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Silent Servant

Silent Servant
Birth nameJohn Juan Mendez
Born(1977-08-14)August 14, 1977
Guatemala
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 18, 2024(2024-01-18) (aged 46)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresTechno
Occupations
  • DJ
  • producer
LabelsSandwell District, Hospital Productions, Jealous God, Tresor Records, Modularz, Historia y violencia
Formerly ofSandwell District, Tropic of Cancer

John Juan Mendez (August 14, 1977 – January 18, 2024),[1] who recorded as Silent Servant, was an American techno DJ and music producer.[2]

Mendez was a member of the groups Sandwell District and Tropic of Cancer.

Early life

Mendez was born on August 14, 1977[1] in Guatemala.[3] His parents, and older brother, Eddy Mendez, moved to the United States when Mendez was two years old.[4] He was raised in Westminster, California and attended Pasadena City College.[3]

Mendez grew up listening to The Smiths, The Cure, New Order, My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth. He started DJing at the age of 16.[5]

Career

Mendez was a pioneer in the underground techno music scene of Los Angeles.[6] In 1999, he made contact with Regis, the founder of the Birmingham-based Downwards Records label, becoming a member of Regis's Sandwell District collective, with whom he released a series of singles throughout the 2000s. Mendez additionally acted as Sandwell District's art director.[7]

Mendez began releasing music as Silent Servant in 2006 with his The Silent Morning 12". Over the last two decades he released several singles, EPs, collaborative projects and also two full-length solo albums, 2012's Negative Fascination and 2018's Shadows of Death and Desire, both on Hospital Productions.[8] As Silent Servant, he remixed songs by artists including Daniel Avery, Battles, Boy Harsher, Drab Majesty, JK Flesh and Liars.[9][10][11][12][13][14] Mendez was also credited with packaging and design on Drab Majesty's second studio album Modern Mirror.[15] In November 2023, he issued his last record, In Memoriam, via Tresor Records.[16]

Mendez also formed the project Tropic of Cancer in 2007 with his then-wife Camella Lobo. The duo's first release was "The Dull Age / Victims" ten-inch single in 2009.[17] Mendez left the group in 2011.[18] Lobo said that Mendez was busy with other projects and she wanted to work on her own.[19]

After Sandwell District disbanded in 2011, Mendez formed the Jealous God label with Regis and James Ruskin in 2013. Jealous God focused primarily on EBM, industrial and techno music. On July 27, 2016, Mendez announced that Jealous God would cease operations.[20]

Death

Mendez died on January 18, 2024, alongside his partner Simone Ling and Luis Vasquez (The Soft Moon), of a suspected fentanyl poisoning while consuming cocaine that was thought to be pure. Their three bodies were discovered at Mendez's Los Angeles residence after Vasquez's wife called for a welfare check.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "2024-01166". Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  2. ^ "Biography of Silent Servant", Resident Advisor, Resident Advisor Ltd., retrieved August 9, 2013
  3. ^ a b Ohanesian, Liz (May 14, 2015). "Who Does Silent Servant Think He Is? – LA Weekly". www.laweekly.com. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  4. ^ Dunlea, Reed (September 30, 2014). "Silent Servant: Los Angeles, Hierarchy, and Hard Work in Techno". Vice. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  5. ^ Reynaldo, Shawn (August 4, 2013), "In the Studio: Silent Servant", XLR8R Magazine, San Francisco: SpinMedia, retrieved August 9, 2013
  6. ^ a b Darmiento, Laurence; Winton, Richard (January 21, 2024). "Soft Moon musician Luis Vasquez, DJ Juan Mendez found dead in downtown L.A. loft". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  7. ^ Colley, Jon (September 16, 2012), "Silent Servant on the making of his new album and 'the feeling that shit could blow up at any minute'", FACT Magazine, London: The Vinyl Factory, retrieved August 9, 2013
  8. ^ Bruce-Jones, Henry (October 30, 2018). "Hospital Productions to host Mexico City earthquake benefit showcase". Fact Magazine. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  9. ^ "Daniel Avery – Rødhåd, Silent Servant, Volte-Face remixes · Single Review ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  10. ^ Murray, Robin (February 27, 2012). "Battles Unveil Remix Album". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  11. ^ Dazed (September 3, 2019). "Boy Harsher are the cinematic sound of heartbreak". Dazed. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  12. ^ "DJ Juan Mendez, techno producer known as Silent Servant, has died". The Independent. January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  13. ^ "Silent Servant remixes JK Flesh on new 12-inch, PI04 · News ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  14. ^ "The Quietus | News | LISTEN: Silent Servant Remixes Liars". The Quietus. February 4, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  15. ^ post-punk.com (April 16, 2019). "Drab Majesty Drop Majestic New Video for "Ellipsis" off of Forthcoming New Album Modern Mirror". Post-Punk.com. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  16. ^ Bloom, Madison (January 19, 2024). "Silent Servant, Renowned Techno Producer and DJ, Has Died". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  17. ^ Harkin, Michael (October 3, 2013). "Bubblin' Up: Tropic of Cancer". XLR8R. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  18. ^ Lea, Tom (August 19, 2013). ""Who the f**k makes songs about being happy all the time?": Tropic of Cancer interviewed". Fact Magazine. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  19. ^ Ilius, Paulius (October 21, 2012). "Secret Thirteen Interview – Tropic Of Cancer". Secret Thirteen. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  20. ^ Kearney, Philip (July 27, 2016). "Jealous God Set to Close". XLR8R. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
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