Blank & Jones are a German electronic music duo, consisting of the members Jan Pieter Blank (born June 15, 1971), known as Piet Blank; René Runge (born June 27, 1968), better known as DJ Jaspa Jones; and the producer Andy Kaufhold (N*D*K) (born December 17, 1969). They have released twelve albums and more than two dozen singles since their first single release "Sunrise" in 1997.
History
Piet Blank, who became interested in music after purchasing his first record "
Kids in America" by
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde (born Kim Smith, 18 November 1960) is an English pop singer, DJ and television presenter. She first saw success in 1981 with her debut single "Kids in America", which peaked at No. 2 in the UK. In 1983, she received the Brit Award f ...
, had his first experience spinning a record on a turntable at age 16. René Runge, who resides in
Düsseldorf and who is better known as Jaspa Jones, had his first experience as a DJ at age 19.
["Blank_&_Jones_Biography_on_Laut.de"](_blank)
''laut.de''. Together with help from Andy Kaufhold, they formed the trance production team Piet Blank & Jaspa Jones (which would later become simply Blank & Jones) after meeting at the
Popkomm music conference.
[ "Blank_&_Jones_Biography_on_Billboard"''billboard.com''.]
Even though they had been together for a few years, they did not release their first single, "Sunrise", until 1997. Their first album, ''In the Mix'', was a studio production that came out in 1999. As of 2008, thirteen of their singles have made it into the German Top 50, and three into the Top 20. Each album made the Top 50, including two which reached the Top Ten.
Blank & Jones have teamed up with Robert Smith from
The Cure,
Anne Clark,
Sarah McLachlan,
Claudia Brücken from (Propaganda),
Pet Shop Boys
The Pet Shop Boys are an English synth-pop duo formed in London in 1981. Consisting of primary vocalist Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe, they have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, and were listed as the most successful duo i ...
, and
Delerium. They have also contributed to the ''Café del Mar'' compilation series and produced their own chill-out albums, ''Relax'', ''Relax (Edition 2), Relax (Edition 3), Relax (Edition 4), Relax (Edition 5), Relax (Edition 6) and Relax (Edition 7)''.
They released a single entitled "Miracle Cure" on May 30, 2008, off their new studio album ''The Logic of Pleasure'' which is a collaboration with
New Order's frontman
Bernard Sumner. This collaboration was realised with the help of renowned Berlin based record producer
Mark Reeder who is a long term friend of Sumner's. Blank & Jones invited Reeder to remix "Miracle Cure" and this in turn, brought about their collaboration with him and a new project was conceived. This resulted in Reeder completely reworking most of the Blank & Jones vocal tracks for the successful and highly acclaimed 2009 album "Reordered".
In 2012, they produced a new album for the German
80's superstar
Sandra called ''
Stay in Touch
''Stay in Touch'' is the tenth studio album by German singer Sandra (singer), Sandra, released on 26 October 2012 by Virgin Records.
Background
The album was produced by a German DJ duo Blank & Jones and most of the songs were written or co-wri ...
''.''
''
''The Singles''
In 2006 Blank & Jones and their long-standing production colleague Andy Kaufhold collated their finest material on one release, ''The Singles'', which also included two new tracks:
The album was also released in Limited Edition format, in which The Singles are complemented by a DVD, bringing together all Blank & Jones videos on one disc for the first time. The videos feature people such as Estella Warren and Til Schweiger in "Beyond Time", the latter having also directed the clip. The DVD was produced and designed by Thomas Jahn, scriptwriter and director of "Knocking on Heaven's Door" and also responsible for "The Hardest Heart", "Mind of the Wonderful", "Perfect Silence" and "Desire". The video for the single "Catch" was directed by Conchita Soares and Toni Froschhammer which features TV actress Nadine Warmuth.
''So80s''
From 2009 to 2019 they curated a series of compilation albums featuring 80's music called
So80s
''So80s'' are a series of compilation albums curated by deejay/producers Blank & Jones featuring 1980s music. They were released on CD and some in digital formats from 2009 to 2019 and included 24 albums.
Background
Frustrated with finding 80' ...
. The series had 24 volumes. In 2011, they curated ''So80s Presents
Kajagoogoo''.
In 2012, they curated So80s albums featuring
Falco and
Sandra.''
'' In 2014, they curated ''
So80s presents Alphaville''.
Current and past activities
The chart success of Blank & Jones is partially based on their club-gigs, radio shows and other live-performances including events such as
Love Parade,
StreetParade
The Street Parade is with over 1 Million visitors the most attended technoparade in the world, since the end of Love Parade 2010. It takes place in Zurich, Switzerland and is the largest annual event in Zurich. Officially a demonstration for f ...
and Mayday. The success is further boosted by their activeness as moderators on Eins Live-TV and by being the Co-host on Viva-Clubrotation.
When asked about the key to their success, their response is:
Blank & Jones perform at major festivals and raves in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Russia. They also travel further afield on a regular basis, to Canada, Mexico, South America and Australia.
Piet Blank is also the host of the Club Mix that is aired on international flights by
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG (), commonly shortened to Lufthansa, is the flag carrier of Germany. When combined with its subsidiaries, it is the second- largest airline in Europe in terms of passengers carried. Lufthansa is one of the five founding m ...
, where he hosts a two-hour radio show that shows different artists such as
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and
Fritz Kalkbrenner
Fritz Kalkbrenner (born 1981) is a German disc jockey, DJ and music producer.
He is a grandson of the East Germany, East German artist Fritz Eisel and younger brother of Paul Kalkbrenner.
Discography Albums
* ''Here Today Gone Tomorrow'' ...
. The show is hosted in German as well as in English.
Discography
Albums
As Blank & Jones
* 1999: ''
In da Mix
Blank & Jones are a German electronic music duo, consisting of the members Jan Pieter Blank (born June 15, 1971), known as Piet Blank; René Runge (born June 27, 1968), better known as DJ Jaspa Jones; and the producer Andy Kaufhold (N*D*K) (born ...
''
* 2000: ''
DJ Culture'' (Limited edition with 2 CDs. Disc 2 includes bonus tracks and The Nightfly video)
* 2001: ''
Nightclubbing'' (Limited edition with 2 CDs including ambient tracks)
* 2002: ''
Substance
Substance may refer to:
* Matter, anything that has mass and takes up space
Chemistry
* Chemical substance, a material with a definite chemical composition
* Drug substance
** Substance abuse, drug-related healthcare and social policy diagnosis ...
'' (Limited with 2 CDs and bonus tracks)
* 2003: ''
Relax'' (Limited edition in a different package)
* 2004: ''
Monument'' (Limited edition with 2 CDs including bonus tracks)
* 2005: ''
Relax Edition 2
''Relax Edition 2'' is the seventh studio album by Trance duo Blank & Jones
Blank & Jones are a German electronic music duo, consisting of the members Jan Pieter Blank (born June 15, 1971), known as Piet Blank; René Runge (born June 27, 1968 ...
'' (2 CDs) (Limited edition includes bonus tracks)
* 2006: ''
The Singles The Singles may refer to:
* ''The Singles'' (Basement Jaxx album) by Basement Jaxx
* ''The Singles'' (Bikini Kill album)
* ''The Singles'' (Blank & Jones album), 2006
* ''The Singles'' (The Bluetones album), 2002
* ''The Singles'' (Chisato Mor ...
'' (Limited edition includes DVD with singles clips and some bonus)
* 2007: ''
Relax Edition 3'' (2 CDs)
* 2008: ''
The Logic of Pleasure''
* 2009: ''
Relax Edition 4'' (2 CDs)
* 2009: ''
Eat Raw for Breakfast
Blank & Jones are a German electronic music duo, consisting of the members Jan Pieter Blank (born June 15, 1971), known as Piet Blank; René Runge (born June 27, 1968), better known as DJ Jaspa Jones; and the producer Andy Kaufhold (N*D*K) (born ...
''
* 2009: ''Reordered (Blank & Jones,
Mark Reeder)''
* 2010: ''
Relax Edition 5'' (2 CDs)
* 2010: ''Chilltronica No 2''
* 2011: ''
Relax Edition Six
''Relax Edition Six'' is a studio album by Blank & Jones. It was released in 2011.
Track listing
#Souvenir 4:28
#Only Your Love (with Steve Kilbey) 6:23
#After Love (Ambient Mix) 7:30
#Love Conquers All (with ABC) (Summer Breeze Mix) 5:28
#Nightt ...
