US producer Napolian has died aged 29
The LA-based artist merged West Coast hip hop and electronic music influence into earworm beats
US producer Napolian, real name Ian Evans, has died aged 29.
A cause of death has not been made public. Pitchfork reports friend and collaborator Joel Ford has confirmed Napolian’s passing.
Napolian’s music combined influence from West Coast hip hop and electronic music.
Over the last decace the Los Angeles-based artist released on labels such as Cascine, Beer On The Rug and Oneohtrix Point Never’s Software, which released his 2014 album ‘Incursio’.
He also collaborated with artists including Kelela, A$AP Ferg, Yves Tumor, Jacques Greene and Joel Ford on releases.
A number of artists have paid tribute to Napolian on social media.
Joel Ford wrote on Twitter: “RIP my friend and musical genius Ian Evans. Just cannot even believe this is real.”
Oneohtrix Point Never wrote on Instagram: “I’m devastated by Napolian’s passing yesterday, it came as a shock to those of us whose lives he touched. I don’t know how to qualify what a talent and sweet person Ian was. He loved electronic music deeply, and we always talked about how it was a spiritual thing. He felt all the details. We spent years just sending images and sounds back and forth and didn’t have to explain why, everything made sense, this was one of the last pics he sent me. I’m so happy to have been a part of your life— too short, you had so much more to give.”
Jacques Greene wrote on Twitter: “Ian was with us every day working on the mix of dawn chorus, pouring thru every stem and sound and bringing such a deft touch and grounded energy to the proceedings. Rest In Peace to a truly talented and warm spirit x”.
Patrick Hinton is Mixmag's Digital Editor, follow him on Twitter