Girl Talk

No artist does more to advance the changing nature of copyright law than Girl Talk does. Constantly challenging our ideas about music, commerce, and ownership, he pushes the boundaries of what we recognize as plagiarism and what we recognize as art—the consummate performer for the internet age. Not to mention that he throws one hell of a party. “He” being Gregg Gillis, the offstage alter ego of Girl Talk. His shows are known for being wild, exuberant, joyful celebrations where, armed with only a laptop, this undisputed master of the mash-up intricately weaves disparate threads—hip-hop, classic rock, power ballads, dance music, electronica, pop and Motown—into one rich musical tapestry. In 2008, Gillis appeared in the documentary RiP!: A Remix Manifesto, which showcased his unique performance style to make the case for more lenient interpretations of fair use doctrine. Since his 2009 appearance at Treasure Island, Gillis released his critically acclaimed album All Day in 2010 and has appeared at Outside Lands, Coachella, countless other festivals, and also toured the country one bitchin’ dance-extravaganza at a time. ALLISON FORD