Shadow People, a music studio based out of Denver, Colorado, produces “Drag-Hop … a combination of hip-hop, funk and classical music," says Marshall Houle, the driving force behind the music.
Like many musicians, Houle fell in love with music as a kid, learning from sheet music on classic instruments such as piano and guitar. At 14 he took this passion a step further, making frequent trips to local pawn shops in Alaska, where he grew up, and picking up any instrument he could get a note out of: trumpet, violin, cello, clarinet, harmonica, and even the accordion.
The result of all this musical experimentation was Houle’s discovery of his favorite instrument, which perhaps not by chance is also one of the most versatile: vinyl records. “Vinyl records are something that have only been around for less than 150 years. Compared to other instruments that isn’t very long at all and I really don’t think turntablism has reached anywhere near its full potential. I use my turntables as an instrument by bending sounds and tones with mixing in a hip hop style”—a sound achieved from a grand total of 5 turntables.
The result of all this musical experimentation was Houle’s discovery of his favorite instrument, which perhaps not by chance is also one of the most versatile: vinyl records. “Vinyl records are something that have only been around for less than 150 years. Compared to other instruments that isn’t very long at all and I really don’t think turntablism has reached anywhere near its full potential. I use my turntables as an instrument by bending sounds and tones with mixing in a hip hop style”—a sound achieved from a grand total of 5 turntables.
