Afleveringen
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Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy talk to Kevin Paul about their techno project System 7 and ambient project Mirror System, discussing their studio setup, live performances and creative approach to making music.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:38 - Current Projects
01:20 - System 7 and Mirror System
02:20 - Songwriting Process
04:27 - Using Gong-Influenced Sounds
05:17 - Main Creative Tools
06:19 - Learning From DJ Experience
06:55 - Collaborative Workflow
08:49 - Structuring Albums
09:27 - Streamlined Studio Setup
11:20 - Limitations and Finishing Tracks
13:31 - Live Performances
16:58 - 10 Records and Collaborations
21:02 - The Future Of System 7
26:18 - Mirror System for Ambient Music#HelixLT #Logic #ProTools #Ableton #AnimoogZ
http://www.a-wave.com
https://www.facebook.com/System7page
https://www.facebook.com/Mirrorsystem
Steve Hillage Biog
Steve Hillage is an English guitarist, producer and electronic music pioneer best known for his work with the psychedelic prog band Gong, his influential solo albums of the 1970s and the electronic duo System 7. Renowned for his distinctive āglissandoā guitar style, Hillage later became a key figure in ambient techno and psychedelic dance music, blending electronic production with live guitar performance alongside longtime creative partner Miquette Giraudy.
http://stevehillage.com
https://www.facebook.com/stevehillageband
https://www.instagram.com/stevehillage
Miquette Biog
Miquette is a French keyboardist, vocalist and composer known for her work with Gong, Steve Hillage and System 7. A major creative force behind System 7ās ambient and techno sound, she has collaborated with Hillage since the 1970s, contributing keyboards, vocals, programming and production across a wide range of psychedelic, ambient and electronic music projects.
https://www.instagram.com/miqui7777
https://www.facebook.com/p/Miquette-Giraudy-100063115306402Kevin Paul Biog
Kevin Paul started his career as a DJ but quickly found his passion was sound engineering. His first audio job was at Soho Studios in 1991, moving to Konk Studios six months later, where he worked alongside successful producers and engineers such as Bob Clearmountain, Adam Mosley, Pascal Gabriel and Gil Norton, as well as bands such as The Kinks, Galliano, Terrorvision, UFO and Elastica.
After working on archiving the Depeche Mode back catalogue in 1994, he was offered an engineering role at Mute Recordsā in-house studio, which eventually lead to a position as Head Engineer, which gave him access to the entire Mute Records roster. Highlights include mixing Goldfrappās 'Felt Mountain', David Bowieās 'Hours' and Nick Caveās 'No More Shall We Part'. He also worked in 5:1, mixing Mobyās 'Hotel', Goldfrappās 'Black Cherry' and more for DVD.In 2004 Kevin went freelance and re-mixed the entire Depeche Mode and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds back catalogues for SACD/DVD. Since 2008, Kevin Paul has been in charge of mixing and remixing performances at the iTunes Festivals in the UK and Germany. He has mixed over 100 artists to date, including Adele, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The XX, Calvin Harris, Foo Fighters, Jack White, Linkin Park, Florence & The Machine, Deadmau5, David Guetta, Jessie J., Norah Jones, Oasis, Mumford & Sons, N.E.R.D., Lykke Li, James Blunt, KT Tunstall, Hot Chip, Paul Weller and many more.
He continues to record, engineer, produce and mix many projects in music and film, runs the mixing and surround mixing modules for the Masters Degree course at UKās Westminster University and divides his time between London and Berlin. Recent works include the International selling new album by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and mixing the latest album of Denmarkās āDĆŗnĆ©ā with the first single premiering at the Danish Music Awards, plus the latest iTunes Music Festival.
http://www.kevin-paul.com/
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts -
James Richmond and Julian Rodgers dive into the world of modular synthesis, explaining what it is and how it fits into both studio production and live performance. They explore the process of creating unique sounds from scratch, the challenges of patch recall and share practical advice for anyone looking to get started with modular gear.
Chapters00:00 - Introduction
00:52 - Modular Synth Definition
01:50 - Semi-Modular
02:59 - James' Modular Synthesis Work
04:05 - Reaktor And Max
07:32 - The Appeal Of Modular
09:54 - Generating Your Own Sounds
11:24 - Creating A System
13:11 - Software Vs Hardware Systems
14:02 - Creating Brand New Sounds
16:16 - Stochastic Modulation
21:31 - Handling Recall
22:57 - Gigging With Modular
26:42 - Preparing For Performance
28:12 - East Coast Vs West Coast
29:44 - Practical Performance Challenges
31:34 - Careful Onstage Monitoring
33:08 - Starting Out In Modular
37:08 - Affordable Synthesis
#NIreaktor #cycling74max #makenoisemaths #mutableinstrumentsrings #mutableinstrumentsclouds #doepfer #verbos
James Richmond Biog
James Richmond is a composer, producer and audio engineer working across electronic and guitar-based music. He is the guitarist and producer for Liam Vincent & The Odd Foxes, has released experimental electronic work under the name Euclidean Circuits and has a solo project called The Deathbird. He also develops bespoke audio tools through EventFieldAudio and writes about music production, studio systems and monitoring from his hybrid modular and analogue studio.
https://www.jamesrichmond.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jamesrichmondaudio/
https://twitter.com/octatonic
https://www.instagram.com/jamesrichmondaudioJulian Rodgers Biog
Julian Rodgers is a freelance writer and audio engineer with a background in live sound. After many years working in education introducing new users to Pro Tools, he now lives by the sea in West Cornwall, where he plays keyboards in a couple of bands. He also plays bass and guitar equally badly, and remains an enthusiastic collector of microphones and opinions about all things audio.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-rodgers-04621926Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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DJ and techno producer Kerrie joins Caro C to talk about her journey into DJing and production, the influences that shaped her sound and the live performance setup she now takes with her around the world.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:21 - From DJ to Producer
04:37 - Techno Influence
06:26 - Producing From A Dancefloor Perspective
09:23 - Live Performance Setup
15:56 - Transporting Gig Kit
18:27 - Combining Live And Studio
20:13 - A Workflow Without A Laptop
21:35 - Community And Shared Experiences
26:35 - Sound Choices
28:27 - Exploring Fresh Ideas
#ElektronAnalogRytm #ElektronAnalogFour #ElektronDigitaktII #CycloneAnalogicTT-303BassBot #Allen&HeathXone:96 #StrymonBigSkyReverb #OtoBoumWarmingUnit #DoepferA-100 #Soundtoys
Kerrie Anderson Biog
Irish-born, Manchester-based Kerrie is a multidisciplinary artist and resident DJ at Tresor. Performing live sets, producing music and DJing worldwide, she also runs her label Dark Machine Funk, which showcases her raw, industrial-tinged techno sound.Kerrie developed her musical foundation during an 11-year tenure at Manchesterās legendary record shop Eastern Bloc Records, where she also held a DJ residency. Her high-energy sets blend UK, Detroit and European techno with electro and broken rhythms, earning appearances at venues including Berghain and fabric, as well as festivals worldwide.
As a producer, she has released music on respected techno labels including Blueprint Records and Tresor Records, alongside her own Dark Machine Funk imprint. Now touring internationally, Kerrie continues to build a reputation for powerful productions and uncompromising techno rooted in decades of dedication to electronic music culture.
