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28 Jan 2025
Tony Rolando - My Life in Modules
01:38:12
In this occasional series exploring modular synthesis and live performance, William Stokes talks to Tony Rolando, electronic musician and founder of modular company Make Noise. Tony talks about his beginnings in the industry and how Make Noise has relaunched in 2025 with a new team and a brand new module release, which he then showcases in an exclusive performance alongside four additional modules.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 05:22 - Creating Social Media Posts 12:10 - Recent Innovations In Modular 14:02 - Revisioning Jettisoned Music Technology 21:08 - Module 1: Maths 30:17 - Module 2: Morphagene 47:42 - Module 3: Qpas 57:57 - Module 4: Bruxa 01:12:52 - Module 5: New Universal Synthesizer System 01:27:40 - The Performance
Tony Rolando Biog Tony Rolando is a self-taught musician and electronic musical instrument designer who started his career building electronics for artists, such as the light controlled mixer for Simon Lee’s “Bus Obscura,” working for Moog Music and playing in bands. He has recently released music with Important Records and the Asheville, NC based Ceremony of Seasons.
Tony is the founder, lead designer and co-owner of Make Noise, a modular synth company launched in 2008, known for modules such as the Morphagene and 0-Coast, popular with artists like Thom Yorke and Robert Lowe, aka Lichens. They operate out of Asheville, NC and have global distribution through a number of music tech dealers.
William Stokes Biog William Stokes is a producer, writer and artist in three-piece avant-psych band Voka Gentle. As well as being a critic and columnist for Sound On Sound, conceiving the popular Talkback column and heading up the Modular column, he has also written on music and music technology for The Guardian, MOJO, The Financial Times, Electronic Sound and more.
As an artist in Voka Gentle he has made records with producers from Gareth Jones (Depeche Mode, Grizzly Bear, Nick Cave) to Sam Petts-Davies (Radiohead, The Smile, Roger Waters), has had songs featured on franchises from FIFA Football to The Sims and has toured across the UK, Europe and the USA, playing festivals from Pitchfork Avant-Garde in Paris to SXSW in Austin, Texas. He has collaborated with artists including the Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne, Morcheeba, Panda Bear and Sonic Boom.
Alongside being a guitarist and pianist, he is a synthesis enthusiast with a particular interest in sampling and explorative sound manipulation. As a producer and engineer, he has made albums with acclaimed avant-garde musicians from composer Tullis Rennie to Mute Records artist Louis Carnell. “I’m always seeking out the most ‘out-there’, experimental, risk-taking musicians I can find to work with,” he says, “to capture vibrant, detailed recordings and create three-dimensional mixes of music that might otherwise struggle to know where to begin in the studio environment.”
Stokes currently lectures in Music Production at City, University of London.
Sam Battle, also known as Look Mum No Computer, chats to Caro C about his love of electronics, '80s music and re-using discarded technology in new ways to create a unique musical identity.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:30 - Developing A Unique Sound 07:35 - Early Projects 08:29 - Analogue Noise 12:29 - Modular Synthesis 13:59 - Kosmo Modules 15:44 - This Museum Is Not Obsolete 17:53 - Interactive Installations 20:57 - The 1000 Oscillator Megadrone 22:52 - The Crystal Palace Electro Magnetic Sonic Sequencer
26:53 - Other Electronic Projects 27:49 - Musical Projects 29:26 - The Recording Process 32:21 - Working With Patreon
Sam Battle Biog From his early interest in electronics and '80s synth-pop to setting up a museum showcasing obsolete electronic and music technology, Sam Battle, who goes under the moniker Look Mum No Computer, is carving out a unique niche for himself.
Known as both an Inventor and Musician and with a strong Patreon following and almost half a million YouTube subscribers, Sam makes a feature of reworking old technology to create new and interesting sounds. He has repurposed discarded Teletubbies, Furbies and Speak & Spell's to create various interactive projects, which are used in his musical compositions and are also featured at his museum in Ramsgate, Kent, England.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album "Electric Mountain" is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Hannah Peel, composer, producer and broadcaster, talks to Caro C about her solo record career including the shortlisted 2021 Mercury Music Prize electronic album, scoring music for Game Of Thrones and her many other diverse projects.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:45 - Musical Path 06:48 - Using Electronic Instruments 07:55 - Favourite Synths 09:14 - Software and Hardware 10:08 - Projects and Nominations 14:10 - The Mercury Nomination 15:31 - Performing Live 17:23 - Combining Electronica And Orchestral 20:28 - Composing For The Paraorchestra 22:33 - Working With Software and Live Musicians 26:48 - Favourite Tools 29:27 - Combining Film and TV Work With Album Releases 33:15 - The Composing Process 39:31 - Learning Production Skills
Hannah Peel Biog Hannah Peel is a Northern Irish artist, composer, producer and broadcaster. Her solo record career includes the shortlisted 2021 Mercury Music Prize electronic album, Fir Wave; 2016's Awake But Always Dreaming, which became an ode to her grandmother’s mind as she lived with dementia; and the space-themed Mary Casio: Journey to Cassiopeia, scored for synthesizers and a 30 piece colliery brass band. A regular collaborator with Paul Weller, in 2018 she conducted and wrote all the orchestral arrangements for his shows at London's Royal Festival Hall and contributed to his Number 1 album, On Sunset.
Following her Emmy-nominated score for Game Of Thrones: The Last Watch, Hannah is currently composing the music for Sky TV's 7-part series Midwich Cuckoos and releasing a new album The Unfolding with Paraorchestra. She is also a regular presenter on the BBC Radio 3 show, Night Tracks.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album "Electric Mountain" is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Julie Campbell, known as LoneLady, is a musician, songwriter, singer and producer from Manchester, England. Here she tells Caro C about her writing and recording process and how she secured a deal with Warp Records.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:19 - Former Things 06:08 - Influences For The Album 08:55 - Curating The Ideas 12:19 - Touring The Album 15:21 - Warp Records 17:12 - The Album Cycle 19:20 - Supporting Peter Buck 23:38 - Building The Live Show 28:27 - Technical Development
Lonelady Biog Inspired by British post-punk Julie first started making recordings in the early-mid 2000s on a 4-track cassette recorder. As her name indicates LoneLady writes, performs and records all the components of her music, building up her own soundworlds in a solitary creative process.
Her debut album ‘’Nerve Up’’ was released on Warp in 2010 and her second album ”Hinterland” was released in 2015, with both receiving widespread critical acclaim. Julie recorded, mixed and produced Hinterland to near-completion in her home studio in Manchester, travelling to Keyclub Recording Co, Michigan, for some finishing touches and additional production with Bill Skibbe.
Created on electronic sequencers, synths and drum machines in a basement bunker beneath Somerset House, London, LoneLady’s 3rd studio album FORMER THINGS is a tour-de-force of punch-and-crunch electro, r’n’b and pop, shot through with mournful eulogies to the lost golden age of childhood and youth.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
The following is a short piece of audio that was edited out of the original podcast interview with Don Lewis back in November 2020, where he discusses his time programming the Yamaha DX7’s factory sounds. In the wake of Don’s passing we decided to publish this excerpt, along with a tribute on the website.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 02:29 - Yamaha DX7 and DX9 Demo 03:02 - The Beginnings Of FM Synthesis 09:26 - Working For The Competition 12:26 - Yamaha DX7 and DX9 Demo
Don Lewis Biog Don Lewis was a gifted musician and educator whose mission was to inspire and empower audiences to achieve their dreams. Whether presenting a solo concert or collaborating with other musicians and artists, Don's music brought a message of hope, respect and community. Don began playing piano as a Dayton, Ohio high school student. Later, at Tuskegee Institute, he accompanied and sang with the Tuskegee Chorus and played for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Freedom Rallies.
Uniting his interest in engineering with his musical talent, Don became one of the pioneers in synthesizer use and technology. In 1977, he designed and built a synthesizer system, Live Electronic Orchestra (LEO) that was an inspiration for Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), now on display at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA.
Don performed at concerts worldwide and appeared as a soloist with many symphony orchestras. As a studio artist, he worked with such greats as Quincy Jones, Sergio Mendez and Michael Jackson. Don also created scores for film and television productions including the award winning Rainbow's End and Were You There series featured on PBS. In addition he scored commercials for such clients as Nissan, Pacific Telephone, and Digital Equipment Corp.
Also an enthusiastic teacher, Don taught courses in the history of Gospel Music, multimedia, and synthesizer technology at University of California at Berkeley Extension, San Jose State University and Stanford University. In 1987, Don combined his love of children, education and music to create Say “Yes” to Music! He delighted thousands of students, teachers and school administrators across the United States and Canada with his inspiring musical assemblies.
Throughout the years Don had been a concert artist and consultant with various musical instrument manufacturers including Hammond, Arp, Yamaha, Roland Corporation, and Rodgers Instruments. He continued to delight and touch the hearts of his fans in his concerts at home and throughout the world until his untimely passing on November 6th, 2022.
Links / Credits
Music from Yamaha’s DX7 and DX9 demonstration cassette.
https://www.augustenborgproductions.com/ Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for Sound On Sound, his website Failed Muso, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
Describing herself as a composer, musician and robotic artist, Ivor Novello award winning artist Sarah Angliss talks to Caro C about her route into Electronic Music and how she utilises sub-frequencies, robotics and her own effects in her compositions and live performances.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:30 - Classical And Folk Beginnings 00:00 - Discovering Electronic Music 07:52 - Studying Infrasound 12:26 - The Brown Note 14:40 - Augmenting Acoustic Sounds 17:46 - Using The Theremin As A Controller 19:28 - The Bela Board 20:48 - Using Robotics In Performances 26:20 - The Science Museum and Daphne Oram 30:05 - Radio 4 And Echo 33:58 - Current Projects 35:28 - Working With Synthesizers
Sarah Angliss Biog Sarah Angliss is an Ivor Novello Award winning composer, performer and robotic artist working in television, film, on the live concert stage and in theatres across Europe and North America. Her recent work includes the music for Romola Garai’s feature film Amulet - a terse, electroacoustic score which explores the sonorities of voices and ancient instruments, revealing and augmenting them with Sarah’s distinctive digital and electronic techniques.
Sarah’s music draws on her lifelong interest in European folksong, cybernetics and esoteric sound culture. These inspire her progressive and strikingly original music. Her work reflects an eclectic musical background. A classically-trained composer who specialised in baroque and renaissance music, Sarah cut her teeth performing on the UK folk scene. Her desire to get inside notes and finely manipulate sound then build her own automatic music machines led her to study electroacoustic engineering, then robotics, alongside music – fields that continue to inform her unique compositional style. Sarah received the Visionary Award from the Ivors Academy in 2021 and a Paul Hamlyn Award for Composers in 2018.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album "Electric Mountain" is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Electronic Music artist Jlin talks about her processes for creating a new work, being ready to tour straight from the studio and staying grounded and focused when your work starts to gain recognition.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:27 - The Journey So Far 03:09 - Using FL Studio 03:50 - Live Performance With Ableton 09:23 - Developing A Sound World 10:51 - Focusing On The Detail 12:12 - CPU: Clean, Precise And Unpredictable 14:55 - Favourite Plug-ins 16:02 - Preparing For A New Project 18:36 - Being Disciplined 21:33 - Staying Humble And Working Hard 23:55 - Preparing For A Tour 26:13 - Stereo Vs Immersive 29:14 - Going With The Flow
Jlin Biog Jlin (Jerrilynn Patton) has quickly become one of the most distinctive composers in America and one of the most influential women in electronic music. Jlin’s thrilling, emotional and multidimensional compositions have earned her praise as “one of the most forward-thinking contemporary composers in any genre” (Pitchfork). She is a recipient of a 2023 US Artist award and a 2023 Pulitzer Prize nomination.
Her mini-album Perspective was released to critical acclaim on Planet Mu 2023. Her much-lauded albums Dark Energy (2015) and Black Origami (2017) have appeared on “Best of” lists in The NY Times, The Wire, LA Times, Rolling Stone, The Guardian and Vogue. Jlin has been commissioned by the Kronos Quartet, Third Coast Percussion, the Pathos Quartet, choreographers Wayne McGregor and Kyle Abraham, fashion designer Rick Owens and the visual artists Nick Cave and Kevin Beasley.
Her next release, Akoma (Planet Mu March 2024) features collaborations with Philip Glass, Bjork and Kronos Quartet.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Jason Singh is a sound artist, producer and performer. His creative output is an exploration of the natural world, voice and a wide range of music technologies. Works include live performance, immersive installations, studio recordings, broadcasts and sound walks.
In this show he talks about how he makes music using the MIDI Sprout interface, a device that senses the electrical voltage of plants and converts it into MIDI information. He then uses the notes to control Ableton to produce the sounds he used in his recordings and immersive installations.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:48 - Getting Started in Audio 06:17 - Collaborating With Other Creatives 09:46 - Studio Toys 12:48 - Custom Built Instruments And Interfaces 14:08 - Live Performances 19:41 - Collaborating With Nature Using Biofeedback 25:07 - Using The MIDI Sprout and PlantWave 29:47 - Experiencing Nature Sounds In Real-Time 31:44 - Creating An Immersive Installation For Womad 40:54 - Opening Your Ears To Everyday Sounds
Audio Credits: Afternoon - a commission by National Trust to create an entirely vocal piece which mimics the sounds of a woodland area in Tatton Park in Cheshire. Passing Light - an Ambient Jazz piece featuring trumpet player Yazz Ahmed.
Rhubarb - is a biosonfication track from the latest release "The Hidden Music of Plants and Trees", created in collaboration with a Rhubarb plant.
Jason Singh is sound artist, nature beatboxer, producer, dj, curator, facilitator and performer. Jason’s life and work is rooted in listening - he follows a multi-sensory and cross-species approach to sound and music. His creative output is an exploration of the natural world, voice and a wide range of music technologies. Works includes live performance, immersive installations, studio recordings, music for film and theatre, deep listening and well being experiences, sound walks, broadcasts, music workshops, podcasts, soundtapes and immersive DJ sets.
Collaborations and commissions include a diverse range of organisations and artists including BBC, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, V&A Museum, Earthshot Prize, WOMAD, Kew Gardens, Chester Zoo, SONOS, Luke Jerram, BFI, Celtic Connections, RNLI, National Trust, Tate Britain, Nitin Sawhney, George Ezra, Big Narstie, Yazz Ahmed, Shabaka Hutchings, Sebastian Rochford, Leafcutter John, Graham Massey (808 State), Natacha Atlas, Sarathy Korwar, Talvin Singh and Rokia Traore to name just a few. Jason is an associate Soundscape artist with D&B audiotechnik.
Credits: Afternoon - was a commission by National Trust to create an entirely vocal piece which mimics the sounds of a woodland area in Tatton Park in Cheshire, England.
Passing Light - Ambient Jazz piece featuring trumpet player Yazz Ahmed
Rhubarb - is a biosonfication track from the release "The Hidden Music of Plants and Trees" created in collaboration with a Rhubarb plant.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Mike Lindup is best known as the keyboardist and co-vocalist for Brit-Funk legends, Level 42. Mike has blended traditional keyboard instruments, such as the piano and Fender Rhodes, with a myriad pieces of cutting edge music tech over the years. We caught up with him ahead of his new solo release, Changes 2.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:52 - What were your influences? 04:21 - Stevie Wonder 06:14 - The move from classical to pop 08:32 - Robin Scott’s influence 11:51 - The transition to music tech and operating it live 16:35 - When things go wrong! 18:20 - The current rig 20:24 - The home studio 22:35 - Wally Badarou and sampling 26:22 - Changes 2 29:27 - Reissuing Changes and a solo tour 35:26 - Level 42 into 23 40:45 - Quick fire questions inc. favourite synth, live track, what’s on your iPod?
Mike Lindup Biog Mike Lindup began a successful professional career as founder and keyboard player in Level 42, which continues to this day. He also has a successful solo career, and enjoys supporting a variety of super-talented artists including Dominic Miller, Phil Gould, and Zeep (Da Lata).
He released his first solo album, ‘Changes’, in 1990, a song album featuring his great friend Dominic Miller on guitar, Pino Palladino on bass and Manu Katche on drums.
In 1994 Level 42 took a break and Mike used the opportunity to diversify musically exploring different styles of music echoing his breadth of tastes and influences. He wrote music for an Audi Sport video ‘Return of the Four Rings’, performed with Latin Jazz band Negrocan, and played regularly with UK/Brazilian band Da Lata, whilst continuing to work on his own solo material.
Mike’s forthcoming album, ‘Changes 2’, will be released early in 2023.
Links And Credits Music clips taken from Mike’s forthcoming album, ‘Changes 2’ 03:47 - Space Groove 11:18 - Atlantia 22:03 - Late Night Wonder 33:37 - Time To Let Go
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for Sound On Sound, his website Failed Muso, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
Composer and Sound Designer Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe tells Caro C about his preferred sound modules and working methodologies, plus shares details some of the film and TV projects that he has recently been collaborating on.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:35 - Finding A Musical Voice 04:38 - Choosing Modular Synthesis 10:18 - Avant Garde Artistry 17:14 - Current Modular Setup 23:19 - Other Favourite Modules 28:11 - Composing For TV And Film 34:03 - Combining Hardware And Software
Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe Biog Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe is an artist, curator and composer based in Brooklyn, New York. Robert is known for his work with modular synthesis combined with voice. Along with analogue video synthesis works, he has had exhibitions of his work at John Michael Kohler Art Center, Museum of Art and Design, Kunsthal Charlottenborg and the Broad.
Over the last several years Robert has collaborated on projects or provided sound in a featured artist capacity for such films as “End of Summer”, “Sicario”, “Arrival”, “Last and First Men” with Johann Johannsson and “It Comes at Night” with Brian McOmber. In recent years Robert has scored “Candyman” for Nia DaCosta, “The Color of Care” and “Power” for Yance Ford, “Master” for Mariama Diallo, “Grasshopper Republic” for Daniel McCabe, docuseries “Telemarketers”, “UNION” for Brett Story and Stephen Maing, “The Man In My Basement” for Nadia Latif, “Life After" for Reid Davenport and “Seeds” for Brittany Shyne. Through collaboration Robert has worked with Tarek Atoui, Ben Russell, Ben Rivers, Rose Lazar, Nicolas Becker, Rashaad Newsome, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Hildur Guđnadóttir, Sabrina Ratté, Philippe Parreno, Evan Calder Williams, Ariel Kalma, Susie Ibarra and YoshimiO, as well as many others.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
J. Willgoose Esquire, founding member of alternative band Public Service Broadcasting, talks to Caro C about the origins of the band and the surprise success they've enjoyed. He details his recording methods, choice of equipment and the technical challenges of performing live.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:35 - How Public Service Broadcasting Began 03:48 - Sharing Voices From The Past 05:19 - Musical Equipment Used 06:50 - Inspired By Analogue Instruments 08:39 - Composition Methods 10:12 - Deckard's Dream Synth
11:56 - Mixing 200 Tracks
12:56 - Using Featured Vocalists 16:54 - Additional Audio Elements 20:41 - Editing The Samples 22:16 - Intellectual Property 25:39 - Performing Live 31:00 - Accompanying Visuals 33:22 - Tech Support In The SOS Forum
Public Service Broadcasting Biog
Public Service Broadcasting is an award-winning London-based group founded by J. Willgoose, Esq. The band are known for using archival samples from the British Film Institute to create concept albums around the Battle Of Britain, Everest and the British coal industry. Their second album, The Race for Space, was supported by two shows at the National Space Centre in Leicester and the album charted at number 11 in the UK, reaching Number 1 in the UK Independent Charts. Their third release, Every Valley (with James Dean Bradfield of Manic Street Preachers) reached number 4 on the UK charts. Their recently released fourth album, Bright Magic, was recorded at the Hansa Tonstudio in Berlin.
PSB perform live using a wide range of both electric and electronic instruments and samples. They have toured internationally, appeared at the BBC Music "Big Weekend" and in a late-night Prom in 2019 joined by London Contemporary Voices and the Multi-Story Orchestra, televised by the BBC the following evening.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album "Electric Mountain" is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
As part of Japan, Richard Barbieri soon became the thinking person’s synthesist, famous for his rich and textural electronic backings that beautifully complemented the work of other band members to forge what is still a unique sound to this day. Disbanding at the height of their fame, Richard went on to work on a wide array of projects, some with fellow members of Japan, one of which introduced him to Steven Wilson. He joined Porcupine Tree in 1993 and, aside from Wilson, is their longest serving member to this day. After a twelve year hiatus, Porcupine Tree reconvened to write and record ‘Closure / Continuation', their 11th and, some would say, best album to date. Rob Puricelli managed to catch up with Richard during rehearsals for the first leg of their tour to support the album and began by asking him about his first exposure to, and experience of, electronic music.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:16 - What was your first experience of electronic music? 03:33 - The Non-Musician 06:44 - Synth Heroes 10:05 - Do the old synths still have a place in your work? 12:37 - Sound Design and your go-to synth 16:26 - Sampling 19:36 - Using Reason 25:37 - The live rig and touring with Porcupine Tree in 2022/23 32:11 - Getting the band back together 33:55 - Spatial Audio 38:26 - The new album 44:57 - Regurgitating the past 46:30 - What gear excites you today?
Richard Barbieri Biog Hailing from London, Richard joined Japan in 1975 and saw huge success around the world until the band split in 1982. He continued to work with David Sylvian, as well as Sylvian’s brother, Steve Jansen on separate projects. He reunited with Sylvian, Jansen and bass player Mick Karn for the Rain Tree Crow project and continued to play with Steve & Mick as part of ‘JBK’. In the early 1990s, the three of them teamed up with Tim Bowness and Steven Wilson as part of No-Man and it was here that Barbieri and Wilson would begin their long musical association. Porcupine Tree had initially been a Wilson solo project but he recruited Richard in 1993 and over the next 17 years, became one of the shining lights of the neo-prog / pop scene, embracing a more heavy style as the years went on. Reuniting in 2021, they released the first Porcupine Tree album in 12 years with 2022’s ‘Closure/ Continuation’, a critically acclaimed return to form. Richard has a large body of solo work which he started to release in 2005 and still does to this day.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for Sound On Sound, his website Failed Muso, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
Chris Clark, known professionally as just Clark, reveals how he got signed to Warp Records, his recording and production workflow and how Thom Yorke ended up as a guest vocalist on his latest album, Sus Dog.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:36 - Getting Signed To Warp Records 03:45 - Recording Workflow 05:08 - Updating Equipment 07:35 - Early Musical Influences 09:35 - Switching Over To Software 10:40 - Hardware Still In The Studio 12:37 - Limiting Plug-in Use 16:52 - Collaborating And Working Solo 19:21 - Sus Dog And Thom Yorke 23:33 - Live Performances 27:47 - Learning About Other Producers 30:07 - Additional Projects 33:49 - Preparing The Next Album
Clark Biog Chris Clark signed to legendary British indie label Warp Records at an early age and has to date released thirteen albums as well as a multitude of EPs and singles. His recent studio album ‘Playground In A Lake’ for the legendary classical label Deutsche Grammophon, fused his trademark electronics with strings from acclaimed cellist Oliver Coates, violinist Rakhi Singh and the Budapest Art Orchestra.
Following his 2015 debut score for Sky / Canal+ TV series ‘The Last Panthers’ (John Hurt / Samantha Morton, dir: Johan Renck, written: Jack Thorne), he scored ‘Rellik’ for BBC1 / HBO (Richard Lancaster dir: Sam Miller, written: Harry & Jack Williams) and breakout Channel 4 / Hulu drama ‘Kiri’ (Sarah Lancashire, dir: Euros Lynn, written by Jack Thorne).
Recently he scored Apple TV+’s ‘Lisey’s Story’ (Julianne Moore, Clive Owen, dir. Pablo Larraín) based on Stephen King’s novel, as well as ‘Daniel Isn’t Real’ (Patrick Schwarzenegger, Miles Robbins, dir. Adam Mortimer) a psychological horror feature film by Spectre Vision, producers of cult Nick Cage hit ‘Mandy’. The film’s OST was also released by Deutsche Grammophon.
Chris has collaborated with choreographer Melanie Lane, scoring no less than twelve contemporary dance projects including the performance of her solo project ‘Tilted Fawn’ at the Sydney Opera House and most recently ‘Personal Effigies’ which won the Kier Choreographic Prize in March 2018 and ‘WOOF’ for the prestigious Sydney Dance Company.
Chris’ extensive inventory of remixes for the likes of Thom Yorke, Massive Attack, Depeche Mode, Max Richter, Battles and Nils Frahm were collected in 2013 on the ‘Feast / Beast’ double album.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Director Lisa Rovner and Sound Designer Marta Salogni chat to Caro C about their feature length documentary, Sisters With Transistors, exploring the role of women as pioneers of electronic music from the 1920s through to the 1980s.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:33 - Summary Of The Film 02:18 - Why Make The Documentary? 03:42 - Not Seeking Popularity 05:35 - Gathering Archive Footage 06:49 - Narration by Laurie Anderson 08:00 - The Women Tell Their Own Stories 08:58 - Sound Design Instead Of A Score 11:47 - Marta Salogni On Her Influences 20:19 - Defining A New Genre Of Music 22:59 - Creating New Sounds And Composing With Tape 27:52 - Sound Design For The Film 31:04 - The Challenges Of Composing For Film 34:08 - The Importance Of Female Role Models
The film features Clara Rockmore, Daphne Oram, Bebe Barron, Delia Derbyshire, Maryanne Amacher, Pauline Oliveros, Wendy Carlos, Eliane Radigue, Suzanne Ciani and Laurie Spiegel with commentary by Laurie Anderson.
Lisa Rovner Biog A French American artist and filmmaker, Lisa Rovner is now based in London with her work presented in art venues and theatres internationally. Her films delve into the archives and work to transform politics and philosophy into cinematic spectacle. Rovner has collaborated with some of the most internationally respected artists and brands including Pierre Huyghe, Liam Gillick, Sebastien Tellier, Maison Martin Margiela and Acne. Sisters With Transistors is her first feature documentary. www.messageisthemedium.com
Marta Salogni Biog A record producer, mixer, recording engineer and tape composer, Marta Salogni launched her career in her native Italy, where she spent her early years collaborating with artists and bands across a range of musical styles. As a producer and mixer, Marta Salogni has worked with Björk, M.I.A., Factory Floor, Kelela, Liars, Alex Cameron, Daniel Blumberg, Little Boots, Temples, Insecure Men, The Orielles, HMLTD, and Django Django. Marta is the sound designer for Sisters With Transistors. www.solarmanagement.co.uk/marta-salogni
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album "Electric Mountain" is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
David Vorhaus of White Noise chats with Rob Puricelli about his early involvement with the Fairlight CMI and his Kaleidophon ribbon controller and Maniac sequencer inventions.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:31 - Peter Vogel and the Fairlight CMI 01:51 - First Fairlight in the UK 03:25 - That Fairlight sound 05:32 - Stravinsky Firebird Suite, London Philharmonia 06:38 - The KPM albums 08:25 - Working with Delia Derbyshire 11:15 - Early technological limitations 13:20 - Sequential Circuits 14:56 - 12 bit sampling 16:27 - The Kaleidophon 18:40 - Interlude 19:05 - The Maniac sequencer 21:59 - Modern sampling 24:35 - Using Reaktor 25:50 - Sample libraries vs sound design 28:17 - Creating something unique
David Vorhaus Biog An experimental electronic musician with a background in Physics and Electronic Engineering, David Vorhaus has been a pioneer of electronic music in Britain for over 30 years. In 1968 he formed the band White Noise with Delia Derbyshire and Brian Hodgson of the Radiophonic Workshop. Their debut release, An Electric Storm, has since garnered cult status and is recognised by Island Records as being an important album in its genre. One of his early samples on the Fairlight CMI was of an orchestral stab, taken from a recording of Stravinsky's Firebird by the Philharmonia Orchestra, that has since become the most used sample in music history. As a bassist with no interest in playing keyboards, David developed the Kaleidophon ribbon controller and the Maniac analogue sequencer, something he has since rebuilt in digital form using Reaktor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Noise_(band)
Rob Puricelli Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for his website, failedmuso.com, and other music-related publications, and has guested on a number of music technology podcasts and shows. He can often be found at various synthesizer shows demonstrating his own collection of vintage music technology. www.failedmuso.com
Dr Manny Fernandez has been heavily involved in development & programming for Yamaha and is best known for his FM and Physical Modelling work through their glory years of new synthesis technologies in the DX7II, SY77/99, VL1, VP1, EX5, AN1x and FS1R. More recently he has been working with the Reface DX, Montage and MODX.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:50 - Manny’s history 01:29 - Before the DX7 11:22 - The unpredictability of FM 14:58 - How do YOU do FM? 17:44 - How did you get to work with Yamaha? 24:56 - Birth of the Preset Industry 28:09 - The move to the SY 39:47 - FS1R and beyond 53:08 - Montage & MODX 58:03 - Where next for FM?
Manny Fernandez Biog Dr Manny Fernandez has been involved with sound programming and synthesizer development for over 30 years. Initially self taught on an ARP Odyssey and Sequential Pro-One, he also studied academically on Buchla modular systems in the early 1980's. With that solid background in analog synthesis, he transitioned into digital synthesis with the release of the original DX7.
Manny has been heavily involved in development & programming for Yamaha and is best known for his FM and Physical Modelling work. He says he was “really fortunate” to be with Yamaha through their glory years of developing new synthesis technologies in the DX7II, SY77/99, VL1 & VP1, EX5, AN1x and FS1R. More recently he has been working with the Reface DX and Montage, doing development work for the various Montage firmware & feature updates, including the new realtime FM ‘SmartMorph’ AI control of multiple FM parameters.
Way back in the 90’s, he also did development and factory programming work for Kurzweil (K2000), Kawai (K1, K4, K5), Korg (Wavestation, O/1W), Alesis (Quadrasynth), Ensoniq (TS10), Peavey (DPM3) & E-MU (Proteus 2000). He was also known for his work with Sound Source Unlimited and their many sound libraries.
Around 2005 he returned to programming to explore advanced FM techniques; for the last 15 years he’s been hacking every nook and cranny of the AFM implementation within the SY99, exploring the interactions of operator phase, multiple patchable feedback loops and ‘zero frequency” waveshaping. He has developed methods for creating FM models of analog oscillator and filter behaviours along the way, as well as mimicking physical modelling and the abstract electronica of his college Buchla days.
Incidental music clips performed by Rob Puricelli using a Yamaha DX5. Closing musical clip performed by Manny Fernandez.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for his website, failedmuso.com, and other music-related publications, and has guested on a number of music technology podcasts and shows. He can often be found at various synthesizer shows demonstrating his own collection of vintage music technology. www.failedmuso.com Twitter: @failedmuso Instagram: @failedmuso Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/failedmuso/
Martyn Ware has been at the forefront of the British synth-pop scene since its inception, founding the hugely influential Human League with Phil Oakey and Ian Craig Marsh. Martyn and Ian went on to establish the British Electric Foundation from which Heaven 17 emerged, along with work as a producer for the likes of Tina Turner and Terence Trent D’Arby. Martyn has since ventured into the world of immersive audio through his collaborations with Vince Clarke as well as being a Principal at Tileyard Education, a Visiting Professor at Queen Mary University of London and a board member at the Ivors Academy. This year, Martyn released his autobiography, entitled Electronically Yours Vol.1.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:44 - Why Write Your Autobiography Now? 02:13 - Sheffield 06:44 - Why Electronic Music? 09:57 - The Ware Ancestry 12:00 - Music And The Message 19:51 - Ripping Up The Rule Book 21:35 - The Split! 29:34 - British Electric Foundation 30:31 - Heaven 17 33:15 - Sananda Maitreya / Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby 37:01 - Is There A Volume 2 To Look Forward To?
Martyn Ware Biog In his his long and illustrious career, Martyn has been part of the Human League, British Electric Foundation and Heaven 17.
As a record producer and artist he has featured on recordings totalling over 50 million sales worldwide, producing amongst others Tina Turner, Sananda Maitreya (formerly known as Terence Trent D’Arby), Chaka Khan, Erasure, Marc Almond and Mavis Staples.
He founded Illustrious Company with Vince Clarke in 2001 to exploit the creative and commercial possibilities of their unique three-dimensional sound technology, in collaboration with fine artists, the performing arts and corporate clients around the world. He is a Principal at Tileyard Education and a Board Member at The Ivors Academy.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for Sound On Sound, his website Failed Muso, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
In an impromptu chat, Tom Oberheim tells Sam Inglis about his early years as an engineer and his accidental route into creating electronic musical instruments. As he celebrates his 50th year since the launch of the SEM, Tom talks about the rise of digital, the resurgence of analogue and the launch of the new TEO-5.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:26 - An Accidental Engineer 02:46 - Building For Musicians 06:34 - Becoming a Distributor For The ARP 2600 11:05 - Designing The SEM 12:43 - The Filter Design 15:03 - The OB-1 And Patch Memories
16:36 - OB-X - Polyphony And Programmable Presets
19:35 - The Oberheim Sound 22:37 - The Digital Takeover 24:40 - The Resurgence Of Analogue
28:01 - Launching The OB-X8 With Focusrite
29:23 - The Oberheim TEO-5
30:37 - Utilising New Technology
Oberheim Biog Oberheim is the 21st century return of the legendary company that helped fuel the original electronic music revolution in the 1970s. Now, just as then, Oberheim is guided by the vision of engineer and inventor, Tom Oberheim. Tom’s genius for innovation introduced the world to the first commercially available poly synth and other groundbreaking electronic instruments that literally changed the sound of music.
Today, Oberheim reawakens this extraordinary legacy by bringing the famed Oberheim sound to a new generation of instruments and artists. The company’s passion remains unchanged by time or technology — to once again provide the world with the finest-sounding analog synthesizers ever made.
Sam Inglis Biog Editor In Chief Sam Inglis has been with Sound On Sound for more than 20 years. He is a recording engineer, producer, songwriter and folk musician who studies the traditional songs of England and Scotland, and the author of Neil Young's Harvest (Bloomsbury, 2003) and Teach Yourself Songwriting (Hodder, 2006).
For decades, synth manufacturers and sound designers have strived to recreate the sounds of acoustic instruments, such as brass, woodwind and strings. Digital sampling was launched in 1979 but was unable to express the subtleties and nuances of acoustic instruments, until Physical Modelling came to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s. David Bessell talks to Rob Puricelli about how he was inspired by this and sought to explore it further using modular synths and software.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:22 - Where did your career start?
03:24 - What sparked your interest in physical modelling?
05:08 - How do you begin to create a physical model?
07:51 - What do you use to create your physical models?
11:17 - When using modular to create models, what modules would one require?
13:55 - Are you using modelling to recreate or create anew?
21:14 - What other methods of modelling exist?
23:23 - Why do you think physical modelling didn’t catch on?
29:11 - What’s the future for physical modelling? 32:47 - What methods do you use to perform with your physical models? 36:40 - How can someone begin to get into physical modelling today?
David Bessell Biog Before studying at the Royal College of Music, where he covered orchestration and composition, the latter of which he carried on at the Guildhall, David Bessell first made a name for himself as a session musician, arranger and programmer for bands such as Killing Joke and Suede. As a solo artist and as one quarter of analogue synthesizer quartet Node (alongside Flood, Ed Buller and Mel Wesson, who took over from Gary Stout), he has made a name for himself as a highly experimental musician with a particular interest in physical modelling, exploring the creation of tones that sound and behave like natural acoustic instruments, or in some cases, sound like nothing physically possible in the real world.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for his website, failedmuso.com, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
Graham Massey talks us through his early days with the formation of 808 State and improvising with electronic instruments, through to current collaborations and favourite creative tools.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 02:02 - The Beginnings Of 808 State 11:54 - Developing A Polished Production 14:56 - Musicality And Arrangements 17:29 - Incorporating Improvisation 20:09 - Performing Live 24:09 - Influencing Genres 26:29 - Favourite Creative Tools 30:16 - The Changing Access To The Arts 35:46 - Other Projects 41:47 - Future Collaborations
Graham Massey Biog Graham Massey is probably best known for the pioneering work of 808 State who took the energy of the early UK rave scene into the pop charts with several uncompromising top 10 singles and albums in the 1990s. 808 State returned to international touring in 2018 to celebrate their 30th anniversary with the release of a new critically acclaimed album 'Transmission Suite' in 2019. Graham trained as a sound engineer at Manchester’s Spirit Studios in the mid 80s when he was producing records as Biting Tongues for Factory Records and working as a live sound engineer at the Boardwalk Club.
Studio experience allowed him to work as a producer and remixer for people as diverse as Bjork , Quincy Jones , Primal Scream, David Bowie,The Stone Roses, Goldfrapp & Yellow Magic Orchestra. Graham has worked as a composer on many film soundtracks, music for commercials (agencies such as BBH in London & SYN in Tokyo) plus theatre pieces and public art events including being musical director for Jeremy Deller’s 'What Is A City' for the opening of Manchester International Festival in 2017. Graham is also the leader of a number of other music projects in the city that might find him as a guitarist, keyboardist, wind player or drummer. Graham has DJ’d around the world and is a regular contributor to 'The Freakier Zone' on BBC Radio 6 as well as hosting his own monthly show on Reform Radio as well as guest slots on NTS radio.
Graham is an Honorary Fellow of The University Of Central Lancashire and is a regular guest lecturer on the film course at Manchester School Of Digital Art (MMU). He is a regular participator at Music Tech Fest, an international forum for technologists, scientists and artists run from Stockholm University.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Introducing the Sound On Sound Podcasts. Yes, that’s podcasts, because we’re launching three dedicated channels each with their own series of episodes to keep you entertained throughout each month.
You’ll hear interviews, features, discussion, opinion and occasional demos of the gear we’re reviewing from many of the SOS magazine staff and our expert Freelance team.
The Electronic Music channel is for everyone interested in synths, samplers and the world of electronic music.
You should also hop over to our other channels and subscribe there for even more shows.
The Recording & Mixing channel takes the practical approach and will keep you inspired with expert hints and tips.
The People & Music Industry channel will feature the great and good in engineering, production and manufacturing.
We launch our first two shows on May 21st so subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
All shows are mastered to the highest quality the podcast channel will support and are in stereo.
Alan R Pearlman was responsible for some of the greatest sounding and most intuitive synthesizers of the modern age, many of which are still highly sought after or emulated to this day. Inspired, as so many were, by hearing Wendy Carlos’s 'Switched on Bach', he founded Tonus in 1969, a company that would soon become ARP Instruments, and began producing synthesizers such as the legendary ARP 2500, 2600 and Odyssey.
Since his passing in 2019 at the age of 93, his daughter, Dina, has been building the Alan R Pearlman Foundation, an organisation that seeks to preserve her father’s legacy and enable as many people as possible to get hands-on with his inventions.
As with all not-for-profits, Dina has faced numerous challenges, but with the help of the likes of Jean Michel Jarre, Herbie Hancock and many other fans of Alan’s work, the Foundation is beginning to realise its objectives with great success.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:18 - The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation 06:52 - The Main Aims Of The Foundation 09:12 - Women In The World Of Pioneering Synthesis 12:45 - Childhood Memories During The Early Days Of ARP 14:54 - Unearthed Footage Of The ARP Factory 23:27 - About ARPS For All 30:23 - The ARP Paradigm 34:27 - Collaborating With Bjooks 38:55 - Google Arts & Culture: Music Makers & Machines 40:47 - The Future For The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation
Dina Pearlman Biog Dina is the only child of Alan and Buena Pearlman and grew up with ARP Synthesizers as a backdrop for her childhood, travelling extensively and being exposed to innovative and cutting-edge technology. In her early years, she spent time playing in rock and roll bands, as well as dance and theatre. For the past thirty years, she has worked as a versatile visual arts and design professional, creative director, and educator. She has also worked extensively in photography, graphics and web design for several decades, and has a broad understanding of visual communications media.
In the last few years before his illness, Alan Pearlman started to re-examine the brave new world of synthesizers that exists today, many decades after his iconic and groundbreaking 12 years as the inventor and founder of ARP Synthesizers. During this time, he brought his daughter into the conversation. After his death in January 2019, Dina realised the need of keeping his legacy and passion alive, and with the help and encouragement of many of his former colleagues as well as the wonderful Michelle Moog-Koussa, she started the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation and ARP Archives.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for Sound On Sound, his website Failed Muso, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
In celebration of Delia Derbyshire Day 2023 and the 60th Anniversary of the Doctor Who theme, Caro C is joined by fellow devotees Mark Ayres, David Butler and Cosey Fanni Tutti to discuss the Delia Derbyshire Day archives and the importance of her contributions to the development of electronic music.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:26 - Delia Derbyshire Archive Mark Ayres 03:15 - Mark Ayres Introduction 07:44 - The Beginnings Of Electronic Music 10:12 - Electronic Sound Sources 13:10 - The Delia Derbyshire Archives 18:40 - Favourite Piece - The Makeup Tape Of Blue Veils 22:21 - The Future Of The Archives David Butler 24:38 - David Butler Introduction 28:59 - The Contents Of The Archives 33:17 - Building A Network Of Collaborators 35:03 - Methods And Techniques Revealed 36:59 - Manipulating The Voice 39:05 - Favourite Piece - Two Houses And Demo Cue Cosey Fanni Tutti 41:42 - Cosey Fanni Tutti Introduction 43:42 - Delia Derbyshire Musical Influences 45:24 - A Background In Physics 48:50 - Favourite Piece - Amor Dei 53:34 - The Importance Of The Archives
Delia Derbyshire Biog Delia Derbyshire (1937-2001) was a key figure in the development of electronic music in the UK. Born in Coventry but evacuated to Preston during the Blitz, Delia cites the sound of air raid sirens as inspiring her interest in electronic sound. She went on to study Maths and Music at Cambridge University and launched her career at the BBC in 1960 as a trainee Studio Manager. She moved to the Radiophonic Workshop in 1962, where she spent the next 11 years developing experimental sounds and music for their TV and radio shows, in addition to working as a freelancer onfilm, theatre and other live projects. Her most famous work is her electronic arrangement of Ron Grainer’s Doctor Who theme, created in 1963.
Delia composed and produced electronic music using tape, plus early synthesis and sampling methods before specific instruments were created for these purposes. Her work has influenced and inspired many modern artists including The Chemical Brothers, Aphex Twin, Portishead, Nainita Desai, Amon Tobin and Cosey Fanni Tutti, while Pink Floyd, Orbital and Hannah Peel have reinterpreted her work.
Mark Ayres Biog Mark Ayres is a composer, arranger, sound designer, mixer and mastering engineer. Mark wrote incidental music for Doctor Who in the 1980s. More recently he wrote the music for, sound-designed and mixed the reconstructed 'lost' Tom Baker adventure, “Shada”, and a celebratory feature length version of the original 1963 “Daleks” serial transmitted on BBC4 on 23rd November 2023, Doctor Who’s 60th birthday. He has also composed for television and film including scores for 1996 feature "The Innocent Sleep" and the more recent "Scar Tissue".
Mark was involved in the BBC Radiophonic Workshop’s final days and went on to become their archivist. A personal friend of Delia Derbyshire, he was entrusted with her personal archive after her death in 2001, which is now on permanent loan to the University of Manchester John Rylands Library and accessible for study. He is a Trustee of the Delia Derbyshire Day Charity.
His devotion to the Workshop after Doctor Who ceased broadcasting in 1989 proved vital in regenerating interest in their work, and he is now the driving force behind their live revival on the festival circuit and in the creation of new works including the score for Matthew Holness' disturbing psychological horror film, "Possum". He has produced and mastered many recordings for Silva Screen Records and others, and his work remastering classic television programmes including Doctor Who, Quatermass, and the films of Ken Russell and Alan Clarke for broadcast, DVD and Blu-ray, including 5.1 remixes of many titles, has been highly acclaimed.
David Butler Biog David Butler is a Senior Lecturer in Drama and Film Studies at the University of Manchester. He helped to bring the Delia Derbyshire Archive to the John Rylands Library, Manchester in 2007 and is one of the archive's lead researchers and curators. David is the chair of trustees for Delia Derbyshire Day and helped set up the charity in 2016.
Cosey Fanni Tutti Biog Cosey Fanni Tutti is a musician and writer, best known for her part in experimental electronic bands Throbbing Gristle and Chris & Cosey. Cosey interacted with the Delia Derbyshire Archive when she composed the soundtrack for Caroline Catz's film ’Delia Derbyshire: The Myths And The Legendary Tapes’ and in the writing of her book Re-Sisters: The Lives and Recordings of Delia Derbyshire, Margery Kempe and Cosey Fanni Tutti published by Faber in 2022. https://www.coseyfannitutti.com/
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Pedals are not just for guitars. Here Paul White connects his extensive pedal collection to a modular synth system, effectively using the pedals as additional modules and suggesting some creative ways of setting up and combining them to create a range of sounds for different applications.
(00:00) - Introduction
(00:42) - Connecting Your Pedals
(01:31) - Using A Delay Or Reverb
(03:49) - Adding Some Overdrive
(04:38) - Adding Effects With Pitch Shift
(05:37) - Using Chorus To Thicken A Sound
(06:28) - Tremolo And Vibrato
(06:54) - Phasers And Flangers
(08:10) - Adding An Envelope Filter
(09:21) - Creating Textures With Granular Delay
(10:26) - Ring Modulator Effects
(11:52) - Combining Effects
(14:33) - Adding In An Arpeggiator
(15:23) - Creating A Softer Sound
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:42 - Connecting Your Pedals 01:31 - Using A Delay Or Reverb 03:49 - Adding Some Overdrive 04:38 - Adding Effects With Pitch Shift 05:37 - Using Chorus To Thicken A Sound 06:28 - Tremolo And Vibrato 06:54 - Phasers And Flangers 08:10 - Adding An Envelope Filter 09:21 - Creating Textures With Granular Delay 10:26 - Ring Modulator Effects 11:52 - Combining Effects 14:33 - Adding In An Arpeggiator 15:23 - Creating A Softer Sound
#StrymonCloudburst
Paul White Biog Paul White initially trained in electronics at The Royal Radar Establishment in Malvern then went on to work with Malvern Instruments, a company specialising in laser analysis equipment, before moving into technical writing.
He joined the Sound On Sound team in 1991 where he became Editor In Chief, a position he held for many years before recently becoming Executive Editor. Paul has written more than 20 recording and music technology textbooks, the latest being The Producer’s Manual.
Having established his own multitrack home studio in the 1980s he’s worked with many notable names including Bert Jansch and Gordon Giltrap. He’s played in various bands over the years and currently collaborates with Malvern musician Mark Soden, under the name of Cydonia Collective. Paul still performs live claiming that as he has suffered for his music he doesn’t see why everyone else shouldn’t too!
Life beyond the computer screen. Robin Rimbaud, AKA Scanner, takes us on an autobiographical sonic journey as he talks about his early fascination with tape recorders, to life beyond the computer screen and his studio filled with modular and table-top synths.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:32 - Personal History and storing memories
01:28 - Tape recorders capturing birthdays and school trips
02:59 - Ambient football on cassette
03:46 - Discovering John Cage
04:31 - Scores of Stockhausen
05:18 - Live music
05:52 - David Tudor
07:39 - Modular Synth discovery
09:23 - In the Studio playtime, Modular Synths, Gesture Arcade 11:24 - Lorre-Mill Keyed Mosstone, Ciat-Lonbarde Cocoquantus 2 11:53 - Lorre-Mill Double Knot, Eventide H9 13:16 - Macumbista Benjolin
17:38 - Morphagene 17:57 - Musique Concrète
20:41 - Teac Reel-to-Reel
21:16 - Tape Loops
22:30 - Dinner for Two
24:59 - Avoiding the screen
25:16 - Going in a loop
26:04 - How nothing has changed
Robin Rimbaud Biog Scanner (British artist Robin Rimbaud) traverses the experimental terrain between sound and space connecting a bewilderingly diverse array of genres. Since 1991 he has been intensely active in sonic art, producing concerts, installations and recordings, the albums Mass Observation (1994), Delivery (1997), and The Garden is Full of Metal (1998) hailed by critics as innovative and inspirational works of contemporary electronic music.
To date he has scored 65 dance productions, including the hit musical comedy Kirikou & Karaba Narnia, Qualia for the London Royal Ballet, and the world’s first Virtual Reality ballet, Nightfall, for Dutch National Ballet.
More unusual projects have included designing sound for the Philips Wake-Up Light (2009), the re-opening of the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam in 2012 and the new Cisco telephone system used in many offices around the world. His work Salles des Departs is permanently installed in a working morgue in Paris whilst Vex, the residential house by Chance de Silva architects, featuring his permanent soundtrack, won the RIBA London Award 2018.
Committed to working with cutting edge practitioners he collaborated with Bryan Ferry, Wayne MacGregor, Mike Kelley, Torres, Michael Nyman, Steve McQueen, Laurie Anderson and Hussein Chalayan, amongst many others.
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking E-mu Systems Emulator II sampler, Dave Rossum, Kevin Monahan and Paul Wiffen share inside stories of the development and manufacture of the instrument, their struggles to get around the technological limitations of the time and how the instrument was widely adopted by bands, artists and pop culture.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:50 - The Origins Of The Emulator 03:59 - The E-mu Name 04:57 - Kevin's Background 08:09 - Paul's Background 11:19 - The Motivation For Creating Emulator II 16:26 - Specific Challenges 25:19 - The Challenges Of Adding Hard Drives 30:35 - How Did The Iconic Industrial Design Come About? 35:11 - Having Two Disc Drives 38:22 - How Artists Responded To The Emulator II 46:46 - Using Sampling To Create Novelty Sounds 56:08 - Kevin's Contribution To Ferris Bueller's Day Off 57:37 - The Legacy Of The Emulator II And Sampling
#EmulatorII #Drumulator #SP12
"This is all part of musical creativity, which is what I love about my job so much, is that I get to be at the forefront of inventing these tools that then the musicians can go figure out what to do with and blow my socks off" - Dave Rossum
Dave Rossum Biog Dave Rossum is a pioneering figure in the field of electronic music and audio technology, celebrated as the co-founder of E-mu Systems. Rossum’s early interest in engineering and music led him to study at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he developed a deep understanding of both electronic circuits and music theory.
