Junkie XL

Wiki Bio Official Biography

JUNKIE XL : RADIO JXL

A Broadcast From The Computer Hell Cabin

Remixer of Elvis Presley's worldwide smash, A Little Less Conversation

World-renowned underground artist and co-producer on Sasha's Airdrawndagger

Movie soundtracks including Blade, Driven and Resident Evil

Music for Nike TV commercials and best-selling video games

Producer for bands including Sepultura, Fear Factory and Dog Eat Dog

You are locked onto Radio JXL. Don't touch that dial…

For Junkie XL read Xpander of Limits. A master alchemist, electronic daredevil and breaker of sound barriers, Junkie XL is the rogue scientist who electrified 'The King' and made him quiver lip and gyrate hip beyond the grave. He's a shapeshifter a hybrid-engineer able to meld the visceral throb of house with the stadia-razing rumble of rock, blowing open the space within the grooves and creating new dimensions in sound.

Best known for his remix of Elvis' A Little Less Conversation which shot to number one in 24 countries, Tom Holkenburg's career spans much further. Born in The Netherlands in 1967, Tom learnt piano, drums and bass at an early age before getting switched-on to synths and joining the Dutch New Wave group, Weekend At Waikiki, as multi-instrumentalist and producer, going on to form industrial rock band Nerve with vocalist Phil Mills, yielding two LPs before splitting in 1995. Meanwhile, Tom had began fervent work as a freelance producer, earning credits for bands including Sepultura, Fear Factory and Dog Eat Dog as well as major video games, movies and TV commercials.

But his obsessive work ethic drove him to drink and dangerously poor health, and he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition aged 27. Once recovered, Junkie XL was born and 1997 saw the release of the album, Saturday Night Teenage Kick. "I called myself Junkie XL from the point of view that once you're completely overworked you never want to go there again," he explains. "The 'XL' stands for '(E)xpanding Limits' broadening up your vision." Tom shot to stateside fame with his rock-slanted breakbeat angst on tracks such as Billy Club, joining The Prodigy on tour in Germany with a full band. Second album Big Sounds of the Drags expanded into psychedelia, while the huge club track, Future In Computer Hell, made a fan of British DJ, Sasha, which resulting in Tom's collaboration on his Airdrawndagger album. A previous working relationship with Nike then saw Tom produce the music to their soccer World Cup ad – a remix of a certain deceased singer – that changed his world forever. Now it's time for Junkie XL to reinvent himself once more.

Radio JXL: A Broadcast From the Computerhell Cabin is the staggering new album from Junkie XL. But that's not all. A concept born of the digital age, it also witnesses Tom's radical interweaving of audio and cyberspace, simultaneously creating a double album and a virtual radio station broadcasting from www.radiojxl.com, Tom's brand new, fully interactive website. Not only is this where Tom's musical vision takes full shape but also where a vital interface takes place between Junkie XL, a cast of illustrious collaborators and you, the user. The first transmission is this: Junkie XL's outstanding third solo long-player, a double CD representing two typical transmissions from the not-so-typical Radio JXL. It's an electrified sonic soup with ingredients gathered from the corners of the Earth and fused together in Tom's Amsterdam HQ – known, for obvious reasons, as the 'Computerhell Cabin'.

Entitled 3pm, the first CD simulates Junkie XL's ultimate daytime radio experience. From the frequency-mashing intro sequence through to its closing digital breakdown, Tom has invited some of his greatest musical heroes to join him on airwaves, including Public Enemy's Chuck D, synth-pop giant Gary Numan, ex-Special, Terry Hall, Depeche Mode's iconic front-man Dave Gahan, The Cure's Robert Smith, soul legend Solomon Burke, Republica's Saffron, Grant Nicholas of Feeder, Dutch superstar Anouk, Aussie electronicists Infusion and the late, great reggae icon Peter Tosh. A multi-instrumentalist as well as a studio wizard, Tom has also played all the instruments himself, including guitar, piano and live drums.

