In film scores, he is best known for his work in the DC Extended Universe beginning with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice with Hans Zimmer, contributing to the theme song for Wonder Woman, as well as the scores for Deadpool and Mad Max: Fury Road.
Holkenborg was born in Lichtenvoorde, Gelderland, Netherlands. Classically trained by his mother – herself an accredited music teacher – Holkenborg started playing piano when he was four years old, drums when he was eight, and guitar at 12. Influenced by the psychedelic-pop of Pink Floyd and King Crimson, he took up the bass by age 14. After taking a job at a local music store selling keyboards and other digital gear, he began to have an appreciation for the combination of electronic and organic sounds. It was shortly after he discovered synthesizers that he joined the Dutch New Wave ensemble Weekend at Waikiki as a multi-instrumentalist and producer, touring extensively with the band, including through parts of the former Soviet Union, from 1988 to 1991. He also contributed to their final album, Sputnik. In 1993, Holkenborg produced Almost a Dance by Dutch metal band The Gathering, and later that year went on to form the industrial rock band Nerve with Phil Mills. After signing with label Play It Again Sam in 1992 and releasing two LPs – Cancer of Choice (1993) and Blood & Gold (1994) – he continued as a producer, working with hardcore and metal bands like Sepultura, Fear Factory, and Dog Eat Dog, while simultaneously licensing some of his instrumental electronic tracks for racing video games like The Need For Speed and Test Drive 5. It was during this time that he also began scoring the Dutch feature film, Siberia, which would be released by Warner Brothers Netherlands.
In collaboration with Harry Gregson-Williams, he contributed additional music to the Tony Scott film Domino (2005), and served as the composer on the Dutch film Blind, which was nominated for Best Original Music Score at the Netherlands Film Festival in 2007 and received the Grand Prix award for Best Original Music Score at the 2008 Aubagne International Film Festival. Holkenborg continues to work in the film and television industry, collaborating with composer Hans Zimmer on Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises. The film marks the fourth scoring collaboration between Holkenborg and Zimmer, including Megamind (2010), Inception (2010) and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012). Since moving into Zimmer's Remote Control Productions studio, the two have worked together on many other musical projects, including Man of Steel, the reboot of the Superman franchise, and a remix of that year's Academy Awards theme song. Holkenborg has provided music for the films Kingdom of Heaven, Domino, DOA: Dead or Alive, Shark Tale, The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury, The Animatrix, and Resident Evil, and has had his original music featured in a number of major motion pictures, including Blade ("Dealing with the Roster") and The Beach ("Synaesthesia"). In 2013, he composed the music for the Relativity Media film Paranoia. Shortly after, he was brought in by Zack Snyder, the producer of 300: Rise of an Empire, to create the score for the film. He is credited as the composer for the 2014 film Divergent, with Hans Zimmer credited as "Executive Producer" for the soundtrack. He is a member of the Magnificent Six, a collaborative group of five other musicians, consisting of Hans Zimmer, Pharrell Williams, Johnny Marr (from The Smiths), Michael Einziger (from Incubus), Andrew Kawczynski, and Steve Mazzaro. The "supergroup" of artists ranging from diverse backgrounds teamed up to compose the score for the Marvel comic reboot's second feature film of the original Spider-Man trilogy The Amazing Spider-Man 2. He was the primary composer for the 2015 film Mad Max: Fury Road and the 2016 film Deadpool, and was co-composer for the film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, along with Zimmer. Holkenborg's theme music for Wonder Woman was used in the film of the same name. Zimmer was replaced by Junkie XL to write and compose the music for Justice League releasing in 2017. Holkenborg was later replaced by Danny Elfman, brought up by Joss Whedon.[2] On 8 December 2017 Holkenborg was revealed to be composing the score for the 2018 film Alita: Battle Angel, based on the manga Battle Angel Alita by Yukito Kishiro.
To go along with his numerous artist albums and EPs, Holkenborg has been creating original music for video games since the mid-90s. In addition to composing the soundtrack for Xbox racing games Forza Motorsport and Quantum Redshift, Holkenborg is responsible for the SSX Blur soundtrack. He has also licensed a number of his album tracks for video game use. "Future in Computer Hell (Part 2)", "Synasthesia", and "Dance USA"—all taken from his album Big Sounds of the Drags—were licensed to the racing video game TD Overdrive: The Brotherhood of Speed (2002). The title track for Today is featured on the soundtrack for the video games Burnout Legends and Burnout Revenge, while "More"—taken from his fifth album, Booming Back at You—is featured on the soundtrack to EA Games' Need for Speed: ProStreet, which also includes a full score from Holkenborg. His cover of Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Cities in Dust" is featured on Electronic Arts' Burnout Paradise. He has written additional music for and licensed music to The Matrix: Path of Neo, Destroy All Humans!, The Sims 2: Nightlife, The Sims 3, Need for Speed: Underground, Need for Speed: Carbon, FIFA 08, and FIFA Street 3, among others. He composed the soundtrack for EA's Darkspore.
Holkenborg is an associate professor at the ArtEZ Conservatorium, one of the major art institutes in the Netherlands, where he teaches producing, remixing, and music composition. He resides in Venice, Los Angeles, California. He uses the name JXL in cases where the term "Junkie" might cause offense. Holkenborg says of his name: "I called myself Junkie XL from the point of view that once you're completely overworked, you never want to go there again. The 'XL' stands for expanding limits; broadening up your vision."
Underachievers
Junkie XL Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Takin' the firm fist
Of the idealist
Taken the shitlist.
And now, the purist stays the purist
Till the shit hits the fan of the culprits
And then the lawyer
Will destroy a
And the terrorist
Is really fed up with.
Nothing strategic
To besiege with
And supremacists
Touch the surface
With their racist hatred. That glues eyelids.
Those with politics
All polite on tricks
Cripple the masses on the road to riches.
Underachievers
United,
Why fight it,
Can't hide it.
In Junkie XL's song "Underachievers," the lyrics speak to the struggles of individuals who refuse to conform to the norms and ideals of society. The conformists, represented by the "firm fist of the idealist," are oppressive and judgmental towards those who dare to be different. They create a "shitlist" of people who don't fit their mold and hold onto their purist beliefs until they are forced to face the consequences of their actions.
The song also touches on the destructive nature of lawyers and terrorists. Lawyers often destroy the motivation of the purist, while terrorists are fed up with the lack of strategy and meaningful action in fighting injustice. The song speaks to the various factors that contribute to the underachievers' struggle to succeed in a world that favors conformity and marginalizes those who are different.
Ultimately, the underachievers are united in their struggle against societal norms, and the song encourages them to embrace their identities and not hide from who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the conformist
The individual who conforms to societal norms and expectations.
Takin' the firm fist
Submitting to the forceful authority of those in power.
Of the idealist
Those who hold a vision of society that may not align with current reality.
Taken the shitlist.
Being judged harshly and unfairly by others.
And now, the purist stays the purist
Those who hold firm to their principles and beliefs.
Till the shit hits the fan of the culprits
Remaining principled until confronted by the wrongdoing of others.
And then the lawyer
Legal representation.
Will destroy a
May undermine or weaken belief in the efficacy of the law.
Motivation to become the purist
The drive to remain principled and true to oneself.
And the terrorist
Individuals who use violence in pursuit of their political goals.
Is really fed up with.
Becoming disillusioned and losing faith in the cause.
Nothing strategic
No well-thought-out plan or tactics.
To besiege with
Unable to effectively confront or challenge opponents.
And supremacists
Those who believe in the innate superiority of one particular group of people.
Touch the surface
Manifesting their beliefs through shallow or superficial actions.
With their racist hatred. That glues eyelids.
Their hatred causes harm and blinds individuals to their own values.
Those with politics
Individuals involved in political affairs or who hold political beliefs.
All polite on tricks
Behaving courteously while engaging in deceitful or manipulative behaviors.
Cripple the masses on the road to riches.
Exploitative actions that hinder the ability of disadvantaged individuals to succeed.
Underachievers
Individuals who are not living up to their full potential.
United,
Coming together as one.
Why fight it,
Accepting and embracing differences rather than combating them.
Can't hide it.
One cannot disguise or suppress their true nature forever.
Lyrics © Red Brick Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANTONIUS J. B. TOM HOLKENBORG, PATRICK IAN TILON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind