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."
X-Panding Limits
Junkie XL Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mix beat
Mix beat
Junkie expandin' limits
Funky integration
Record needles showin' doses
With white Moses, party population
Peeps catch the beat, frantic pours pourin'
Strobe lights on, polygon
Hallucination gives you more than crazy moods
Stretch the grooves for the flock
No a-muck, super duper hi-tech rock
For the soft knock or hard knock
Down to few bucks, taxi cab aftershock
Follows the drug, marathon, strechtin' on
Till the fever pitch drops
Junkie expand its limits, mix beat
Junkie expand its limits, mix beat
Junkie expand its limits, mix beat
Junkie expand its limits
Show stops, door pops
Bouncers out bouncin' get fat nuts
Night clubbin' flock
Steppin' slow-mo like sand box
Got these souls rollin'
Standin' like ships on stones
Satiated, blatant, tainted
Now sanity shows holes
Sleep overcome the ones
That followed the god of fun
Honey buns with bums
Get the watchful eye stunned
Teens get me spirited
Exchangin' digits from sky pagers
To disco mania never sayin' to ya
The lust is major
Catch the brothers on the rebound
With skins on the skeez route
Those with wheels, fleshy feels
Surely got clout, what it's all about?
Stretchin' the funky addiction
Line to line, minds unwind
With the cocaine dissolution
Syringe tricks the kick in private seclusion
Chase the rush, it was tough to loose
The kaleidoscopic illusion
Stretch the limit, kill the cynic
In the human shell
Feel the funky, never flunky
In the Junkie XL.
Junkie expand its limits, mix beat
Junkie expand its limits, mix beat
Junkie expand its limits, mix beat
Junkie expand its limits, mix beat
Junkie expand its limits
The lyrics of Junkie XL's X-Panding Limits are an exploration of the high-energy, drug-fueled nightclub scene. The song opens with the repeating of the words "mix beat", which sets the overall tone of the song. The lyrics describe the experiences of party-goers under the influence of drugs and alcohol, with references to "white Moses" and "hallucination". The beat of the music is a metaphorical representation of the addictive drive of the drugs, and it is this beat that fuels the party crowd as they stretch the limits of their high, desperate for more wild and intense experiences.
The lyrics describe the nightclub as a place of frenetic energy, where strobe lights and pounding music create a disorienting environment. The experience is almost overwhelming, as the "grooves stretch for the flock" and minds "unwind with the cocaine dissolution". The lyrics also describe the consequences of such wild and erratic behavior, with references to "sleep overcome" and "sanity showing holes". However, these themes are described in a celebratory manner, with the lyrics emphasizing the irresistible allure of the drugs and the party scene.
Overall, the lyrics of X-Panding Limits are a tense and dark description of the dangerous world of drug use and the nightclub scene. The song is a haunting and insightful portrayal of the destructive consequences of addiction, and it will resonate with anyone who has struggled with the temptations of drugs and the danger that comes with seeking new and intense experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Mix beat
The repetition of this line emphasizes that the music is constantly changing and evolving.
Junkie expanding limits
The artist is pushing the boundaries and exploring new creative possibilities through his music.
Funky integration
A blending of different styles of music and instrumentation to create something fresh and exciting.
Record needles showin' doses
The use of drug-related language (needles, doses) in reference to music emphasizes its addictive and intoxicating quality.
With white Moses, party population
A reference to cocaine and the way it can energize a crowd and create a sense of unity.
Peeps catch the beat, frantic pours pourin'
The music is so infectious and exciting that people feel compelled to move and dance in a frenzied manner.
Strobe lights on, polygon
A visual representation of the music's energy and complexity, with multiple flashing lights creating a hypnotic effect.
Hallucination gives you more than crazy moods
The music has a trippy, mind-altering quality that can transport listeners to another realm or state of consciousness.
Stretch the grooves for the flock
The artist is able to manipulate and contort the music in unexpected ways, keeping the audience engaged and captivated.
No a-muck, super duper hi-tech rock
The music is futuristic and cutting-edge, incorporating the latest technology and production techniques.
For the soft knock or hard knock
The music can appeal to a wide range of audiences, from those who prefer a more subdued style to those who enjoy a harder, more aggressive sound.
Down to few bucks, taxi cab aftershock
A reference to the high cost of drugs and the dangerous consequences that can result from their use.
Follows the drug, marathon, stretchin' on
The musician is chasing the high of creativity, constantly pushing himself to new limits and striving for perfection.
Till the fever pitch drops
The energy and intensity of the music eventually reaches a peak and subsides, leaving the listener feeling drained and exhausted.
Show stops, door pops
The end of the performance, with people leaving and the venue closing down.
Bouncers out bouncin' get fat nuts
A commentary on the club scene and the people who work in it, with bouncers making a lot of money and taking advantage of their power.
Night clubbin' flock
The masses of people who go out to clubs, seeking a good time and escape from reality.
Steppin' slow-mo like sand box
The end of the night, with people moving slowly and lethargically as if they are in a trance or daze.
Got these souls rollin'
The music is able to move people and transport them to another state of being.
Standin' like ships on stones
A visual representation of people standing still, motionless, as if they are anchored to the ground.
Satiated, blatant, tainted
People are satiated and satisfied after a night out, but the experience has also left them feeling corrupted and debased.
Now sanity shows holes
People realize, in hindsight, just how irrational and dangerous their behavior was the night before.
Sleep overcome the ones
The fatigue and exhaustion of the night's activities overcomes people, leaving them feeling drained and depleted.
That followed the god of fun
People have devoted themselves to the pursuit of pleasure and hedonism, with little regard for the consequences.
Honey buns with bums
People who may have seemed attractive or desirable the night before are now revealed to be less-than-ideal companions.
Get the watchful eye stunned
Even those who were sober and observing the party scene are shocked by the behavior they witness and the effects of drug use.
Teens get me spirited
The music is highly appealing and exciting to teenagers, who are searching for their own identity and sense of belonging.
Exchangin' digits from sky pagers
A reference to the technology of the time, with people using pagers to exchange phone numbers and stay in touch.
To disco mania never sayin' to ya
People are caught up in the excitement and energy of the club scene, with little regard for the outside world.
The lust is major
People are consumed by their desire and cravings, with little thought given to the consequences.
Catch the brothers on the rebound
People are looking for the next high or rush, addicted to the feeling of ecstasy and euphoria that the music can provide.
With skins on the skeez route
Refers to people who are on the prowl, seeking out sexual partners and casual encounters.
Those with wheels, fleshy feels
People who have cars and money are seen as more attractive and desirable, leading to a sense of inequality and social stratification.
Surely got clout, what it's all about?
People with power and influence are revered and respected, leading to a sense of hierarchy and competition.
Stretchin' the funky addiction
The music is highly addictive and hard to resist, with people constantly searching for new tracks and beats to satisfy their cravings.
Line to line, minds unwind
The music has the power to relax and soothe people, allowing them to escape from the stresses and pressures of everyday life.
With the cocaine dissolution
Refers again to the drug imagery used throughout the song, highlighting the connection between music and addiction.
Syringe tricks the kick in private seclusion
Another reference to the dangers of drug use, with people injecting themselves in private to avoid detection or scrutiny.
Chase the rush, it was tough to loose
People are constantly seeking the next hit or high, with the feeling of euphoria and ecstasy hard to replicate or replace.
The kaleidoscopic illusion
The music is a dazzling and confusing maze of sounds and rhythms, creating a sense of disorientation and uncertainty.
Stretch the limit, kill the cynic
The artist is able to push the boundaries and transcend existing norms, allowing people to see the world in new and exciting ways.
In the human shell
Refers to the idea of the human body as a container or vessel for the music and the energy it creates.
Feel the funky, never flunky
People are encouraged to embrace and celebrate the music, refusing to back down or compromise in the face of adversity.
In the Junkie XL.
A reference to the artist behind the song and the message he is trying to convey to his audience.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTONIUS J. B. TOM HOLKENBORG, PATRICK IAN TILON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind