Robbie Kowal (born August 1973), also known by his professional names Motion Potion or MoPo, is an American DJ, record producer, and concert promoter. Known for blending electronic music with the genres of funk, hip hop, and psychedelic rock, he first started mixing live in 1995.
Kowal was born in Boston, Massachusetts. After moving to his current base of San Francisco in 1997, he co-founded the concert promotion company Sunset Promotions or SunsetSF in 2001, which became known for producing festivals such as the SF Funk Fest and North Beach Jazz. Since then he has helped found and/or produce festivals and concert nights such as All Shook Down Music Festival, Sea of Dreams NYE, Ghost Ship Halloween, Loveboat Halloween, North Beach Jazz, Festival of the Golden Gate and Mojito Café. According to the Los Angeles Times, in 2006 MoPo was the first DJ to play a silent disco in the United States, and since then he has founded Silent Frisco, a headphone dance concert production company. In 2015, Silent Frisco and SunsetSF merged to become HUSHconcerts, an event production company that now contributes to more than 1000 events per year.
The San Francisco Weekly has called MoPo "the godfather of the silent disco," while SFist called him "one of the nation’s foremost purveyors of the 'Silent Disco' concept." He periodically produces music, and in 2008 he released a series of three EPs titled Electric Nostalgia Vol. 1-3. In 2017, MoPo released a Radiohead-tribute remix album entitled 'Subterranean Homemade Alchemy' to raise awareness for social causes championed by the band.
Notable performances
The following is a list of selected notable appearances by Motion Potion as a DJ: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (2000, 2001, 2003, etc.) San Francisco Funk Festival (2000-2004, 2008, etc.) High Sierra Music Festival (2000, 2001, 2002, 2012, 2013) Berkshire Mountain Music Festival (2001, 2002, 2003, etc.) North Beach Jazz Fest (2001, 2003, etc.) - produced 2003, 2007 Gathering of the Vibes (2001, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Bonnaroo Music Festival (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011) Burning Man Festival (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014) Jamcruise II (2004) Exotic Erotic Ball (2004, 2005) - host and DJ Noise Pop Festival (2006) Vegoose Festival (2006, 2007) Rothbury/Electric Forest Festival (2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022) Camp Bisco (2009, 2011, 2012) Lightning in a Bottle (2009, 2013, 2014) Treasure Island Music Festival (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) BottleRock Napa Valley (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022) Metallica XXX (2011) Sonic Bloom (2012, 2014) Earthdance (2012) Panic en la Playa (2013, 2014) Avetts by the Beach(2017) Dave & Tim Riviera Maya (2017)
Discography EPs + Extended plays by Motion Potion Year Album title Release details2008 Released: 2008 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download Released: 2008 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download Released: 2008 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download2015 Released: 2016 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download
DJ mixes + Selected DJ mixes by Motion PotionYear Release title Notes 2007 Erectrofly'd Produced CD in May 2007 Wet in Sweat Produced CD in May 2007 2008 The History of Psychedelic Rock in Remix Live mix CD A Decade of Kraak & Smaak Live mix CD
Remixes/mashups + Selected remixes, mashups, and songs by Motion Potion Year Single name Compilation/album Release details2006"Break Yourself"(mashup by MoPo) The Best Mashups In The WorldEver Are From San Francisco 2 BootieUSA (May 15, 2006)2006Various tracksBonnaroo Bangers Bonnaroo
Further reading Interviews and articles
Discographies Motion Potion at Discogs
See also Breakbeat
References
External links MotionPotion.com