The second CD, 3am, looks to Junkie XL's nocturnal persona a slow-building odyssey that demonstrates the production capabilities that have propelled Tom to the forefront of the electronic dance scene. From the liquid cool ambience of Chilled and the spatial, digitised dub of Dubzilla, the journey moves through Casio's stripped-down beats before picking up pace with the 12" mix of Angels and the anthemic, guitar-led Breezer, Tom's collaboration with the world's most sought-after DJ, Sasha. The floor-rocking Nudge drives into progressive dance territory whilst Red mounts an acid-powered assault on the senses before the 12" mix of Beauty Never Fades introduces Saffron's unmistakable vocals. Cosmic Cure brings an acoustically-tinged, melancholy edge before the CD closes with the grand, beatless strains of Rehsurc.

Introducing the guests…

SAFFRON Crusher, Spirits, Beauty Never Fades

A spiky presence on the Britpop scene as Republica's scarlet-fringed lead singer, Saffron's unmistakable voice retains a barely restrained punk attitude. With three self-penned contributions, she's also the most conspicuous vocal presence on Radio JXL. Incendiary opener, Crusher, sees the fiery rock vixen ready to go over a bombardment of electrified breakbeats, Spirits ruffs things up a bit in hooligan reggae mode, whilst the club hit, Beauty Never Fades, features her dark incantations in a subtle balance of darkness, drama and grace.

PETER TOSH Don't Wake Up Policeman

Though tragically murdered in 1987, Peter Tosh remains one of the most powerful voices in reggae history. Sleepy Policeman originated from an (incredibly) unreleased session with Sly & Robbie and The Wailers' backing singers which may never have seen the light of day were it not for Junkie XL's intervention. "A friend of mine did a recording in the seventies in Jamaica," explains Tom. "He said, 'You might have a look in my studio, I still have like six multi-track tapes with Peter Tosh, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. I thought, 'You must be kidding'… I really wanted to create this really summery, groovy track and in the end it turned out so naturally. It almost seems like he actually sung on that track."

GARY NUMAN Angels

Electro-pop innovator reinvented as rock god, Gary Numan is an undisputed legend with a fanatical following that includes Junkie XL himself. "Buying Are Friends Electric in '78 changed my life," gushes Tom. "Working with him and having him in the studio with such an overwhelming experience. I mean it's like, 'Fuck, Gary Numan!'" Angels, Numan admitted, was his finest vocal performance in years. His unmistakable tones couple wonderfully with a throbbing electronic undertow, gothic atmospherics and dark, shrouded melodies.

DAVE GAHAN Reload

The frontman of synth pioneers and stadium rock conquerors, Depeche Mode, Dave Gahan is another of Tom's heroes to collaborate on what he admits has become "a wish-list come true". Reload was initially intended for the soundtrack to the Matrix sequel, Matrix Reloaded, but by a twist of fate found its way onto Tom's own album. "It's a track that Dave normally wouldn't sing on and I think that's the beauty of it," he says. "It's a very funky track with a really funky guitar line and in the chorus it really explodes. His voice gives it kind of dark atmosphere and at the same time it's uplifting as well… Depeche Mode were so important for my perception of what electronic music could be in pop music."

ROBERT SMITH Perfect Blue Sky

Known to millions as the wild-haired, lipstick-smeared lead singer of The Cure, Robert Smith's exquisite vocals match Tom's sublime New Wave-style production to perfection on one of the album's most beautiful tracks. Tom explains: "It's an electro track and it has a really moody vibe to it. It was so funny, I played it to ten different people and they were all like, 'Jesus, you should have Robert Smith to sing on this', and well, this track was intended for Robert. It feels like such a pretty love-song – that's how it turned out, in a Robert Smith way. His voice is so incredible – as soon as he starts singing there's no way you could mix his voice up with anyone else. It's like, 'Jesus, Robert Smith is doing a vocal on this track!'"

CHUCK D Access To The Excess

A hip-hop pioneer and political firebrand described by Spike Lee as "One of the most politically and socially conscious artists of any generation", Chuck D is nothing if not inspirational. Access To The Excess finds the Public Enemy frontman continuing to bring the noise and telling the world what time it is. Chuck delivers a tough critique of contemporary hip-hop's cultural vacancy – an insistent call to action over digitised, dub-heavy beats from the Computerhell laboratory.

SOLOMON BURKE Catch Up To My Step

"One of the four or five people in America that actually invented soul music," according to Tom, living legend Solomon Burke is the self-proclaimed 'King of Rock 'n' Soul', a man mountain and an evergreen r&b colossus who continues to throw down the gauntlet to all pretenders. Catch Up To My Step is a track bubbling over with full-blooded blues licks and hard-rocking beats combining with Burke's larger-than-life vocal presence, proving why he's still a formidable force to be reckoned with.

TERRY HALL Never Alone

The original 2 Tone hero returns to his ska roots for the first time since his all-conquering heyday with The Specials. Never Alone is a skanking roller-coaster of a tune destined for dancefloor rudeness and bearing close relation to one of Terry's finest moments. "With Terry, I thought it would be a great mix to do something with dance music but also have that ska vibe," says Tom. "The first time he listened to the track he really had to prevent himself singing (The Specials') Gangsters. Then he came to Amsterdam and started singing and was like, 'Damn I did it again!'"

INFUSION Nightmares, Aqua Man

Australian dance sensation, Infusion, contribute two tracks to the Radio JXL playlist. The Sydney-based trio of Manuel Sharrad, Frank Xavier and Jamie Stevens shot to international acclaim with their debut album Phrases and Numbers. It was after Junkie XL's stunning remix of the group's Legacy single that they embarked on this further collaboration. Nightmares is a thrilling electronic joyride, an expert meld of energy-driven dance dynamics and melodic sensibility. Aqua Man moves into more plaintive waters, fusing downtempo and acoustic elements around daydreamy superhero fantasies.

ANOUK Between These Walls

Dutch singer Anouk is renowned for her uncompromising approach to both her music and image. She is the Netherlands' foremost rock personality, a singer of heartfelt honesty and guts. On Between These Walls, her powerful cadences tighten their emotional grip around a sparse, downtempo track. It's emotive pop with an imploring message.

PHIL MILLS Logos

For Logos, Tom hooked up with his former partner in the influential Dutch industrial band, Nerve. English-born Phil Mills brings his considerable talents to one of the album's tenderest moments, his vocodered vocal tripping gently over a heavy, dubwise bassline and rich, melancholic chords.

SHELLEY HARLAND Rivers

English-born, New York-based vocalist Shelley Harland has a proven reputation within the dance music scene, with guest vocals on huge club tracks for the likes of Joshua Ryan and Pole Folder as well as her own forthcoming album. She's also an artist of emotional sensitivity and depth, as she displays here on Rivers, a beautiful, near-beatless mix of glacial ambience and stirring, ethereal vocals.

GRANT NICHOLAS Broken

Lead singer with world-conquering rock band, Feeder, Grant Nicholas has a fine pedigree for inspiring, emotive song writing. With the 3pm CD's closing track, Broken, Grant displays himself in a different, more thoughtful light to the stadium-scale rock of his band, delivering a tender vocal over another melodic, heart-rending track with a strong emotional undertow.

SASHA Breezer

One of the most sought-after DJs in the world over the last decade, the man also know as Alexander Coe finally released his long-awaited debut artist album, Airdrawndagger, in 2002 to widespread acclaim. It was not without a little help from Junkie XL, whom Sasha had struck up a relationship with after picking up on Tom's Future In Computer Hell single in the late nineties. Breezer is a sure-fire crowd-pleaser with peak upon peak of sun-showering bliss.

But this is just the beginning. There will also be a third, 'hidden' transmission located on the website, especially for those twenty-four hour people who just don't want to go to bed. And Radio JXL is also going live, with broadcasts on location from some of the world's largest festivals.

Radio JXL is ready to go on air. What are you waiting for? Get locked on…