In 1971, Rossum co-founded E-mu Systems with Scott Wedge. Initially focusing on modular synthesizers, the company became a cornerstone of the burgeoning electronic music scene. Rossum’s technical brilliance was pivotal in designing groundbreaking instruments, including the E-mu Emulator, one of the first affordable digital samplers, and the E-mu SP-1200 drum machine, which played a critical role in the development of hip-hop and electronic music.
Rossum’s work extended beyond instruments to innovations in sound synthesis and sampling technologies, many of which remain influential. After E-mu was acquired in the 1990s, Rossum continued to innovate. In 2016, he launched Rossum Electro-Music, a company dedicated to creating advanced modular synthesizer tools, such as the Morpheus filter and Assimil8or sampler, which appeal to contemporary electronic musicians.
Renowned for his combination of scientific rigour and musical sensitivity, Dave Rossum is regarded as a visionary who helped shape the sound of modern music and remains an influential force in the industry.
Kevin Monahan Biog Kevin Monahan was a key figure at E-mu Systems, contributing to the company’s legacy of groundbreaking innovations in electronic music technology. Monahan played a pivotal role in the development and marketing of E-mu’s iconic products during the company’s peak in the 1980s and 1990s, helping bridge the gap between technical engineering and the creative needs of musicians.
As a product specialist and public face for E-mu Systems, Monahan was instrumental in introducing instruments like the E-mu Emulator series, the SP-1200 sampler, and the Proteus sound module to musicians around the world. His deep understanding of the technology, combined with his ability to communicate its potential to artists and producers, made him a vital part of E-mu’s success in both the professional and consumer music markets.
Beyond his technical expertise, Monahan’s passion for music and sound design made him a respected voice in the industry, helping to shape the culture and tools of electronic music during a transformative era. His contributions to E-mu’s success are remembered as an important chapter in the evolution of music technology.
Paul Wiffen Biog Paul Wiffen is a renowned keyboard player, sound designer, and music technologist. With a career spanning decades, Wiffen has worked as both a musician and a consultant for leading synthesizer manufacturers, blending his technical expertise with a keen musical sensibility. At the height of the Emulator II's success, he was London's most prominent programmer of the instrument.
As a keyboardist, Wiffen has collaborated with prominent artists like Paul McCartney and Peter Gabriel, as well as recording the bass line on the Band Aid single. As a sound designer he's been involved in several film scores, from Blade Runner with Vangelis to Jungle Fever with Stevie Wonder. His sound design work for manufacturers is equally notable —he played a significant role in programming and demonstrating groundbreaking synthesizers such as the Elka Synthex, OSCar and the Korg Z1, helping to shape the sound palettes of the 1980s and 1990s.
Known for his engaging live demonstrations at trade shows and clinics, Wiffen has also been an advocate for electronic music technology, helping musicians unlock the potential of new instruments and old.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for Sound On Sound, his website Failed Muso, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
In this podcast Rob Puricelli talks to Ian Boddy, who has been a fixture on the electronic music scene for over 40 years, as an artist, a sound designer and a label owner. His label, DiN, celebrates its 100th release this month with one of Ian’s own creations, ‘Nevermore’. Rob finds out more about this niche label, why and how it started and how it still remains a relevant and popular imprint to this day.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:36 - Where did it all begin? 05:58 - How did you get into sound design? 09:53 - How did the idea of the DiN label come about? 13:05 - What makes it on to the label? 14:43 - What was behind the Tone Science series of releases? 18:07 - How have services like Bandcamp empowered labels? 22:39 - The 100th DiN release, Nevermore 26:13 - What was the inspiration behind Nevermore and what was used to create it? 28:17 - What’s your story with the Analogue Systems French Connection? 31:44 - What are your thoughts on expressive synthesizers? 32:55 - Are there any more live performance recordings coming soon? 34:39 - What’s your personal favourite DiN release of the 100 so far? 35:56 - What are the plans for the next 100 DiN releases? 37:15 - What’s coming up in terms of live performances in the future? 38:58 - What instruments are inspiring you right now?
Ian Boddy Biog Composer, sound designer, DiN ambient music label owner & analogue synth aficionado.
Ian Boddy first got into composing music in the late 70’s in Newcastle upon Tyne, England whilst studying for a degree in Biochemistry. Having fallen in love with the sound-worlds of German electronic bands such as Tangerine Dream, he came across an arts centre that housed a studio filled with reel-to-reel tape machines and analogue synthesisers. Boddy taught himself how to use this equipment through a process of experimentation, thus began a long and successful music career.
Specialising in ambient and electronic music, Boddy has three main strands to his musical activities which are run under the umbrella of his own company, Something Else Music Limited.
Sound Design:
Worked with Zero-G since 1992 to release a series of critically acclaimed sample libraries such as Ambient Volumes 1 & 2, Malice in Wonderland, Ambiosis & Dreamzone. Released 3 Kontakt virtual instruments Morphology, Analogue Sequencer Loops & Outer Limits. In 2008 set up his own brand of downloadable sound libraries under the Ian Boddy Waveforms banner with 4 releases to date. Also done extensive sound design/synth programming work for Native Instruments, Camel Audio, Soniccouture, Sample Magic & LinPlug.
Library Music:
Worked with DeWolfe Music since 1997 releasing over 20 albums with titles such as Waterworlds, Drones, Living Planet, The Unexplained & The Weather. In total this represents over 500 pieces which have been used extensively in TV, radio, film & documentaries in the UK, Europe, Japan & North America.
DiN:
Although Boddy has been releasing music since 1980 his main focus since 1999 has been the DiN ambient electronica label. With the release of “Nevermore” the label has released 100 albums with artists such as Chris Carter, Robert Rich, Tetsu Inoue, Markus Reuter, Erik Wøllo, Scanner & ARC. Boddy has performed concerts in the UK, The Netherlands, Germany & USA.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for his website, failedmuso.com, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
The drum machine has progressed massively since the days of the home organ player. Here Oli Freke takes us through a brief history with lots of audio examples, highlighting the most iconic models to have been released during the last 40 years and the part that they have played in shaping musical trends.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:51 - Early Rhythm Machines 02:57 - The First Korg Rhythm Machine 04:03 - The Invention Of The Transistor 08:02 - Solid State Rhythm Machines 13:48 - Using Drum Machines In Mainstream Hits 17:05 - The First Programmable Drum Machines 21:53 - The Introduction Of Drum Pads And Brains 25:22 - The Arrival Of Digital Samples And The Linn Drum 30:53 - The Era Of Sampling Drum Machines 37:06 - The Impact Of The Roland TR-808 and TR-909 42:49 - Other Notable 80s Drum Machines 44:35 - The Introduction of MIDI 46:45 - Standardised Layouts And Spec 50:07 - Analogue Circuit Modelling And Software 53:40 - Back To Hardware With Eurorack Modular 54:47 - Drum Pattern Generation With AI
Oli Freke Biog Oli Freke is a London based musician, artist and author who has had a life-long passion for electronic instruments, synthesizers and electronic music. Currently working for the BBC, he has previously enjoyed success with electro band Cassette Electrik supporting the Human League on tour, written music for television and produced dance music since the 1990s.
His Synth Evolution range of posters, celebrating the synthesizer and electronic music culture, launched in 2017 and led to the definitive, hand-illustrated book, ‘Synth Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back)’, featuring every commercial synth of the 20th century.
DJ, Artist and Producer NikNak chats to Caro C about her route into immersive performances and turntablism, from her time as a student through to winning awards and launching her own albums, EPs and singles with the assistance of various funding organisations.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 02:12 - What Is Turntablism? 03:20 - Source Music 06:18 - Supportive Organisations 07:50 - Avoiding Copyright Issues 10:22 - Equipment Over The Years 15:03 - Immersive Performances 23:58 - MIDI Footpedals 25:46 - Performance Challenges 32:26 - Current Projects
NikNak Biog As a DJ, NikNak has shared the stage with the likes of Mr Scruff, Lefto Early Bird, Ila Brugal, Jamz Supanova, Craig Charles, Om Unit, Jon1st, Grandmaster Flash and has performed at Berghain, Glastonbury, Outlook UK, Dimensions, Cuidad Emergente in Argentina, FiftyLab Festival in Brussels and many more events. On the radio, NikNak has shown her huge musical knowledge via shows like "Melanin" on Worldwide FM and "Dystopia" on Refuge Worldwide.
As an artist/producer, NikNak is the first Black Turntablist to win an Oram Award in 2020. Having taken inspiration from a wide variety of genres and artists, she has worked on various theatre productions and R&Ds as a sound designer, performer, composer/producer and also as a member of Eve'sDropCollective as well as TC And The Groove Family
NikNak embarked on her debut tour in Summer 2022 using an 8 speaker surround-sound array for her immersive 3rd album "Sankofa" , has remixed works by Phillip Glass for the Refractions EP by PRS and has releases on labels like Kynant Records, Inventing Waves, Reel Long Overdub, OTONO and more.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Henrietta Smith-Rolla, known professionally as Afrodeutsche, gives Caro C insights into her musical journey, from her introduction to the music industry in Manchester, finding her sound, getting signed to Skam Records and becoming a BBC 6 Music DJ with a prime-time Friday evening slot.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:22 - BBC 6 Music 04:05 - Becoming A Musician 06:40 - Getting Signed To Skam 10:11 - Equipment Used On Debut Album 13:59 - Using Synth Pads 16:19 - More Recent Projects 18:19 - Creating Sample Packs For Spitfire 20:11 - Working With The Kyma 27:09 - Being Productive 32:30 - Balancing Different Projects
Afrodeutsche Biog AFRODEUTSCHE (Henrietta Smith-Rolla), is a British born Ghanaian/Russian/German artist, composer, producer, and DJ based in Manchester, UK. Her polyrhythmic compositions integrate a wide array of musical genres, including Afrofuturistic electro and techno, classical solo piano and Detroit legacy house; all memorable journeys into deep, abstracted sound.
Praised by the Guardian for enacting a new wave of club music, named by Dummy Mag as one of 2019’s most exciting artists, Afrodeutsche’s spectacular debut album ‘Break Before Make’ was released on the legendary Skam label in 2018, followed in 2019 with the debut release on Eclair Fifi’s label River Rapid and a much praised remixes for artists as diverse as Marie Davidson (Ninja Tune), Joep Beving (Deutsche Grammophon) and Nathan Fake (Cambria Instruments).
AFRODEUTSCHE has written and performed scores for films and documentaries including the BAFTA nominated ‘Kamali’ about a young girl skateboarder in India, and a live re-score of renowned Earth documentary ‘Baraka’ at The Royal Northern College of Music.
The soundtrack for ‘Kamali’ was released by SA Recordings in September 2020, alongside a sample library for Spitfire. The audio library illuminates much of Henrietta’s writing process as a self-taught musician and composer. Inspired by her work with the Kyma sound design environment, it’s a set of tools for composition based around colour. Her aim is to offer a new perspective and a sense of freedom for those delving into the library, no matter their level of experience.
In the summer of 2022 she scored Bottega Veneta’s SS2023 collection runway show, during Milan Fashion Week working, closely with head designer Matthieu Blazy throughout the process.
In 2023 she premiered a new string ensemble commission for MIF at the prestigious new Factory International venue. Henrietta lent her own vocals and piano playing alongside a sting ensemble from the Manchester Camerata, arranged and conducted by Robert Ames.
After years hosting a regular radio show ‘Black Forest’ on the renowned NTS, AFRODEUTSCHE now leads BBC 6 Music’s Friday night schedule with the Peoples Party, a peak time show that entrances listeners with her idiosyncratic combinations of crate dug party tunes from any point in the last 50 years, acid, rave, electro, breaks, footwork, ghetto tech and jacking house. In 2022 she has regularly presented BBC 6 Music live coverage of festivals at Glastonbury and Cardiff. At the end of the summer she curated the 6 Music stage for London festival ‘All Points East’.
Her DJ style is a synthesis of Drexciyan and Underground Resistance-inspired selections, intercut with a variety of forward thinking UK techno such as Bola and Lego Feet. Forever evolving a fully live hardware show, AFRODEUTSCHE debuted it at the opening of CTM Festival at Berghain in February 2020, integrating classical piano and hardware along with visuals.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Richard Norris tells Caro C about his early break into the music industry, success with The Grid in the 90s, plus his many collaborations, remixes and unexpected career turns.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:34 - Defining Career Moments 08:31 - The Gear Used By The Grid 10:27 - Musical Trajectory 20:35 - Favourite Equipment 25:58 - Interesting Collaborations 32:04 - Immersive Audio 35:51 - Future Projects
Richard Norris Biog Richard Norris has been recording, producing and releasing music for more than four decades. Richard started out in a post punk band, recording his first single at the age of 13, before diving into acid house as co-producer of Jack The Tab, one of the UK's first acid house compilations. He then formed The Grid with Soft Cell's Dave Ball, who went on to have 10 UK hit singles, including the Balearic classic Floatation and the million-selling Swamp Thing. He collaborated with Erol Alkan for the Beyond The Wizards Sleeve project and released two solo albums as the Time and Space Machine.
Richard has remixed hundreds of artists including Brian Eno, David Sylvian, Pet Shop Boys, Yello, Erasure, Tame Impala, Warpaint and many more, plus has collaborated with Robert Fripp, Marc Almond, Joe Strummer, Sun Ra and a host of others. He is currently working on his Group Mind label, which releases ambient, electronic and deep listening music, as well as continuing his remix, production and live work. His memoir, Strange Things Are Happening, will be released in 2024.
Caro C Biog Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC) and a "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3), Caro has been making her own brand of sensual electronica since the late 90's, reared on a diet of black music, Warp Records and Bjork. Caro currently finds herself in ample musical mischief in the Manchester creative mycelium and beyond - making music, teaching, producing podcasts as well as being the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Chiara Luzzana is a Sound Designer and Composer, known for her use of Zoom field recorders. A personal project sampling Swatch watches eventually became the official Swatch theme which then led on to similar commissions from several global brands. Caro C talks to her about her journey into corporate sound design.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:31 - Sound Artist And Soundtrack Composer 02:58 - Working With Brands 04:28 - Creating A Sensory Journey 07:30 - Recording Skin 08:40 - Getting Started In Sound Design 11:28 - Studying In Shanghai 12:33 - Learning To Listen 15:52 - Musique Concrète 16:55 - Production Techniques 18:41 - Working With Zoom 24:41 - Other Hardware and Software 26:38 - Creating A Real-Time Soundtrack 29:44 - The Lavazza Project 34:42 - Working In Immersive Audio 35:15 - Favourite Plug-ins 37:27 - Future Projects
Chiara Luzzana Biog Chiara Luzzana studied classical music as a child and later took a course in audio engineering specializing in musical cognition at Berklee College of Music. She started her career in cinema and advertising but in 2013 won an artistic residency in Shanghai.
During this time she started a personal sound design project, gathering more than 2400 samples from Swatch watches and building a soundtrack, which would later become the official music of Swatch stores around the world and also of the Venice Biennale, a prestigious international cultural exhibition hosted in Venice, Italy.
Following this success, Chiara has been invited to create soundtracks for a number of high profile brands.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album "Electric Mountain" is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
In this first part of an occasional series exploring modular synthesis and live performance. William Stokes talks to experimental electronic musician Scanner about his career, the choice of his favourite modules he'll showcase in his closing performance and the friendliness of the modular community.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:13 - The Tate Modern Installation 02:52 - Working With Laurie Anderson 06:40 - The Origin Of The Name Scanner 10:47 - Module 1: Morphagene 14:30 - Module 2: Mimeophon 18:52 - Module 3: Equation Composer 24:08 - Module 4: QU-Bit Prism 26:51 - Finding Your Sound With Modular 29:22 - Module 5: QU-Bit Nano Rand 31:16 - Module 6: Instruō øchd DivKid 33:12 - Modular Social Community 35:31 - Modular Aesthetics 38:38 - Module 7: Bela Gliss 42:37 - The Performance
To date he has scored 65 dance productions, including the hit musical comedy Kirikou & Karaba Narnia, Qualia for the London Royal Ballet, and the world’s first Virtual Reality ballet, Nightfall, for Dutch National Ballet.
More unusual projects have included designing sound for the Philips Wake-Up Light (2009), the re-opening of the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam in 2012 and the new Cisco telephone system used in many offices around the world. His work Salles des Departs is permanently installed in a working morgue in Paris whilst Vex, the residential house by Chance de Silva architects, featuring his permanent soundtrack, won the RIBA London Award 2018.
Committed to working with cutting edge practitioners he collaborated with Bryan Ferry, Wayne MacGregor, Mike Kelley, Torres, Michael Nyman, Steve McQueen, Laurie Anderson and Hussein Chalayan, amongst many others.
William Stokes Biog William Stokes is a producer, writer and artist in three-piece avant-psych band Voka Gentle. As well as being a critic and columnist for Sound On Sound, conceiving the popular Talkback column and heading up the Modular column, he has also written on music and music technology for The Guardian, MOJO, The Financial Times, Electronic Sound and more.
As an artist in Voka Gentle he has made records with producers from Gareth Jones (Depeche Mode, Grizzly Bear, Nick Cave) to Sam Petts-Davies (Radiohead, The Smile, Roger Waters), has had songs featured on franchises from FIFA Football to The Sims and has toured across the UK, Europe and the USA, playing festivals from Pitchfork Avant-Garde in Paris to SXSW in Austin, Texas. He has collaborated with artists including the Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne, Morcheeba, Panda Bear and Sonic Boom.
Alongside being a guitarist and pianist, he is a synthesis enthusiast with a particular interest in sampling and explorative sound manipulation. As a producer and engineer, he has made albums with acclaimed avant-garde musicians from composer Tullis Rennie to Mute Records artist Louis Carnell. “I’m always seeking out the most ‘out-there’, experimental, risk-taking musicians I can find to work with,” he says, “to capture vibrant, detailed recordings and create three-dimensional mixes of music that might otherwise struggle to know where to begin in the studio environment.”
Stokes currently lectures in Music Production at City, University of London.
Michelle Moog Koussa is the Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation, an organisation set up in her father’s memory to carry out educational work in the community and curate and display his extensive archive, and the many instruments he developed in his long career. In recent years, the BMF has increasingly touched the lives and minds of young people interested in electronic sounds, as well as preserving her father’s legacy for current and future generations to enjoy and draw inspiration from via the Moogseum located in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:05 - Why Start The Foundation?
04:30 - The Three Parts Of The Foundation
07:20 - Unusual Items In The Archive
09:16 - What did you learn about your father from the archive?
10:11 - Who inspired Bob Moog?
14:05 - The Moogseum
23:01 - What Synth’s Are Available?
24:12 - The Electronic Voyager documentary
28:17 - Did making the movie reveal anything new about your father?
30:15 - The impact of the Minimoog
33:21 - When can we see The Electronic Voyager Film?
34:12 - How important is the work of the BMF and other similar organisations?
Michelle Moog Koussa Biog Michelle Moog-Koussa, Bob Moog’s third daughter, was born in 1968, just as Wendy Carlos released her groundbreaking album Switched-On Bach, which brought the Moog synthesizer to the fore of the public consciousness. She is the founder and Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation, a position she has held for the past 16 years. She has grown the Foundation from a grass roots, volunteer-based organization to one that has nationally recognized goals and accomplishments, a staff of seven, and a worldwide network of supporters. She has been the driving force behind the Foundation’s vision to carry Bob Moog’s pioneering legacy forward by igniting creativity at the intersection of music, science, history, and innovation.
At the forefront of this vision is the Foundation’s hallmark educational project, Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool. Michelle stewarded this project from an occasional volunteer outreach effort to a standardized 10-week curriculum that teaches the science of sound through the magic of music to second grade children in nearly 100 classrooms in Asheville, North Carolina. While Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool currently serves 3,000 children a year, Michelle is leading the Foundation to expand this project nationwide.
Michelle also oversees the preservation of the Bob Moog Foundation Archives, a vast array of historic materials ranging from photos to schematics, from correspondence to prototypes. The Bob Moog Foundation shares the materials with other research institutions and museums, and opened its Moogseum in May 2019, and interactive facility where the Foundation’s educational and historic preservation initiatives converge.
Michelle has written the foreword for The Synthesizer Book, by acclaimed writer and historian, Mark Vail, and has been featured on numerous video and podcasts. Michelle gave a talk at TEDx Asheville in 2017 entitled, Inspired: The Journey of Discovering my Famous Father, which can be viewed here.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners.
He also writes reviews and articles for his website, failedmuso.com, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows.
He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
Don Lewis - The Untold Story Of A Synthesizer Pioneer
00:50:23
Don Lewis began his musical career as a church organist and ended up touring with the Beach Boys, as well as playing studio sessions for Quincy Jones & Michael Jackson. Frustrated by the limitations of music technology of the time, Don used his engineering skills to create LEO, the Live Electronic Orchestra, where he managed to get disparate instruments to “talk” to each other and be completely under his control. His work soon came to the attention of Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder of the Roland Corporation, who was inspired by Don’s technological feats to be one of the driving forces behind the creation of MIDI. But Don’s story is not just one of innovation, but also personal struggle. A struggle that would destroy his career but eventually see him vindicated as a true pioneer and worthy of his adoration within the music community and beyond.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:38 - How does it feel to have a movie made about you? 03:37 - Why make a film about Don? 05:06 - Why create LEO, the Live Electronic Orchestra? 08:40 - Is it about taking control?
10:46 - The documentary process 14:43 - A whole lotta love and struggles 19:47 - The technology of LEO 25:50 - Have you ever been tempted to move LEO from hardware to software? 29:13 - Gathering testimonies 31:33 - The documentary production 35:42 - How have you found pitching this movie to distributors? 39:52 - How LEO inspired MIDI 47:42 - Where can we watch the movie?
Don Lewis Biog Don Lewis is a gifted musician and educator whose mission is to inspire and empower audiences to achieve their dreams. Whether presenting a solo concert or collaborating with other musicians and artists, Don's music brings a message of hope, respect, and community. Don began playing piano as a Dayton, Ohio high school student. Later, at Tuskegee Institute, he accompanied and sang with the Tuskegee Chorus and played for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Freedom Rallies.
Uniting his interest in engineering with his musical talent, Don became one of the pioneers in synthesizer use and technology. In 1977, he designed and built a synthesizer system, Live Electronic Orchestra (LEO) that was an inspiration for Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), now on display at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA.
Don has performed at concerts worldwide and has appeared as a soloist with many symphony orchestras. As a studio artist, he has worked with such greats as Quincy Jones, Sergio Mendez and Michael Jackson. Don has also created scores for film and television productions including the award winning Rainbow's End and Were You There series featured on PBS. In addition he has scored commercials for such clients as Nissan, Pacific Telephone, and Digital Equipment Corp.
Also an enthusiastic teacher, Don has taught courses in the history of Gospel Music, multimedia, and synthesizer technology at University of California at Berkeley Extension, San Jose State University and Stanford University. In 1987, Don combined his love of children, education and music to create Say “Yes” to Music! Since then, he has delighted thousands of students, teachers and school administrators across the United States and Canada with his inspiring musical assemblies.
Throughout the years Don has been a concert artist and consultant with various musical instrument manufacturers including Hammond, Arp, Yamaha, Roland Corporation, and Rodgers Instruments. He continues to delight and touch the hearts of his fans in his concerts at home and throughout the world.
Ned Augustenborg Biog Ned Augustenborg has produced a wide range of content in the television industry, having produced or directed for ESPN, MSNBC, CNN, The Mountain Sports Network, Canadian Sports Network, Prime Ticket, CNBC and Sports Net.
Following his formal education at the University of Southern California and the University of Arizona, Augustenborg began his career in computer animation while collaborating on experimental video projects at the Long Beach Museum of Art Video Annex, followed by producing documentaries on such diverse subjects as the California Department of Corrections, a struggling Los Angeles Latino rock band and the early life of Nobel Prize winner Glenn T. Seaborg.
In addition to his freelance production career, Augustenborg also managed several studios for a variety of Cable TV operators throughout Southern California. A recipient of multiple Emmy and Cable ACE Awards in the categories of Entertainment, Documentary, Experimental Video, News; Augustenborg most recently produced and directed for Time Warner Cable’s newly developed sports channels in Southern California for which he received two Emmy nominations for "Best Live Sports Coverage" in 2014.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for his website, failedmuso.com, and other music-related publications, and has guested on a number of music technology podcasts and shows. He can often be found at various synthesizer shows demonstrating his own collection of vintage music technology. www.failedmuso.com Twitter: @failedmuso Instagram: @failedmuso Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/failedmuso/
Alex Ball has built a reputation as one of the most informative and interesting synth historian’s of the YouTube age. Starting with short videos about specific instruments, his work began to grow into more in-depth and elaborate explorations of the companies behind the instruments and the people who used them. Over the last year or so, Alex has been busy producing one of the most detailed examinations of the ARP company, it’s founder Alan R Pearlman, and the numerous people involved in making the American synthesizer manufacturer one of the most revered brands in the industry. This documentary film was made for, and with the full support of, the Alan R Pearlman Foundation, headed up by Alan’s daughter, Dina Pearlman.
Chapters 00:00 - Intro and music featuring the ARP family of synths by Alex Ball
00:50 - About Alex
03:45 - The Terminator 2 Analysis
05:40 - Meeting Heroes
06:02 - How did the ARP documentary happen?
12:49 - How long was the process?
15:45 - MUSIC CLIP: ARP family of synths by Alex Ball
16:05 - What are your research methods?
18:21 - Alternate truths
20:24 - Tracking down the gear
22:11 - Addendums and the ARP Avatar
23:44 - MUSIC CLIP: ’Interlude’ by Drew Schlesinger & David Torn featuring the ARP Avatar
24:14 - ARP Centaur 6 26:21 - Where do you see synth documentaries going?
31:06 - What’s next in Alex Ball’s world?
33:39 - What would you love to make a documentary about?
35:40 - Outro music featuring the ARP Solina by Alex Ball
Alex Ball Biog By day, Alex Ball is an award-winning media composer, producer and instrumentalist. By night, Alex explores his passion for synthesizers and the history of music technology and has made documentaries covering the stories of the Roland Corporation, ARP Instruments, the Prophet Synthesizers, the Linn LM-1 digital drum machine as well as breakdowns of iconic film scores such as Terminator 2, Escape from New York and Predator. www.alexballmusic.com
Rob Puricelli Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for his website, failedmuso.com, and other music-related publications, and has guested on a number of music technology podcasts and shows. He can often be found at various synthesizer shows demonstrating his own collection of vintage music technology. www.failedmuso.com
Part electronic visual music artist and part software developer as co-founder of Ableton, Robert Henke delves into the overlap between artist and engineer and how software needs to be accessible in order to encourage and not hinder the creative process.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:12 - Current Projects 03:23 - Lumière - Working With Lasers 06:49 - Building The Performance Software 08:54 - The Beginnings Of Ableton 11:37 - The Overlap Between Artist And Engineer 17:12 - Working With Audio Loops 20:49 - Making Software More Accessible 27:16 - Developing A Unique Sound 30:18 - Working Without Compression 36:27 - 8-Bit: The CBM 8032 AV Performance
Robert Henke Biog Robert Henke's work is not easy to describe in a single sentence, and that already says a lot about what fascinates him: complexity and detail, often emerging from seemingly simple processes. Henke is a software developer, fascinated by the inherent beauty and elegance of technical constructions, and co-founder of music software company Ableton where he still plays an active role in the development department. Henke is a Berlin based electronic music producer who blurs the boundaries between club and listening since the mid 1990s. Henke is a visual artist often working with lasers to create audiovisual performances and installations. And Henke is teaching and writing about computer based audiovisual art and in general is a very nice person happy to share his knowledge.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album "Electric Mountain" is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
A special podcast in honour of the 100th birthday of the unique "invisible" electronic musical instrument invented, by accident, by physicist Leon Theremin. Starring Cyril Lance (Chief Engineer, Moog), Dorit Chrysler (composer/New York Theremin Society), Bruce Woolley (songwriter/Radio Science Orchestra) and Katia Isakoff (singer/songwriter and producer) and the music of Clara Rockmore (theremin virtuosa/friend of Leon Theremin), talking about the magic of the instrument, its legacy, technology and present exciting developments as Moog releases Claravox, a centenary edition of the theremin.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:39 - Cyril Lance / The Claravox 16:12 - Dorit Chrysler 24:54 - Bruce Woolley 31:36 - Katia Isakoff
Music credits:
Rachmaninov Vocalise - Clara Rockmore, theremin. Nadia Reisenberg, piano. From: “Clara Rockmore – The Art of the Theremin”. Delos Productions CD. Courtesy of The Nadia Reisenberg / Clara Rockmore Foundation
Schneeleichen - by Dorit Chrysler - unreleased extract from M - eine stadt sucht einen moerder - with kind permission of Dorit Chrysler
Beat Monjune - by Dorit Chrysler - unreleased extract from M - eine stadt sucht einen moerder - with kind permission of Dorit Chrysler
Therexotica - by Peg Ming - with kind permission of Dorit Chrysler (a track on the Theremin 100 compilation produced by The NY Theremin Society)
Peace Song to Other Worlds (2 extracts) - by Radio Science Orchestra - with kind permission of Bruce Woolley
Theremini solo - by Katia Isakoff - with kind permission of Katia Isakoff
Clara Rockmore Biog Clara (Reisenberg) Rockmore holds a unique place in music history as the star performer of the theremin. Born in Russia, in 1911, at four, she was accepted as the youngest ever violin student at the St. Petersburg Imperial Conservatory. As conditions deteriorated after the Revolution, the Reisenberg family left Russia and travelled across Europe for several years until 1921 when they succeeded in gaining passage on a steamship bound for America. In New York, Clara resumed her studies with Leopold Auer, but shortly before she was to make her American debut (playing the Beethoven Concerto), she developed an arthritic problem with her bow arm, and had to give up the violin.
Fortunately, she had met Leon Theremin (an Americanisation of Lev Termen, as he was known in Russia), the inventor of the world’s first electronic instrument. “I was fascinated by the aesthetic part of it, the visual beauty, the idea of playing in the air,” Clara recalled, “and I loved the sound. I tried it, and apparently showed some kind of immediate ability to manipulate it. Soon Lev Sergeyevich gave me, for a present, the RCA model theremin.”
She convinced Leon Theremin to build her a far more precise and responsive instrument than the RCA model, one with a five-octave range, instead of three. Over the years she performed extensively but it was not until 1977 that she saw the release of her first commercial LP, performances with Nadia Reisenberg (recorded by Robert Moog) titled ‘The Art Of The Theremin’.
In 1989, Steve M. Martin, long fascinated by the instrument, embarked upon the documentary Theremin - An Electronic Odyssey, a film including some of Clara’s last public performances (videotaped at a 1989 Nadia Reisenberg tribute concert in Merkin Hall), and the New York reunion of Clara and Leon Theremin (then aged 95). Premiered in New York at Alice Tully Hall, the film in large measure revitalised interest in both the theremin itself and Clara Rockmore’s unique accomplishments. She died in 1998.
Cyril Lance Biog Cyril Lance is the Chief Technical Officer at Moog Music and lead designer of the Moog Claravox Centennial Theremin. Cyril first met Bob Moog in January 2005 during an informal visit to Moog factory. When Bob was diagnosed with cancer in April of 2005, Cyril was asked to come up and take over the engineering effort. Since then, Cyril has been at the helm of engineering and product development and, along with the dedicated and passionate team at Moog Music, has helped to continue Moog’s legacy of designing and producing beautifully crafted electronic instruments aimed at inspiring artists world-wide to explore and expand their personal sonic vocabularies. Cyril strives daily to continue Bob Moog’s legacy and to have a lot of fun along the way. “It’s truly a blessing to have the opportunity to contribute in one small-way to the transformative powers of music to bring joy and connect people on the deepest levels through-out the world”. https://www.moogmusic.com/
Dorit Chrysler Biog Dorit Chrysler has been dubbed a superior wizard of the theremin. An Austrian-born, New York based composer and performer, Chrysler is the co-founder of the NY Theremin Society and started the first international school for Theremin, KidCoolThereminSchool and L’Ecole Theremine with branches in NY and Paris. She is also one of the most visible Thereminists spreading the gospel of this mysterious sounding instrument. Most recently she finished her analog soundtrack for a remake of “M” by Fritz Lang and was featured on the soundtrack of the HBO documentary “Going Clear”. Chrysler received her master’s degree of musicology in Vienna and has notably collaborated with Anders Trentemøller, Cluster, Adult., CERN, Carsten Nicolai, Elliot Sharp and Laurie Spiegel. She has performed with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, had her work commissioned by MoMA and the Venice Biennale, and is the founder of “Dame Electric,” a festival dedicated to female | pioneers in Analog Music. As the director of the NY Theremin Society, Chrysler is promoting the application of theremin in different art disciplines and has produced the THEREMIN100 compilation release, commemorating the 100th birthday of the Theremin in 2020. http://www.doritchrysler.com/toc.html https://www.nythereminsociety.org/
Bruce Woolley Biog In 1969 Bruce Woolley bought a Futurama electric guitar, formed a school band, and dreamed of being a professional musician. After years of experimentation, and unsuccessful attempts at becoming a famous jazz-rock guitarist, he decided to concentrate on writing pop songs. In 1979 he co-wrote “Video Killed the Radio Star”. After a stint fronting cult New Wave unit The Camera Club, Woolley moved back into songwriting and production, forming a creative partnership with Grace Jones. In 1994, Woolley discovered Exotica and formed The Radio Science Orchestra, a theremin-led group that defined retrofuturism before people were talking about retrofuturism. A sonic time machine travelling along the whole history of electronic music, the Orchestra has collaborated with the world’s leading theremin virtuosi including Lydia Kavina, Carolina Eyck and Charlie Draper. Notable guest artists include Grace Jones, Polly Scattergood, Ken Hollings, Dr. Robert Moog, Steve Dub and Thomas Dolby. http://www.brucewoolleyhq.com/ https://www.radioscienceorchestra.com/
Katia Isakoff Biog Katia Isakoff is a composer and multi-instrumentalist music producer whose compositions, performances and productions first appeared in the Add N To (X) album Loud Like Nature (Mute Records). She has since collaborated on numerous albu...
19 Apr 2021
Endlesss Music Creation - Tim Exile
00:32:13
Musician and Technologist Tim Exile chats to Caro C about the creation of the Endlesss project and the benefits of immersive, collaborative music creation in real time.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:04 - Musical Background And The Endlesss Project 05:27 - Creating An Intuitive Software 08:23 - The Technical Challenges Of Endlesss 11:09 - Turning Music Creation Into A Social Event 13:39 - The Team Behind Endlesss 17:41 - Enthusiasts and Established Artists 19:29 - Future Connectivity 21:11 - Mobile Music Creation 23:40 - Using Endlesss To Generate Ideas 26:28 - Music Ownership 28:30 - Educational Use 30:22 - How To Get Started
Tim Exile Biog Tim Exile is a musician, technologist and the founder of Endlesss (yes that's Endlesss with 3 s's), a groundbreaking app for live collaborative music creation with a global community of creators. Tim has released records on labels like Warp and Planet Mu, appeared at venues like Berghain/Panorama Bar and Fabric, and performed alongside artists such as Imogen Heap, Nile Rodgers, Beardyman and many more. Before he launched Endlesss, Tim built digital musical instruments for Native Instruments amongst numerous other projects, talks and collaborations aligned with his embrace of creative flow-states. https://endlesss.fm/
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. She started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to Warp Records in the late 1990's. This "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Synth Gems 1 is the first Bjooks publication to be authored by their Editor-in-Chief, Dr Mike Metlay, and sets out to document, both visually and in words, some of the most incredible keyboard synthesizers ever made. Using strict selection criteria, Mike, Kim Bjørn and the team have curated a collection of instruments that are pioneering and rare, influential and impactful and, above all, gorgeous to look at. In this podcast, I wanted to dig into that selection process, find out what it took to document these instruments and ask how this book came into existence, so I began by asking Mike where the inspiration for this book came from...
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - What was the inspiration for this book? 03:12 - What was the process of whittling your list down? 07:24 - Why no modular synths? 09:59 - Were there any synths that you wanted but couldn’t find decent examples of? 12:24 - How did you check and verify your accuracy? 20:06 - How did you come up with the essay format? 22:56 - What challenges did you face when photographing the synths featured? 28:40 - What prompted the inclusion of an introduction to synthesizers? 37:24 - Which is the one instrument in this book you HAD to have in there? 43:36 - Did you ever consider including audio examples? 45:17 - Can you offer any insights into what may appear in Synth Gems 2?
Mike Metlay Biog
After attaining a Ph.D in Nuclear Structure Physics, and eschewing a career in that most technical of scientific fields, Dr Mike Metlay worked for ‘Recording, The Magazine for the Recording Musician’, for over 20 years, the last five of which were as Editor. It allowed him to indulge in his passion for electronic music, and the making of it, through many mediums such as writing, creating and performing. This eventually led him to become Editor-in-Chief at Bjooks, a highly-respected publishing house specialising in luxurious and detailed tomes on the subjects of synthesizers and music technology.
Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMIs so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for his website, failedmuso.com, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
Krust, also known as K or DJ Krust, chats about his early involvement in the Bristol music scene in the late 80s to early 90s, the development of the Drum & Bass sound and setting up the Full Cycle and Dope Dragon labels with Roni Size.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:28 - Early Influences And Getting Started 07:28 - Getting Immersed In Rave 08:45 - Launching A Label 10:23 - Learning The Equipment 12:12 - Jungle DJ / Producers 16:11 - Creating A Sound Palette 17:58 - Making Use Of Hardware 19:52 - Preparing A Track 23:23 - Dealing With Burnout 28:20 - Helping Musicians 31:06 - Crafting The New Album 41:15 - The Current Jungle / DnB Scene 48:36 - Current And Future Projects
Interviewee Biog Bristol-born b-boy Kirk Thompson is best known as DJ and producer Krust, an artist whose ideas and frequencies rumble and resonate deep within jungle’s DNA. With an indelible legacy as a key figurehead in the Bristol sound, he has never compromised since emerging in 1989 as a member of Fresh 4. As a founding member of Full Cycle, the first non-London label to truly mould and manipulate the jungle schematic, and Reprazents, one of the first D&B acts to infiltrate the popular psyche and win critical Mercury Music Prize acclaim, his designs continue to help shape our understanding of what drum & bass is.
He is regarded as one of drum & bass and jungle's founders and pioneers noted for his unique musical style. Epic experimentalism of Krust’s can be heard in his 1997 single ‘Soul In Motion’ and similarly ground-breaking ‘98 single ‘True Stories’ for Talkin Loud. An in-demand remixer, Krust has reworked tracks for Bjork, Korn, Moloko, Claude VonStroke, DJ Krush, Adam F, Shy FX, Alex Reece, DJ Ron, DJ Rap and many more. His recent album entitled Edge of Everything was released in 2020 on Crosstown Rebels and received critical acclaim. It was nominated for a album of the year with AIM Award and DjMag.
In addition to making music Krust has helmed Adapt The Canvas, a lifestyle coaching consultancy that holds workshops and seminars giving advice on time management, overcoming personal challenges, creative thinking, wellness and the development of the working mindsets, which have taken place in music colleges, universities and The Barbican, London. His Weekly podcast Conversation for Creatives reaches a global audience of creatives and can be checked out on his Instagram and Spotify profiles.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Paul White takes us on a sonic journey as he explores the endless possibilities of sound design using a guitar as your sound source. Through the use of foot pedals and effects plug-ins he demonstrates the synth-like sound and textures it can bring to your electronic music.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:55 - Guitars As A Sound Source 03:55 - Sustaining Notes 06:10 - Using an EBow 07:09 - Adding Vibrato 07:48 - Emulating Multiple Oscillators 08:54 - Adding Plug-in Effects 10:16 - Using Granular Delays 11:40 - Creating Percussive And Rhythmic Effects 13:43 - The Completed Soundscape
Paul White Biog Paul White joined the Sound On Sound team in 1991 where he became Editor In Chief, a position he held for many years before recently becoming Executive Editor. Paul has written more than 20 recording and music technology textbooks, the latest being The Producer’s Manual.
Having established his own multitrack home studio in the 1970s he’s worked with many notable names including Bert Jansch and Gordon Giltrap. He’s played in various bands over the years and currently collaborates with Malvern musician Mark Soden, under the name of Cydonia Collective. Paul still performs live claiming that as he has suffered for his music he doesn’t see why everyone else shouldn’t too!
Susanne Kirchmayr, also known as Electric Indigo, is an Austrian music producer, Techno DJ and founder of the female:pressure, an international network of women in the electronic music industry. Here she chats to Caro C about her career beginnings through to her current projects.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:02 - Ferrum 7 music track 02:09 - Starting Out As A DJ 08:55 - Becoming A Music Producer 13:18 - Founding female:pressure 20:38 - An International Support Network 23:50 - Musical Styles 27:15 - Current Projects 29:57 - Ableton and Modular 31:10 - Working In Multi-Channel Audio 34:39 - Future Plans
Electric Indigo Biog Electric Indigo, DJ, composer, musician has performed in 45 countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. She represents an intelligent and distinguished interpretation of techno and electronic music. In 1998 she founded the transnational female:pressure network for which she received an Honorary Mention at Prix Ars Electronic in 2009. The Republic of Austria awarded her with the Kunstpreis Musik in 2020. Electric Indigo premiered her compositions at festivals like Wien Modern, Musikprotokoll, CTM or Heroines of Sound and composed for Klangforum Wien. Her debut album “5 1 1 5 9 3” came out on Imbalance Computer Music, followed by "Ferrum" on Editions Mego in 2020. “Brittle” was released on Ventil Records in 2022. https://indigo-inc.at/
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album "Electric Mountain" is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Bristol-based musician and songwriter Hazel Mills talks us through her impressive career, from working as a touring session musician, being a member of the Will Gregory Moog Ensemble, working with UDO Audio and releasing her debut solo E.P.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:30 - Working As A Keyboardist 03:12 - MIDI Controller Of Choice 04:04 - Live Arrangements And Sounds 09:36 - Working With A Musical Director 10:56 - Collection Of Synths 12:04 - Getting Onto This Path 16:22 - Synth Secrets Series 18:23 - Will Gregory Moog Ensemble 24:28 - Releasing A Solo E.P. 31:55 - Working With UDO Audio 34:42 - Future Projects
Hazel Mills Biog Hazel Mills is a Bristol-based musician/songwriter who has toured the globe across multiple genres, with artists including Florence + The Machine, Dave Rowntree (Blur), Goldfrapp, Birdy, Hannah Peel and The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble. Her Classical background, pop sensibilities and passion for 1960s American minimalism and analog synths feed into both her performance and her writing.
Alongside her touring commitments, Hazel has been writing material for her own forthcoming project, Violaine, with long-term collaborator and producer/musician TJ Allen (Bat For Lashes, Portishead, Anna Calvi). The music of Violaine evolved from her former post-punk band, Adding Machine and also draws influence from Musique Concrete, 80s pop and the music of Japanese pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Marshall Jefferson talks about his early years in the Chicago house music scene, his seminal 'Move Your Body’ track, the classic equipment he's worked with and how modern music technology allows anyone to create with ease.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:10 - The Early Years 05:42 - Rock Music Influence 08:52 - Ron Hardy, Trax Records & DJ Pierre 10:29 - Replacing Stolen Equipment 11:44 - Logic and Roland Cloud 13:19 - The Ten City Album 13:47 - Incorporating Binaural 15:36 - Composing Alone 18:03 - Working On Headphones 22:47 - Sonic Improvements 24:39 - Market Saturation 27:09 - Females In Electronic Music 29:25 - Future Projects
Marshall Jefferson Biog Marshall Jefferson has been a key player in the house music genre. Starting out in the Chicago house scene, his early tracks like ‘Open Our Eyes’ and ‘7 Ways to Jack’ were put out on the TRAX Records label and made an impact on the scene, but it was his use of piano in ‘Move Your Body’ that bought wider attention to his work.
Since those early years, Marshall has helped to develop the acid house movement with his work on ‘Acid Trax’ with DJ Pierre in 1987. He also turned his hand to deep house, most notably on ‘Open Our Eyes’, released in 1988 on Big Beat. He headlined the first House Music Tour of Europe in 1987 and in the 90s did a five-year residency with the Tribal Gathering and Big Love Events in London, during which time he released his 1997 studio album Day Of The Onion.
In 2021, Marshall teamed up with Byron Stingily to release a new album 'Judgement' under the Ten City band name, their first collaboration in 25 years.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album "Electric Mountain" is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Richard Evans has worked in the music industry for over thirty years in a variety of roles, including positions at London Records, Factory Records and MTV Europe. In 1998 he set up marketing consultancy The Fan Base and has been connecting musical artists with their audiences ever since. He is the founder of the This Is Not Retro website and record label and has worked for Andy Bell, Vince Clarke and Erasure since 2009.
During the pandemic, Richard set out to create a definitive record of electronic music during its earliest and most defining era, between 1978 and 1983. Instead of interviewing people with rose-tinted and distorted memories of that period, he instead decided to research the very magazines and publications being created as things happened to piece together an accurate record of the movement as it unfolded in real time.
See the Show Notes for further details.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:16 - Why chose this 5-year period? 04:40 - What made you want to write this book? 12:17 - What do you consider milestone songs in electronic pop? 17:29 - Were producers and labels more important back then? 20:07 - Why was British electronic pop at the forefront of the movement? 28:00 - The impact of Bowie 31:29 - The influence of literature and politics on early electronic pop 35:05 - Witnessing electronic music live 40:00 - Will we ever see a musical revolution like that again? 44:05 - What did you learn about how underrepresented women were in this genre?
Richard Evans Biog Richard Evans has worked in the music industry for over thirty years in a variety of roles, including positions at London Records, Factory Records and MTV Europe. In 1998 he set up marketing consultancy The Fan Base and has been connecting musical artists with their audiences ever since. He is the founder of the This Is Not Retro website and record label and has worked for Andy Bell, Vince Clarke and Erasure since 2009. Richard is based in Dorset where he lives in perpetual fear of being asked what his favourite record is.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for Sound On Sound, his website Failed Muso, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
As a tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto on the first anniversary of his passing, Caro C talks to Richard Barbieri, Natalie Beridze and Carsten Nicolai, aka Alva Noto, three musicians who were fortunate enough to collaborate with him. Here, they share some insights into his mindset and methodologies.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:44 - Richard Barbieri 09:04 - Natalie Beridze 19:45 - Carsten Nicolai / Alva Noto
Ryuichi Sakamoto Biog Ryuichi Sakamoto was a multi award-winning keyboardist, songwriter, composer and producer who along with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, became pioneers of the electronic music genre in Honsono's band Yellow Magic Orchestra.
Prior to his success with the band, Sakamoto earned a B.A. in music composition and worked as a session musician and producer. Alongside his success with the band, he continued his solo work, releasing solo albums and collaborations, experimenting with various genres and fusing traditional with electronic. This work led to him scoring more than 30 films throughout his career, his most famous being Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence and The Last Emperor. In his later career he composed a multimedia opera, sampled a glass building for use in one of his works and traveled to the Arctic to record the sound of melting snow.
Richard Barbieri Biog Hailing from London, Richard joined the British band Japan in 1975 and saw huge success around the world until they split in 1982. He continued to work with David Sylvian, as well as Sylvian’s brother, Steve Jansen on separate projects. He reunited with Sylvian, Jansen and bass player Mick Karn for the Rain Tree Crow project and continued to play with Steve & Mick as part of ‘JBK’. In the early 1990s, the three of them teamed up with Tim Bowness and Steven Wilson as part of No-Man and it was here that Barbieri and Wilson would begin their long musical association. Porcupine Tree had initially been a Wilson solo project but he recruited Richard in 1993 and over the next 17 years, became one of the shining lights of the neo-prog / pop scene, embracing a more heavy style as the years went on. Reuniting in 2021, they released the first Porcupine Tree album in 12 years with 2022’s ‘Closure/ Continuation’, a critically acclaimed return to form. Richard has a large body of solo work which he started to release in 2005 and still does to this day.
Natalie Beridze Biog Natalie Beridze is a Georgian music composer and songwriter. Since 2003 Natalie has been performing live concerts worldwide, and has been known as the first female electronic music artist from Georgia. From 2002-2008 she lived in Cologne and produced music under the artist name TBA. She’s released music in Europe on Max.E, Monika Enterprise, CMYK, Laboratory Instinct, CES Records DADO records, Apollo Records Chainmusic, CES Records and ROOM40.
In addition to her solo projects, Beridze has collaborated with artists such as Thomas Brinkmann, AGF (Antye Greie), Gudrun Gut, Joerg Follert, Marcus Schmickler, Nika Machaidze aka Nikakoi, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Gacha Bakradze, Alex Kordzaia, Annika Henderson, Antye Greie-Fuchs, Barbara Morgenstern, Beate Bartel, Danielle De Picciotto, Gudrun Bredemann, Lucrecia Dalt, Merja Kokkonen, Mommo G, Natalie Beridze, Pilocka Krach, Sonae. Beridze’s music is part of Adam Curtis’s recent BBC Documentary series “Can’t get you out of my head”. She also creates works for piano, orchestra and choir, which have been performed by a number of artists and the Tbilisi state opera orchestra. Her recent compositions for piano, keyboard, soprano and tape are part of the ongoing program of Zurich based Kiosk Ensemble.
Beridze, alongside Nika Machaidze teaches songwriting and music production at CES (creative education studio).
Under the pseudonym Alva Noto, Carsten Nicolai is one of the best-known representatives of contemporary electronic music. Concerts have taken him to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Tate Modern in London. His various musical projects include collaborations with Ryōji Ikeda, Mika Vainio, Iggy Pop, Blixa Bargeld and Ryūichi Sakamoto. With the latter, Nicolai composed the score for Alejandro González Iñárritu's Oscar-winning film The Revenant, which was nominated for a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, a Critics Choice Award and a Grammy.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Composer, pianist and producer Martin Kohlstedt talks to Caro C about his approach to combining piano and electronic instruments, improvisation in the studio and on stage, plus the work he is doing to reduce the carbon footprint of touring.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:42 - Combining Piano And Electronics 05:10 - Organic, Improvised Performances 09:29 - Incorporating The Voice Into Recordings 10:23 - Favoured Hardware Choices 12:56 - Touring Equipment 15:54 - Selecting A Live Team 17:10 - The Recording Process 20:14 - Launching The Edition Kohlstedt Label 23:39 - Film, TV and Other Commissions 25:11 - The Process Of Collaboration 27:14 - The Influenced Of Nature 30:15 - Supporting Ecological Projects 32:07 - Planning The Touring Schedule 35:52 - Kinship With Other Artists
Martin Kohlstedt Biog Martin Kohlstedt is a composer, pianist and producer known for his work in instrumental music and electronica. His albums, including Tag and Nacht, Strom, Ströme, Flur and Feld, along with their respective reworks, have earned international recognition and led to global concert tours.
Kohlstedt’s music blends electronica with acoustic and analogue elements, incorporating classical piano, ambient sounds, field recordings, and score design. His work is characterised by the seamless integration of diverse influences and soundscapes. Whether performing at festivals, in intimate piano concerts, or creating movie scores, his music is dynamic and immersive, evolving in real-time during live performances.
He describes his approach as modular composition, where his pieces are never fixed. Improvisation plays a key role in his process and he values audience interaction, the freedom to experiment and to collaborate with people, spaces and contexts. Throughout his career, Kohlstedt has worked with notable partners such as the Leipzig Gewandhaus Choir, artists like Douglas Dare and Sudan Archives and labels including Warner Classics. In addition to his own compositions, he creates music and scores for films, plays, podcasts and audiobooks. Kohlstedt also runs his own label, Edition Kohlstedt that supports a reforestation project near his hometown.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album 'Electric Mountain' is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Matt Johnson has emerged as one of the most talented and prolific keyboard players of the last 20 years, mostly as part of the legendary Jamiroquai, in which he both writes and performs, and more recently as a YouTube channel host where he demonstrates this love of modern and vintage synths.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:37 - How did you get your first big break? 02:34 - Was joining Jamiroquai daunting? 03:20 - What was your keyboard rig in those early days? 04:11 - Are workstations an important part of your rig? 04:55 - How did you get to write with Jay Kay? 07:27 - What are you up to outside of Jamiroquai? 08:41 - What’s your rig in 2022? 11:23 - Dream gigs 12:58 - The YouTube explosion 18:20 - What new synths have stood out to you in recent years? 24:06 - What would you like to see happen in synthesizer technology next? 27:24 - Matt’s home studio 31:48 - Sound design
Matt Johnson Biog For the last 20 years Matt has been the keyboard player for Jamiroquai, co-writing most of the band's output during that time and co- producing the last album ‘Automaton’.
In between working with the band he has recorded as a session player with numerous artists in many genres including Duffy, Ashanti, J.P.Cooper, Jax Jones, S.G.Lewis, Purple Disco Machine, Newton Faulkner, Nolwenn Leroy, Will Young and many more.
Now Matt has released his debut solo record ‘With the Music’ under the Splash Blue label, with a retro Jazz Funk feel.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for his website, failedmuso.com, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
Olivier Alary & Johannes Malfatti have been collaborating on music projects for the past twenty years. Here, Olivier and Johannes go behind the scenes on the techniques that they used to create their latest collaborative album 'u,i', featuring the use of VoIP technology to process sound.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction
00:34 - Greetings
01:22 - An Introduction To The Project
02:29 - The First Skype Recording
05:09 - Inspired by an Accordion
10:28 - Replicating the Sonic Accidents
15:14 - The Skype Codec
18:51 - Compositional Techniques
21:13 - Incorporating The Original Skype Recording
Olivier Alary Biog Originally from Toulouse and now based in Montreal, Olivier previously worked under the Ensemble alias, in which Johannes participated as mixer, arranger and co-writer. Ensemble’s 2000 debut (on Aphex Twin’s Rephlex label) led to Björk drafting Olivier to co-write the track ‘Desired Constellation’ and remix several others. After releasing two further Ensemble albums on FatCat, Olivier has focused increasingly on film music and has composed the music of over forty fiction films and documentaries, some of which have received prestigious awards and screenings in Europe, the US and China. http://www.olivieralary.com/
Johannes Malfatti Biog
Berlin-based Johannes Malfatti graduated from Germany’s Film and Television School HFF Konrad Wolf. His work for film, television, theatre and music projects has ranged in style from electronic music to orchestral composition. With two recent albums under his own name, Johannes’ solo work focuses on contemporary and experimental techniques, often combining acoustic and electronic elements to create rich and slowly moving sonic environments. The first collaborative release under their own names, ‘u,i ’ continues the pair’s long-standing research and to explore the grey areas between noise and musicality; the acoustic and electronic. https://www.johannesmalfatti.com/
Olivier & Johannes latest album, u,i , was recently released on the 130701 label.
A tribute to the life and works of composer and synth pioneer Peter Zinovieff by James Gardner, featuring interviews with co-workers and collaborators.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:04 - Collaborations 04:13 - Replacing Tape With Digital 06:29 - The Move Into Computers 08:03 - The Launch of EMS 14:31 - Running A Studio From Home 16:16 - Working In Raasay 18:19 - The VCS3 And Synthi 20:05 - Copies And Virtual Versions 22:50 - Creativity Post EMS 26:49 - Lucy Railton
Peter Zinovieff Biog Peter Zinovieff has been described as Britain’s Bob Moog. A renowned composer from the mid ‘60s to the present day, he was one of the founders of EMS who produced seminal synthesizers such as the VCS3 and the Synthi AKS, as used by Brian Eno, Pink Floyd and the Chemical Brothers.
Music Credits Peter Zinovieff and Lucy Railton - RFG - Inventions for Cello and Computer - PAN Records PAN 90 (2020) Peter Zinovieff - Tarantella (1966) Peter Zinovieff - South Pacific Migration Party - The Association for Depth Sound Recordings ADSR010CD (2021)
James Gardner Biog James Gardner is a composer, synthesizer programmer, researcher, and broadcaster based in Auckland, New Zealand. Born in Liverpool, James played and programmed synthesizers in London during the 1980s, and in 1990 co-founded the band/remix team Apollo 440. Following encouragement from Michael Finnissy, he left the group in 1993 to concentrate on notated composition. Moving to New Zealand in 1994, he established the contemporary music ensemble 175 East, which he directed until 2010.
As well as composing, he has written and presented many programmes for RNZ Concert including features on Frank Zappa, Morton Feldman, John Barry’s James Bond soundtracks, and These Hopeful Machines – a six-part series on electronic music.
As a teacher, Gardner has lectured on music and music technology at the University of Auckland, Unitec Institute of Technology and the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, where he is an Adjunct Senior Fellow. His primary research topic is the synthesizer company EMS, and the electronic music studio of Peter Zinovieff.
Richard James Burgess is a man who wears many hats. In a career that spans over five decades, Richard was first and foremost a drummer. In the 1970s, he became a part of the London music scene as a session drummer, as well as with the ground- breaking band Landscape.
Richard combined his passion for music, drumming and electronics when he worked closely with Dave Simmons on the Simmons SDS-V drum kit. After Landscape dissolved, he began to work more behind the desk, being one of the first to own a Fairlight CMI in the U.K. He would go on to work with the likes of Kate Bush, Spandau Ballet, Visage and Colonel Abrams.
The 1990s saw Burgess re-enter the world of academia and he would go on to write some of the most comprehensive guides on music production. Recently, Landscape released ‘Landscape A Go-Go’, a comprehensive 5 CD anthology of their work covering their entire recorded output between 1977 and 1983.
Richard recently chatted to Rob from his New York apartment, where he talked about his journey with electronic music and his future plans as an author, musician and producer.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:49 - Looking Back On Working With Landscape 04:43 - Using New Technology Live On Stage 06:19 - Starting The Journey With Music Technology 08:00 - The Threat Of Electronic Drums And Drum Machines 10:37 - Working With JJ Jeczalik 12:25 - Involvement With The Simmons SDS V 16:47 - Modern Electronic Drums 18:03 - Using Drum Sample Libraries 22:19 - The Fairlight CMI 29:00 - The Introduction Of Page R 32:23 - The Move Into Production 37:51 - The New Romantics 39:43 - Working With A Variety Of Artists 42:07 - Richard Burgess The Author 46:39 - A.I. In Music 50:20 - Compensating Musicians For Their Work 53:51 - Current Projects 55:24 - A Landscape Reunion?
Richard James Burgess Biog Born in London, Burgess’ family emigrated to New Zealand in 1958 when Richard was aged 10. He studied at both Berklee and London’s Guildhall before forming Landscape. His musical career included being a session drummer, producer engineer and inventor.
Burgess re-entered academia where he both lectured and advised on music production and the music business in both the U.K. and the United States. His books, ‘The Art of Music Production’ and ‘The History of Music Production’ are considered essential reading for anyone in the industry.
Richard remains entrenched in the music business to this day, chairing the American Association of Independent Music, having also served on the boards of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences and the Smithsonian Music Committee.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for Sound On Sound, his website Failed Muso, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
Electronic music pioneer and composer Suzanne Ciani discusses her career highlights in conversation with William Stokes, including early performance struggles due to her determination to present shows in quadraphonic, a career resurgence thanks to Moogfest and why she loves working with the Buchla interface.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:06 - The First Female To Score A Movie 04:01 - Having More Than 20 Albums 04:36 - Golden Apples Of The Sun 07:55 - Live Performance Struggles 11:57 - A Love Of Programming 14:09 - Interacting With A Buchla 17:14 - A New Way Of Performing Music 22:32 - The Buchla 250 MARF 25:36 - Making A Comeback At Moogfest 29:36 - Creating Spatial Content 38:40 - A Meeting Of Art And Science 41:36 - Future Plans
"I didn't build the machines, I certainly didn't design them, but I could interact with them and use them, you know, and that's what I liked".
#buchla #moog
Suzanne Ciani Biog Suzanne is a five-time Grammy award-nominated composer, electronic music pioneer, and neo-classical recording artist who has released over 20 solo albums including "Seven Waves," and "The Velocity of Love," along with a landmark quad LP “LIVE Quadraphonic,” which restarted her Buchla modular performances. Her work has been featured in films, games, and countless commercials as well.
She was inducted into the first class of Keyboard Magazine's Hall of Fame alongside other synth luminaries, including Bob Moog, Don Buchla and Dave Smith and received the Moog Innovation Award. Most recently, she is the recipient of the Independent Icon Award from A2IM, The Golden Ear Award and the SEAMUS Award.
Suzanne has provided the voice and sounds for Bally's groundbreaking "Xenon" pinball machine, created Coca-Cola’s pop-and-pour sound, designed logos for Fortune 500 companies and carved out a niche as one of the most creatively successful female composers in the world. A Life in Waves, a documentary about Ciani’s life and work, debuted at SXSW in 2017 and is available to watch on all digital platforms.
Ciani is a graduate of Wellesley College and holds a Masters in Music Composition from the University of California, Berkeley.
William Stokes Biog William Stokes is a producer, writer and artist in three-piece avant-psych band Voka Gentle. As well as being a critic and columnist for Sound On Sound, conceiving the popular Talkback column and heading up the Modular column, he has also written on music and music technology for The Guardian, MOJO, The Financial Times, Electronic Sound and more.
As an artist in Voka Gentle he has made records with producers from Gareth Jones (Depeche Mode, Grizzly Bear, Nick Cave) to Sam Petts-Davies (Radiohead, The Smile, Roger Waters), has had songs featured on franchises from FIFA Football to The Sims and has toured across the UK, Europe and the USA, playing festivals from Pitchfork Avant-Garde in Paris to SXSW in Austin, Texas. He has collaborated with artists including the Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne, Morcheeba, Panda Bear and Sonic Boom.
Alongside being a guitarist and pianist, he is a synthesis enthusiast with a particular interest in sampling and explorative sound manipulation. As a producer and engineer, he has made albums with acclaimed avant-garde musicians from composer Tullis Rennie to Mute Records artist Louis Carnell. “I’m always seeking out the most ‘out-there’, experimental, risk-taking musicians I can find to work with,” he says, “to capture vibrant, detailed recordings and create three-dimensional mixes of music that might otherwise struggle to know where to begin in the studio environment.”
Stokes currently lectures in Music Production at City, University of London.
As one third of the second incarnation of Scritti Politti, David Gamson was the man behind the polished, groove-laden sound of the band’s second album Cupid & Psyche ’85 and their third album, Provision. Gamson went on to write and produce for the likes of Chaka Khan, Meshell Ndegeocello, George Benson and Luther Vandross, and more recently with the likes of Kesha, Charli XCX, Jessie J and Kelly Clarkson.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:19 - Where did your electronic music journey start? 03:06 - Geoff Travis steps in and joining Scritti Politti 05:13 - The birth and gestation of Cupid & Psyche '85, plus the Nile Rodgers myth 07:32 - What was your collaboration process with Green like? 10:36 - The sound and gear of Cupid & Psyche '85 15:02 - The MIDI effect 16:48 - Arrangements and counterpoint 19:16 - Provision and pain 21:42 - The constraints of having a 'signature sound' 23:00 - Partnering with Green again 24:00 - How do you find and use music technology today? 26:31 - TV and movie work and the future 28:39 - Cupid & Psyche ’85 live in 2021
David Gamson Biog David Gamson first dabbled with synthesizers in his teenage years, playing with his father’s ARP 2600. It was the first step on a very successful musical journey that eventually saw him come to the attention of Rough Trade founder, Geoff Travis. Travis had already signed and nurtured an act fronted by Welshman Green Gartside, called Scritti Politti. Travis saw the potential in both men and they soon began a fruitful career as part of the second incarnation of the band.
Two globally successful and critically-acclaimed albums followed, Cupid & Psyche '85 and 1988's Provision before the band dispersed, a move brought on by Gartside’s overwhelming distaste for the industry.
During that period, Gamson spent time producing, writing and arranging for the likes of Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, occasionally with Green at his side. However, after a painful, drawn out experience recording Provision, David decided to establish himself more as a producer and writer than a band member and his first post-Scritti effort was for Tony LeMans on Prince’s Paisley Park Records label.
His work as a staff producer at Warner Bros saw him working with Roger Troutman, Sheila E., George Benson and another stint with Chaka Khan. Gamson’s work with Meshell Ndegeocello saw him nominated for multiple Grammys.
After going independent, David found himself working with Green again on Provision’s follow up, 1999’s 'Anomie & Bonhomie', this time solely as producer. After this, he turned his hand to film and TV, working alongside Hans Zimmer on Mission Impossible 2.
More recently, he has focused on songwriting and has worked with a number of high profile artists including Kesha, Adam Lambert, Jessie J and Quinn XCII. Most notably, he received a songwriting GRAMMY nomination for his work on ‘Stronger’ by Kelly Clarkson, a track which sat atop the Billboard Hot #100 for three weeks as well as many other charts worldwide. His work with Charlie XCX, a leading figure in the new PC Music/Hyper Pop genre, came about in no small part due to the fact that Cupid & Psyche ’85 is held in very high regard in those circles. He also co-wrote and produced two new tracks for Scritti’s Absolute 'best of' compilation with his old friend, Green Gartside, delighting fans of the band worldwide.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners.
He also writes reviews and articles for his website, failedmuso.com, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows.
Outside of his regular day job, he works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
Imogen Heap chats to Caro C about her music tech projects, including MiMU Gloves, Glover Software, interacting through VR plus The Creative Passport Project for tracking music usage and royalties.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:24 - The Round House 04:25 - Software 05:33 - Izotope, Antares & The Box Of Tricks 07:05 - The MiMU Gloves and Glover 15:05 - Tech For Live Performance 19:39 - VR & Immersive Audio 21:44 - The Listening Chair 26:24 - The Creative Passport Project
Imogen Heap Biog Self-produced British composer and recording artist for over 20 years, Imogen Heap has released five solo albums, another as one half of Frou Frou and collaborated with countless and varied artists including Taylor Swift, Nitin Sawhney, Deadmau5, Jeff Beck and Jon Hopkins. Her compositions and songs pop up in blockbuster and indie films as well as countless TV shows, are featured in underground rap and dance music, and are covered by the likes of Ariana Grande.
As composer and arranger for one of the biggest hits in theatrical history, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, Imogen won the 'Drama Desk Outstanding Music In A Play' award. As a sought-after speaker and performer, Heap hosted 2020’s Grammys Premiere Ceremony. Her collaborative and multi-dimensional workflow attracts companies for commissioned works, leading to songs such as 'Tiny Human', the first song to distribute payments via a Smart Contract, and 'The Happy Song', a highly successful song for children in their early years.
Imogen Heap is recognised as an artist's artist, and has won two Grammys and an Ivor Novello award. In recognition of her pioneering work at the intersection of music and technology, Heap has a hat trick of three honorary doctorates for the gestural music-ware 'MI.MU gloves' system and recently for ’The Creative Passport’, an integrated digital ID solution, empowering music-makers to be the change toward a fair and flourishing music ecosystem. http://imogenheap.com/ https://www.creativepassport.net/ https://mimugloves.com/
Music Credits Last Night Of An Empire
Me And The Machine
Tiny Human
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. She started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to Warp Records in the late 1990's. This "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
In this first episode, join composer and electronic musician Caro C in conversation with Suzanne Ciani, a synthesizer and electronic music legend who has been active since the 1960's. Suzanne provided futuristic sound design for advertising in the 1970’s such as that iconic Coca-Cola bottle opening sound that many of us will be familiar with. She’s also composed the soundtrack for a Hollywood movie and is a Grammy nominated artist. Suzanne’s career is very much still flourishing as she tours around the world and releases music on Andy Votel’s Finders Keepers label. In this interview, Suzanne talks about her path into electronic music, her deep relationship with the Buchla synthesiser and how quadrophonic sound is the natural home for electronic music.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - Interlude 01:55 - Greetings 02:17 - Path into Electronic Music 04:11 - Working for Buchla 05:03 - From Pianist to electronics 05:52 - Adding a keyboard 06:14 - Connecting to analogue 06:38 - Career revival 07:37 - The Theremin 08:53 - Ongoing relationship with the Buchla 10:04 - Learning an instrument over time 11:48 - Travelling with electronic instruments 12:11 - Other instruments - Prophet V, Moog One, Moog Subharmonicon 14:28 - Interlude 14:35 - Natural world sound palette 15:44 - Synthesizing natural sounds 16:48 - Andy Votel, Finders Keepers, Denali 17:45 - Trawling the vault 18:56 - Unearthing past recordings 19:47 - Electronic music lineage, Delia Derbyshire, Daphne Oram 21:01 - Role of females in Electronic Music creation 23:45 - Freedom and control 24:19 - Quadrophonic sound 27:46 - Interactive music 30:17 - Ending
Suzanne Ciani Biog Suzanne is a five-time Grammy award nominated composer, electronic music pioneer, and neo-classical recording artist whose work has been featured in countless commercials, video games, and feature films. Over the course of her 40+ year career, she's released 16 solo albums, including "Seven Waves," "The Velocity of Love," and most recently, her comeback quadraphonic Buchla modular synth performance recording “LIVE Quadraphonic.”
She’s provided the voice and sounds for Bally's groundbreaking "Xenon" pinball machine, created Coca-Cola’s pop-and-pour sound, designed Atari’s sound logo, played concerts all over the globe, and carved out a niche as one of the most creatively successful female composers in the world. A Life in Waves, a documentary about Ciani’s life and work, debuted at SXSW in 2017 and is available to watch on all digital platforms. https://www.sevwave.com https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Ciani https://www.finderskeepersrecords.com/
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. She started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to Warp Records in the late 1990's. This "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
As part of Trevor Horn’s team of technological wizards in the 1980s, JJ Jeczalik emerged as the pre-eminent Fairlight programmer of the day, primarily as one fifth of the art-pop collective, Art of Noise, but also in projects ranging from ABC & Dollar to Yes and Malcolm McLaren. Describing himself as a not a keyboard player, JJ brought his programming skills and talent to bear on a wide range of successful and ground-breaking recordings that were at the vanguard of how cutting edge technology shaped not just the sound of pop music but how pop music itself was made.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:59 - What was your path into the industry? 09:47 - The importance of ABC and meeting Anne and Gary 12:48 - Duck Rock and the McLaren Influence 16:08 - Don’t be a drummer, be a programmer 19:46 - You don’t say no to Yes 26:44 - Yes embracing the Fairlight 28:07 - The birth of Art of Noise 33:49 - Into Battle! 35:15 - In demand 38:21 - The weight of influence 46:23 - Taking Art of Noise on the road, then and now
JJ Jeczalik Biog Jonathan Edward Stephen Jeczalik fell into the music industry during a gap year whilst staying with friends in London. He promoted a gig by the group Landscape, featuring the similarly technology obsessed Richard James Burgess before eventually coming to the attention of Trevor Horn via his Buggles bandmate, Geoff Downes.
During the 1980s, he worked on numerous projects that were both innovative and influential as well as hugely successful, including ABC’s Lexicon of Love, Malcolm McLaren’s Duck Rock, Yes’ 90125 and Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s debut, Welcome to the Pleasuredome. He also worked with artists ranging from Kate Bush to Paul McCartney, Scritti Politti to Godley & Creme and Pet Shop Boys to Shakin’ Stevens!
JJ left the industry and became a teacher of ICT until his retirement but has since revived his music career, performing live under numerous variations of the Art of Noise name at venues such as the British Library and the hugely successful Let’s Rock 80s revival festivals.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for Sound On Sound, his own website, Failed Muso, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
Nainita Desai - From Foley to Peter Gabriel to Netflix
00:46:02
Nainita Desai chats to Caro C about her distinguished career, from her beginnings as a foley artist right through to becoming a busy and successful award-winning composer. Recent projects include the feature film "American Murder" for Netflix and a 360 degree score for "The Reason I Jump", which won World Cinema Documentary Audience Award at Sundance Film Festival 2020.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:54 - Current projects 03:40 - Mixing up the creative process 06:09 - Electronic and mathematical roots 09:39 - Discovering the industry 14:51 - From foley artist to Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios 22:08 - Pioneering spirit and inspiration 24:44 - Capturing the magic of performance 27:14 - Hardware and plugins 32:02 - Getting expression into a performance 36:58 - Methodologies and storytelling
Nainita Desai Biog Ivor Novello award nominee, Nainita Desai is a BAFTA Breakthrough Britand International Film Music Critics Association Breakthrough Composer of 2019.
Amongst various BAFTA, Oscar, Emmy acclaimed productions, Nainita’s recent features include critically acclaimed Oscar 2020 nominated film For Sama also nominated for Best Music at the BIFAs.
Film4 labelled her as one of the top 5 ‘composers who should be on your radar’ for 2020 and her projects have been in the Top 5 Film Scores and Video Games scores of 2019 by Scala Radio.
Recent projects include Sundance 2020 winning feature The Reason I Jump, Netflix original series Bad Boy Billionaires, American Murder (exec prod: James Marsh), and BBC drama series Unprecedented.
Following a degree in Maths, Nainita began her career working as a sound designer on features for directors including Werner Herzog and Bertolucci and assistant music engineer to Peter Gabriel.
Nainita moves seamlessly between working with orchestras, to scores utilising her collection of custom made instruments, incorporating electronics, found sound, and experimental sound design which has informed her experimental, deeply immersive approach.
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. She started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to Warp Records in the late 1990's. This "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Zoë Blade and Nina Richards talk about their individual music careers and how they came together to create the Stepper Acid Eurorack Sequencer.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:18 - Composing For Patreon and YouTube 03:04 - Chiptunes 05:47 - Patreon Supporters 06:59 - Developing A Sound 11:00 - Working With Older Machines 13:39 - Expanding The Synth Collection 17:02 - Demosceners / Trackers 22:26 - Working With Nina 24:14 - Creating The Stepper Acid Sequencer 30:55 - The Drum Machine 32:23 - Customers And The Manufacturing Process 38:02 - Using Stepper Acid Live 41:21 - Future Plans
Zoë Blade Biog As a teenager, Zoë Blade sampled household objects into Impulse Tracker, twisting them into rhythmic alien soundscapes. Not quite music, but not quite not, the result was a bizarre example of outsider art. She's since honed her aesthetic into something more polished but no less unique, fusing catchy melodies and rhythms with the untamed sound of her sprawling modular synthezisers. She's currently making music for popular YouTube series ContraPoints, as well as her patrons at patreon.com/zoeblademusic and is also involved with Nina in the Transistor Sounds Labs company. https://www.zoeblade.com/
Nina Richards Biog Nina Richards is the kind of musician who always likes to dive a level deeper. Always looking to improve the tools available, she designed and built Stepper Acid, a modular sequencer loosely based on the TB-303, but geared more towards live performance. This was well received by other musicians too, and has been used by the likes of Nine Inch Nails's Trent Reznor and Underworld's Rick Smith. The product is marketed through her Transistor Sounds Labs company. In addition to her solo work, Nina is also known for writing music for actress Abigail Thorn's YouTube channel Philosophy Tube. https://www.ninarichards.co.uk/
Stepper Acid Stepper Acid is a 16-step Eurorack sequencer module designed with live performance in mind, designed and built as a collaboration between Nina Richards and Zoë Blade. https://www.transistorsoundslabs.com
Caro C Biog Caro C is an artist, engineer and teacher specialising in electronic music. Her self-produced fourth album "Electric Mountain" is out now. Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC), Caro started making music thanks to being laid up whilst living in a double decker bus and listening to the likes of Warp Records in the late 1990's. This "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3) has now played in most of the cultural hotspots of her current hometown of Manchester, UK. Caro is also the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
Michael Whalen is a two-time Emmy Award winning, Grammy-nominated composer with over 30 years experience composing for film and television, as well as being a recording artist in his own right, with over 800 million streams since 2015. Here he talks to Rob Puricelli about performing his latest instrumental album ‘Imaginary Trains’ to a live audience at the EMEAPP museum, using their extensive collection of rare vintage synthesizers.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:47 - What was the inspiration behind the album, “Imaginary Trains”? 05:06 - How did you come up with the idea for the live broadcast? 10:51 - What instruments did you choose from the EMEAPP collection 20:10 - How did you go about replacing the studio parts with the gear you chose? 22:44 - Did any instrument daunt you? 27:07 - Behind the scenes... 30:19 - The choice between live and sequenced 34:01 - Rehearsal and preparation 35:42 - Gear Acquisition Syndrome! (G.A.S.) 39:10 - Did any of these old machines let you down? 39:50 - Would you do this again? 41:55 - Future projects
Michael Whalen Biog After more than 30 years as one of the top television and film composers, an an internationally renown recording artist, a music supervisor, artist coach/client and former record label executive, his music has been heard by billions and billions of people. He has accumulated more than 800 million streams from all worldwide music platforms since 2015. His musical output is enormous and ranges from ambient/new age to jazz to soundtrack/theme music, world music, singer/songwriter, classical and crossover.
Michael is an expert on copyright law, music monetisation and digital rights. He consults with major technology and music companies and mentors artists around the world as part of his company Artist Expansion. As a teacher, he has been an adjunct professor at NYU, The Berklee College of Music, and The City College of NY. Michael is also an author, thought leader on the future on digital copyrights and panelist at dozens of major conferences and festivals.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for Sound On Sound, his website Failed Muso, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
In May of 1983, the world of synthesizers and electronic music as we knew it would change forever with the launch of the Yamaha DX7. To celebrate 40 years since its launch, Rob Puricelli spoke to Dr John Chowning, the developer of FM synthesis, Dave Bristow and Gary Leuenberger, sound designers for the original DX7 and Manny Fernandez, who has worked on all Yamaha’s FM projects from the Mk.II DX7 through to today’s Montage M series.
See the Show Notes for further details.
Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:55 - First Experiences Of The DX7 12:49 - Did The DX7 Meet Expectations? 16:57 - The Feedback Loop 17:51 - Creating And Sharing Sounds 22:47 - A Career From Creating Patches 27:55 - Sound Design Using FM 31:36 - Hearing Your Own Sounds 34:26 - Working With Don Lewis 44:26 - Demonstrating The DX7 57:00 - FM Synthesis 40 Years On 01:07:12 - Formant Shaping And The Future Of FM
Dr John Chowning Biog Born in Salem, New Jersey in 1934, John Chowning spent his school years in Wilmington, Delaware. Following military service and four years at Wittenberg University in Ohio, he studied composition in Paris with Nadia Boulanger. He received a doctorate in composition (DMA) from Stanford University in 1966, where he studied with Leland Smith.
Chowning discovered the frequency modulation synthesis (FM) algorithm in 1967. This breakthrough in the synthesis of timbres allowed a very simple yet elegant way of creating and controlling time-varying spectra. In 1973 Stanford University licensed the FM synthesis patent to Yamaha in Japan, leading to the most successful synthesis engine in the history of electronic musical instruments.
He taught computer sound synthesis and composition at Stanford University's Department of Music. In 1974, with John Grey, James (Andy) Moorer, Loren Rush and Leland Smith, he founded the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA), which remains one of the leading centres for computer music and related research. Although he retired in 1996, he has remained in contact with CCRMA activities.
Chowning was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1988 and awarded the Honorary Doctor of Music by Wittenberg University in 1990. The French Ministre de la Culture awarded him the Diplôme d’Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres in 1995. He was given the Doctorat Honoris Causa in 2002 by the Université de la Méditerranée, by Queen’s University in 2010, Hamburg University in 2016, and Laureate of the Giga-Hertz-Award in 2013.
Dave Bristow Biog Dave was born in London and worked as a professional keyboard player recording and touring internationally with a variety of artists including Polyphony, Slender Loris, June Tabor, Tallis and 2nd Vision. Active in synthesizer development, he played a central role in voicing the Yamaha DX7 synthesizer and is internationally recognized as one of the important contributors to the development and voicing of FM synthesis, co-authoring a textbook on the subject with Dr John Chowning.
He spent three years at IRCAM in Paris, running a MIDI and synthesis studio working with contemporary music composers and artists, then moving to the United States in the 1990’s to work for Emu Systems, Inc. on sampling and filter-based synthesizers. In 2002, he began working again with Yamaha developing ringtones and system alert sounds for the SMAF audio chip series used in cell phones and mobile devices.
He has been an instructor at Shoreline Community College teaching electronic music production and synthesis for ten years, but still finds plenty of time for composing and playing piano with RedShift jazz quartet and developing his interest in computer arts.
Gary Leuenberger Biog Gary started in music at a young age and, in 1975, founded G. Leuenberger & Co. in San Francisco. It soon became one of the world’s largest retailers of pianos, synthesizers and electronic keyboards. In 1980 he started working with Yamaha as part of their product development team. It was through this that he was recruited, along with the likes of Dave Bristow and Don Lewis, to create the factory presets for the DX7.
Gary’s most famous, or infamous, patch was the legendary E.Piano 1 which became equally one of the most popular and despised sounds ever! Nevertheless, his association with Yamaha continued until 2000, at which point Gary went back into education, gaining his Bachelors of Music and Masters in Classical Piano Performance from San Francisco State University in 2007.
Since then, he has taught electronic music at SFSU and gives private tutoring to budding musicians of all ages.
Manny Fernandez Biog Dr. Manny Fernandez has been involved in synthesizer programming and development with many manufacturers for over 35 years. Initially self-taught prior to traditional university study of analogue synthesis, in the late 1970’s - early 1980’s the emerging digital synthesis techniques caught his attention with their expanded timbral possibilities.
He acquired a DX7 in the fall of 1983 and using Dr. Chowning’s original academic articles as a guide began exploring FM synthesis in depth. In 1987 he began his relationship with Yamaha, programming for a wide range of their synthesizers through the years to the current Montage M. Acknowledged as one of the world’s foremost FM synthesists and having extensive experience with physical modelling synthesis as well, his programming approach is to create unique and dynamic timbres with interesting yet useful real-time controller implementations.
Rob Puricelli Biog Rob Puricelli is a Music Technologist and Instructional Designer who has a healthy obsession with classic synthesizers and their history. In conjunction with former Fairlight Studio Manager, Peter Wielk, he fixes and restores Fairlight CMI’s so that they can enjoy prolonged and productive lives with new owners. He also writes reviews and articles for Sound On Sound, his website Failed Muso, and other music-related publications, as well as hosting a weekly livestream on YouTube for the Pro Synth Network and guesting on numerous music technology podcasts and shows. He also works alongside a number of manufacturers, demonstrating their products and lecturing at various educational and vocational establishments about music technology.
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