The Hacker - Biography
August 16th, 2003 by Koldo Barroso
Michel Amato aka The Hacker
Born Michel Amato in Grenoble (France), The Hacker is one of the most reputed electroclash and techno producers from the early 00’s who gained popularity through his partnership with Miss Kittin.
Michel Amato started his musical career as a keyboardist and programmer in 1989 at the age of 17, under the influence of synth pop and electronic artists such as Cabaret Voltaire, Duran Duran, and D.A.F. In 1993, he got strongly influenced by the bleep sound of LFO and the new hardcore techno scene, releasing a series of 12”s with Benoit Bolloni under the moniker XMF.
In 1995, Amato started producing under the name of The Hacker influenced by Jeff Mills’ Detroit techno sound. In 1998, he founded his own label Goodlife Records along with Oxia and Alex Reynaud, releasing his debut album “Melodies En Sous Sol” in 2000 which put him in the spotlight of the international scene.
In 1997, The Hacker teamed up with French vocalist and DJ Carolie Hervé to form the synth pop oriented duo Miss Kittin and the Hacker. Their debut album “First Album” saw the light in 2001 after having released a serie of EPs where they combined synth pop and new wave sounds from the early 80’s with electro, disco, and funk, with a big dose of sense of humour. Songs like “1982″ and “Frank Sinatra” became anthems of the electroclash scene of the early 00’s. In 2004, after an hiatus of the duo, he released his second and double album “Reves Mecaniques”.
The Hacker is one of the most demanded electronic producers and has remixed for Air, Fischerspooner, Nitzer Ebb and Mark Almond. He has also collaborated with Kiko and Alexander Robotnick, Millimetric and David Caretta.