''
* 2012: ''Relax Edition Seven''
* 2012: ''Relax-Jazzed (Blank & Jones album in cooperation with Julian and Roman Wasserfuhr)''
* 2013: ''Relax - A Decade 2003-2013 - Remixed & Mixed''
* 2013: ''Relax - The Best of A Decade 2003-2013''
* 2014: ''Relax Edition Eight''
* 2015: ''Relax Edition Nine''
* 2016: ''Milchbar Seaside Season 8''
* 2016: ''DOM''
* 2017: ''#WhatWeDoAtNight''
* 2017: ''Relax Edition 10''
* 2017: ''Chilltronica No.6 ''
* 2018: ''Milchbar Seaside Season 10''
* 2018: ''Relax Edition 11''
* 2020: ''Milchbar Seaside Season 12''
* 2021: ''Milchbar Seaside Season 13''
Production for other artists
* 2012:
Sandra - ''
Stay in Touch
''Stay in Touch'' is the tenth studio album by German singer Sandra (singer), Sandra, released on 26 October 2012 by Virgin Records.
Background
The album was produced by a German DJ duo Blank & Jones and most of the songs were written or co-wri ...
''
Singles
* Sunrise (1997)
* Heartbeat (1998)
* Flying to The Moon (1998)
*
Cream (1999) (
UK #24
and #1 in Dance Charts)
* After Love (1999) (UK #57)
* The Nightfly (2000) (UK #55)
* DJ Culture (2000)
* Sound of Machines (Released in Italy and Netherlands as Single) (2000)
* Beyond Time (2000) (UK #53)
* DJs, Fans & Freaks (D.F.F.) (2001) (UK #45)
* Nightclubbing (2001)
* Desire (2002) (Germany #10)
* Watching the Waves (2002)
* Suburban Hell (2002) (Released only in Vinyls)
* The Hardest Heart (feat. Anne Clark) (2002) (Germany #2 In EuroHits Charts / UK # 3 In British Euroscene Singles / Costa Rica # 5 Top 20 Hits Radio / Guatemala #2 Los 10 Más Buscados Radio Infinita )
* A Forest (Feat.
Robert Smith Robert Smith or Bob Smith, or similar, may refer to:
Business
* Robert MacKay Smith (1802–1888), Scottish businessman, meteorologist and philanthropist who founded Glasgow University's Mackay Smith Prizes
* Robert Barr Smith (1824–1915), ...
) (2003) (Australia #97
)
* Summer Sun (2003) (Released only in Vinyls)
* Mind of the Wonderful (feat. Elles de Graaf) (2004)
* Perfect Silence (feat. Bobo) (2004)
* Revealed (with Steve Kilbey) (2005) (#3 Guatemalan Charts)
* Catch (Vocals by Elles de Graaf) (2006)
* Sound of Machines 2006 (2006)
* Miracle Cure (2008) (#90 Germany)
* California Sunset (2008)
* Where You Belong (feat. Bobo) (2008)
* Relax (Your Mind) (feat. Jason Caesar) (2009)
* Lazy Life (feat. Jason Caesar) (2009)
* Miracle Man (with Cathy Battistessa) (2010)
* Pura Vida (with Jason Caesar) (2011)
* April (2016)
Remixes
1998
* Basic Connection – Angel (Don't Cry) (Blank & Jones Remix)
* Sash! – La Primavera (Blank & Jones Mix)
* Syntone – Heal My World (Blank & Jones Mix)
* Dario G – Sunmachine (Blank & Jones Mix)
* Humate – Love Stimulation (Blank & Jones Mix)
* United Deejays – Too Much Rain (Blank & Jones vs. Gorgeous Mix)
* Dune – Electric heaven (Blank & Jones Club Cut)
* Yello vs Hardfloor – Vicious Games (Blank & Jones Mix)
1999
* Liquid Love – Sweet Harmony (Blank & Jones Mix)
* Mauro Picotto – Iguana (Blank & Jones Remix)
* Storm – Love is here to stay (Blank & Jones Mix)
2001
* Perpetuous Dreamer – The Sound of Goodbye (Blank & Jones Mix)
* Fragma – You are Alive (Blank & Jones Remix)
* Die Ärzte – Rock'n Roll Übermensch (Blank & Jones Mix)
2002
*
Pet Shop Boys
The Pet Shop Boys are an English synth-pop duo formed in London in 1981. Consisting of primary vocalist Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe, they have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, and were listed as the most successful duo i ...
–
Home & Dry (Blank & Jones Dub)
*
Pet Shop Boys
The Pet Shop Boys are an English synth-pop duo formed in London in 1981. Consisting of primary vocalist Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe, they have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, and were listed as the most successful duo i ...
