Rod Modell (a.k.a. Deepchord) is a sound-designer with 25 years involvement in electronic music and over 50 releases under various aliases and styles. Beginning with more “industrial” and “ambient” forms of sonic experimentation (working with Kim Cascone and his -then- record-label Silent, and performing with notable industrial acts such as Chris & Cosey and SPK). While attending Art School for Photography, Rod lived in Detroit’s Eastern-Market area, the location of the infamous “techno boulevard”, and home to Derrick May, Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson during that time. Submersed in the blossoming Detroit Techno scene (early 1990’s), a journey from a more experimental sound into Detroit’s techno-world was inevitable. Modell co-founded the Deepchord record label in Detroit during the mid-90’s. Deepchord respected and admired (fellow Detroiters) Underground Resistance for their D.I.Y. attitude and independence. It was because of this respect and admiration that Deepchord declined offers from top techno labels of the time, in favor of doing it by themselves. Many consider Deepchord to be the second wave of the “Basic Channel sound”, and came years before the onslaught of imitators.

After 16 releases on Deepchord, Rod went onto co-found Echospace. Echospace released two full length albums and five 12″ singles on Modern Love (Boomkat), and a slew of releases on their Echospace imprint. 2007’s “The Coldest Season” and 2010’s “Liumin” are critically acclaimed electronic music classics, and were on top-lists of prestigious resources such as The Wire, xlr8r, and Resident Advisor (who wrote of The Coldest Season: “in terms of sheer quality, it rivals Basic Channel’s vaunted catalog. Put down that ultra-rare Basic Reshape 12” and check out what’s going on now. This album is bound to be one of the most fully realized listening experiences to grace your stereo this year, and is proof positive that DeepChord and Echospace are the rightful heirs to the dub techno legacy”). Rod also operated an audio-mastering facility in the Detroit area from 1995-2005, employing his services to many electronic record labels, including Richie Hawtin’s M-NUS imprint.

Rod’s recent projects include a collaboration with K Soublis (Fluxion) for Echocord in Denmark (Echocord #046 – “Waves EP”), remixes for fellow Detroiter Aaron Carl (R.I.P.) on Millions Of Moments (#MOM 004), remixes for DFA Records (#dfaemi 2194), reworkings of Juan Atkins’ “Starlight”, Remakes of “Miranda” for Convextion, and new versions of Slam’s Groovelock for Soma Quality Recordings in Glasgow. Deepchord has also been featured on numerous mix cd’s, including Deadbeat’s (Scott Monteith) “Radio Rothko” (theAgriculture, Brooklyn NY), and “Electronic Flavors” mixed by Henrik Schwarz and published by Philip Morris GMBH.