blackest of clubs in the most far flung corners of the globe.

Theo Parrish was born in Washington D.C. in 1972 and raised in Chicago, IL. He began spinning and producing tracks in 1986, at the age of thirteen. After shifting to Kansas and studying at the Academy for the Arts he received a scholarship to attend KCAI where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree majoring in Sound Sculpture, a form of orchestration using live instruments, looped recordings, the human voice, and numerous other sound generation devices. In 1994, Theo Parrish moved to Michigan where he is an integral part of Detroit's underground music scene.

As a member of Three Chairs alongside Rick Wilhite and Moodymann, Theo Parrish represents a new style of Detroit production. Slower and more experimental than its Chicago counterpart, it's a sound that looks mainly to a rich African-American musical heritage for inspiration. Theo Parrish juxtaposes elements of soul, jazz, disco, funk and techno with simple but hypnotic rhythm with a deep philosophy.

"Love of the music should be the driving force of any producer, performer or DJ. Everything else stems from that core, that love. With that love, sampling can become a method of tasteful assembly, collage, as opposed to a creative crutch, plagiarism. Using this same understanding openly & respectfully can turn DJing into spiritual participation. It can turn a few hours of selection into essential history, necessary listening through movement."

Matterhorn is proud to bring Theo Parrish to Aotearoa for one exclusive show only. Wellington's old school café has a seminal association with the development of NZ's growing music culture, proudly promoting now-legendary events such as 'Shopping' (1998), 'New Jazz Transplant' (2000), 'Fat Freddy's Drop Live At The Matterhorn' (2001) & The Annual MPC Heavyweight Championship of The World. Beyond the café, Matterhorn's philosophy is to now out-source and promote innovative local & international club events once or twice a year.

By reputation, Theo Parrish is a private man; selective, elusive, inventive...the Nemo of our Times. On 13th March, this chapter in the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen will plunge the dancefloor 20, 000 Leagues Deep. Join us for Theo Parrish's first exploration of our South Pacific shores that will become the stuff of legend and folklore. If you missed Weatherall in early '93, Peterson in '94, Heckmann in '95, Angel, Carter & Hawtin in '96 or Carl Craig in '98, do not be left ashore by Theo Parrish in 2004 for this amazing unfolding of the mythology.