– Home & Dry (Blank & Jones Mix)
2003
*
Pet Shop Boys
The Pet Shop Boys are an English synth-pop duo formed in London in 1981. Consisting of primary vocalist Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe, they have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, and were listed as the most successful duo i ...
–
Love Comes Quickly
"Love Comes Quickly" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released as the second single from their debut studio album, ''Please'' (1986). It peaked at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart in March 1986.
Writing and production
''Love C ...
(Blank & Jones 2003 mix)
* RMB – Beauty of Simplicity (Blank & Jones Retouch)
* RMB – ReReality (Blank & Jones Remix)
* Wolfsheim – Wundervoll (Blank & Jones Remix)
* Evolution feat. Jayn Hanna – Walking on Fire (Blank & Jones Remix)
* Chicane – Love on the Run (Blank & Jones Dub Remix)
* Chicane – Love on the Run (Blank & Jones Remix)
2004
* Blank & Jones – The Blue Sky (2004 Update)
2006
* Blank & Jones – The Nightfly (WMC 06 Retouch)
2007
* Delerium – Lost & Found (Blank & Jones Radio Mix)
* Delerium – Lost & Found (Blank & Jones Late Night Mix)
* Delerium – Lost & Found (Blank & Jones Electrofied Mix)
2009
*
Johnny Hates Jazz –
I Don't Want To Be A Hero
"I Don't Want to Be a Hero" is a 1987 song by the British band Johnny Hates Jazz. It reached #11 in the UK top 40 in August 1987 spending 10 weeks on the chart. It is taken from their #1 album '' Turn Back the Clock''.
Writing and inspiration
The ...
(Blank & Jones Remix)
2010
*
Daniela Katzenberger
Daniela Denise Katzenberger (born 1 October 1986) is a German reality TV personality, TV host, model, and singer. She has featured in several television shows in Germany, mostly on VOX. Her first single, a version of " Nothing's gonna stop me now ...
- "
Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now" (Blank & Jones Club Remix)
*
Daniela Katzenberger
Daniela Denise Katzenberger (born 1 October 1986) is a German reality TV personality, TV host, model, and singer. She has featured in several television shows in Germany, mostly on VOX. Her first single, a version of " Nothing's gonna stop me now ...
- "Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now" (Blank & Jones Radio Edit)
*
Daniela Katzenberger
Daniela Denise Katzenberger (born 1 October 1986) is a German reality TV personality, TV host, model, and singer. She has featured in several television shows in Germany, mostly on VOX. Her first single, a version of " Nothing's gonna stop me now ...
- "Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now" (Blank & Jones Dub)
2011
*
Medina - Gutter (Blank & Jones Club Remix)
*
Medina - Gutter (Blank & Jones Radio Edit)
*
Medina - Gutter (Blank & Jones Dub)
Compilations and DJ Mixes
* Trance Mix USA vol. 2 (2001) (Released in US)
* The Mix volume 1 (2 CDs) (2002)
* The Mix volume 2 (2 CDs) (2003)
* The Mix volume 3 (2 CDs) (2004)
* Peaktime 5 (2 CDs**) (2005) (Released in Australia) **CD 2 Is the album DJ Culture
* Posh Trance (2008)
* Milchbar Seaside Season, Vol. 02 (2010)
* RMX - Superstars remixed by Superstars (2011)
So80s series complications
* So80s (Volume 1-13)(2009-2019)
* So80s Presents
Kajagoogoo (2011)
* So80s Presents
Ultravox (2011)
* So80s Presents
OMD (2011)
* So80s Presents
Heaven 17 (2011)
* So80s Presents
Billy Idol (2012)
* So80s Presents
Culture Club
Culture Club are an English pop band formed in London in 1981. The band comprises Boy George (lead vocals), Roy Hay (guitar and keyboards), Mikey Craig (bass guitar) and formerly included Jon Moss (drums and percussion). Emerging in the New ...
(2012)
* So80s Presents
Falco (2012)
* So80s Presents
Sandra (2012)''
''
* So80s presents Formel Eins (2013)
* So80s Presents ZTT (A Remixed Obstacle In The Path Of The Obvious) (2014)
*
So80s presents Alphaville (2014)
References
External links
Official Radio Showhttp://www.ah.fm
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blank and Jones
German electronic music groups
German trance music groups
German musical duos
Electronic music duos
Trip hop groups
Club DJs
German house music groups
German house musicians
German DJs
Remixers
Musical groups established in 1995
Downtempo musicians
Electronic dance music DJs
Varèse Sarabande Records artists