https://www.facebook.com/DJKerrie
https://www.instagram.com/kerrie_music
https://x.com/kerrie_musicCaro 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.URL: http://carocsound.com/
Twitter: @carocsound
Inst: @carocsoundFB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts
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To commemorate the centenary of electronic music pioneer Daphne Oram on 31 December 2025, Caro C explores Oramās lasting influence in a conversation with Sarah Angliss and Ian Stonehouse. The episode continues with Shiva Feshareki and James Bulley discussing their Proms performance of Still Point, Oramās innovative orchestral work from 1948 that integrated electronic sound and live manipulation.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
Sarah Angliss & Ian Stonehouse
02:15 - Composer, Inventor and the Radiophonic Workshop
06:42 - Inspired by the sound-houses of Francis Bacon
11:34 - Working In Frequency, Not Pitch
13:01 - Tower Folly and the Oramics Machine
16:09 - Working With Post-War Equipment
22:12 - Insights and Inspiration from the Archives
26:56 - Top Musical Selections From the Archive
Shiva Feshareki & James Bulley
32:57 - A Proms Performance Of Still Point
37:55 - The Daphne Oram Archive and Goldsmiths
41:12 - Creating A Historically Accurate Performance
45:22 - Following The Written Instructions
53:27 - Creating An Updated Score
See also:
https://www.soundonsound.com/people/graham-wrench-story-daphne-orams-optical-synthesizer
https://www.soundonsound.com/people/story-bbc-radiophonic-workshop
Daphne Oram Biog
Daphne Oram (1925ā2003) was a pioneering British composer and inventor, and one of the founders of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. A trailblazer in electronic music, she developed the Oramics system, a groundbreaking method of composing sound by drawing directly onto film, allowing pitch, timbre and dynamics to be controlled visually rather than through traditional notation. Her work fundamentally reshaped ideas about how music could be created, laying the foundations for electronic composition, sound synthesis and experimental music practices that continue to influence composers, producers and sound designers today.
Website: www.daphneoram.orgSarah Angliss Biog
Sarah Angliss is an Ivor Novello Award-winning composer, performer, and instrument designer working across film, theatre, and live performance in Europe and North America. Her work includes the electroacoustic score for Romola Garaiās Amulet and the opera Giant, which combines baroque instruments with electronics and DIY music machines. Drawing on European folk, cybernetics, and electroacoustic engineering, her music explores inventive sound design. Sarah has received the Visionary Award from the Ivors Academy (2021) and a Paul Hamlyn Award for Composers (2018). Sheās recently joined the Augmented Instruments Lab at Imperial College, London, for researching lost alternative design strategies dormant in forgotten electronic musical instruments.Website: www.sarahangliss.com
Instagram: @sarah_angliss
Ian Stonehouse Biog
Ian Stonehouse is an archivist, researcher and performer working in the Electronic Music Studios and Special Collections at Goldsmiths, University of London, with the archives of composers Daphne Oram, Lily Greenham and Hugh Davies. He has lectured in Sonic Art for over 30 years and was Head of the Electronic Music Studios at Goldsmiths from 2004-2019. Most recently he's been a research consultant and instrument maker for projects including Lily Greenham: An Art of Living at Badischer Kunstverein in Karlsruhe, Germany (2024), the Science Museum's Time Loops concert series with composer Gavin Bryars and the group Icebreaker (2024-25), Ensemble Contrechamps' Daphne Oram: An Individual Note concert at the Auditorium Ansermet in Geneva (2025), Nonclassical's Vari/ations: An Ode to Oram event at the Barbican in London (2025) and as part of an ensemble celebrating the legacy of experimental group Gentle Fire at Cafe Oto in London (2026).Bandcamp: ianstonehouse.bandcamp.com
Instagram: @soonheisatuneShiva Feshareki Biog
A doctoral composition graduate from the Royal College of Music, Shiva Feshareki is an Ivor Novello award-winning British-Iranian composer and turntablist, working at the intersection of contemporary-classical and electronic music. She has performed internationally in concert halls, galleries, and raves, including the BBC Proms, Southbank Centre, Barbican, Konzerthaus Berlin, Mutek Montreal, and Amsterdam Dance Event, collaborating with ensembles such as the BBC Singers, London Contemporary Orchestra, Ensemble Modern, and Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Website: studiofeshareki.com
Instagram: @shivafeshareki
X - @shivafesharekiJames Bulley Biog
