Howie B

Howie B
Name	Howie B
Background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth name	Howard Bernstein
Birth date	1963
Birth place	Edinburgh
Origin	Glasgow
Genres	Electronic music, Trip hop, Downtempo, Ambient music, Big beat
Occupations	Record producer, DJ, composer, mixer
Years active	1980s–present
Labels	Polydor Records, V2 Records, Island Records, Virgin Records
Associated acts	U2, Bjӧrk, Tricky (musician), Massive Attack, Goldfrapp, Telepopmusik

Howie B (born Howard Bernstein, 1963) is a Scottish record producer, DJ, mixer and composer known for work across rock music, electronica, pop music and film score contexts. He has produced and mixed recordings for prominent artists and contributed to the development of trip hop, downtempo, and big beat movements through collaborations, remixes and releases on major and independent labels. His career spans studio production, DJ sets at venues and festivals, soundtrack composition, and multimedia projects involving film and radio.

Early life and education

Bernstein was born in Edinburgh and raised in Glasgow, where early exposure to punk rock venues and post-punk cultures shaped his musical formation. He studied local scenes around venues such as The Venue and interacted with musicians from Simple Minds, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Cure, and contemporaries associated with labels like Factory Records and NME. His formative years included encounters with DJs and producers who operated in scenes tied to acid house nights, rave events, and independent studios connected to John Peel radio sessions.

Career

Howie B's career began in the late 1980s and early 1990s amid the rise of electronic music acts and labels such as Warp Records, Ninja Tune, Mo' Wax, XL Recordings and 4AD. He founded or operated studios in London that became hubs for remixing and production for artists on Island Records and Polydor Records. He performed DJ sets at clubs including Ministry of Sound, Heaven (club), and festivals like Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury and Reading Festival, while releasing solo material on labels such as V2 Records and Virgin Records. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s he maintained a presence in the club culture circuits of New York City, Berlin, Paris, and Tokyo.

Production and collaborations

His production and mixing credits include work with U2 on albums and remix projects, sessions with Bjӧrk involving experimental arrangements, collaborations with Tricky (musician) and contributions to projects by Massive Attack, Goldfrapp, Crowded House, Sly and Robbie, and Hugh Cornwell. He remixed tracks for Madonna, Public Enemy, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Primal Scream, and Moby. He has worked alongside producers and engineers such as Brian Eno, Flood (producer), Alan Moulder, Steve Lillywhite, Mark 'Spike' Stent, Nigel Godrich, Howie B notwithstanding. His studio collaborations extended to artists on labels like EMI, Sony Music, Warner Music Group and independent imprints including Matador Records and Ninja Tune.

Musical style and influences

His style blends elements of ambient music, dub music, hip hop, jazz fusion and reggae production techniques, informed by influences such as Brian Eno, Lee "Scratch" Perry, King Tubby, Kraftwerk, Aphex Twin, Hip hop innovators like DJ Premier and J Dilla (producer), and the post-punk sensibilities of Joy Division and The Clash. He uses studio technology linked to manufacturers like Akai, Roland, Korg, Technics, and software suites associated with Pro Tools, Ableton Live and Logic Pro. His approach often emphasizes texture, space, and rhythmic deconstruction, echoing aesthetics found in works by Thom Yorke and producers associated with Warp Records.

Discography

Notable solo albums and releases include records on Polydor Records, V2 Records and Island Records, as well as EPs and remixes issued by Mo' Wax and Skint Records. He released collaborative and remix compilations for labels such as Ninja Tune and appeared on compilation series including DJ-Kicks and label retrospectives from Warp Records. His discography features singles and remixes for acts like U2, Bjӧrk, Madonna, Massive Attack, Tricky (musician), Goldfrapp, Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, Moby, Primal Scream, Public Enemy, Sade, Portishead, Underworld, Leftfield, The Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Beck, Radiohead, Blur, Oasis, Elbow, Kasabian, The Charlatans, and The Verve.

Film, multimedia and other projects

He composed and produced music for films, trailers and television projects, collaborating with directors and production companies tied to Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., BBC Television, Channel 4, and independent film producers. He has scored documentaries and feature films that screened at festivals such as Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival and worked on multimedia installations associated with institutions like the Tate Modern and British Film Institute. He contributed to radio projects connected to BBC Radio 1 and guest-curated nights on stations including KCRW and XFM.

Awards and legacy

His production and remix work earned recognition within industry awards contexts related to BRIT Awards, Mercury Prize shortlists, and nominations at ceremonies associated with Ivor Novello Awards and Grammy Awards-adjacent industry acknowledgments. His influence is cited by producers and artists tied to trip hop pioneers Massive Attack and Portishead, contemporary electronic acts appearing on Warp Records and Ninja Tune, and by remix culture practitioners who reference his textural, dub-influenced approach. Howie B's studio techniques and cross-genre collaborations contributed to the soundscapes of late-20th and early-21st century popular music scenes across London, Bristol, New York City and Glasgow.

Category:Scottish record producers Category:Electronic musicians Category:DJ culture