James Bulley is an artist and musician working with sound across installation, performance, immersive audio, film, theatre, and public art. His work has been presented internationally in galleries, concert halls, and public spaces. Projects include the world-premiere performance of Daphne Oramās Still Point at the BBC Proms, alongside collaborations with artists, filmmakers, and institutions including Marshmallow Laser Feast, the National Trust, Opera North, and the BBC.Website: jamesbulley.com
Instagram: @jjbulley
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.Website: carocsound.com
X: @carocsound
Instagram: @carocsoundFacebook: www.facebook.com/carocsound
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts
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Vicky Clarke joins Caro C to explore her experimental approach to sound, from field recording and neural synthesis to AI technologies and spatial audio. She also discusses immersive installations, open-source tools and the unconventional inspirations that drive her work.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction02:06 - Field Recording, Musique ConcrĆØte and DIY Electronics
05:34 - Residency In Russia
06:27 - Neural Synthesis And Machine Learning
10:53 - Working On Aura Machine
14:16 - Working With AI Technologies
16:35 - Open Source Software
18:30 - Developing An Immersive Sound Installation
20:41 - Fear Around Technology
22:23 - Spatial Audio Using Spat
25:28 - Routing Ableton For Spatial Audio
27:53 - Sculptures As Sound Sources
30:32 - Adopting Emergent Technology
33:53 - Geology As A Source Of Inspiration
#ableton #spat
Vicky Clarke Biog
Vicky Clarke is a sound and electronic media artist from Manchester, whose work explores materiality, electrical phenomena and ritual. Working with sound sculpture, DIY electronics and human-machine systems, she explores our relationship to technology considering themes of human agency in autonomous systems, post-industrialisation and techno-emotional states. Her work takes the form of composition, installation and live AV performance. She produces music as SONAMB and her debut album, SLEEPSTATES, a āglitchy experimental techno jerkerā (Boomkat) was released in 2022, accompanied by net-art piece āSLEEPSTATES.NET'.āLatent Spacesā, her 2025 spatial sound installation, was created as a selected āIn Motionā composer with Sound & Music UK. Inviting audiences to step inside a computational model, the piece draws on her research into machine learning and musique concrĆ©te, working with early neural synthesis models and custom industrial datasets. This research practice developed through artistic residencies and commissions with NOVARS electroacoustic department at the University of Manchester, UK-Russia year of music, British Council, and Cyborg Soloists at the University of Holloway, resulting in her works āAura Machineā and āNeural Materials.ā
Vicky won an Oram Award in 2020 from the New BBC Radiophonic Workshop & PRS Foundation. As a solo artist and previously with DIY electronics project Noise Orchestra, she has performed and exhibited at CTM, ICA, MUTEK, National Science & Media Museum, QO2 and STEIM amongst others. Her latest EP AURA MACHINE is out now on LOL Editions.
https://vickyclarke.org/
https://www.instagram.com/sonamb__/
https://linktr.ee/sonamb__
http://sleepstates.net/
https://loleditions.bandcamp.com/album/aura-machineCaro 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.URL: http://carocsound.com/
Twitter: @carocsound
Inst: @carocsoundFB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts
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Producer, sound designer and composer Jonathan Snipes joins William Stokes to explore his work with experimental hip-hop group Clipping, sharing an inside look at their unique production process, before showcasing five modules in an exclusive live performance.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:12 - Combining Hip Hop And Experimental Sounds
12:45 - Unconventional Sounds And Beats
16:52 - Annea Lockwood Piano Burning
20:59 - 5U Modular Selection
24:31 - Module 1: Q106 Oscillator
29:43 - Module 2: Modcan Digital Delay
38:51 - Module 3: Modcan Frequency Shifter 39b
43:04 - Module 4: Modcan Quad Envelope 60b
47:41 - Module 5: Tellun TLN-156 Neural Agoniser
52:04 - Live Performance#Q106Oscillator #ModcanDigitalDelay #ModcanFrequencyShifter #ModcanQuadEnvelope #TellunTLN-156
Jonathan Snipes Biog
Jonathan Snipes is a producer, composer and sound designer based in Los Angeles, where he teaches sound design in the theatre and film departments at UCLA. As well as his work for film, television and theatre, he is known as a member of the experimental group clipping., along with fellow producer William Hutson and rapper Daveed Diggs. Having recently released their sixth studio album Dead Channel Sky on iconic label Sub Pop Records, clipping. are an outfit in the vanguard of hip-hop, sound design, beat making and strident experimentalism.https://www.jonat8han.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jonat8han/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 Lipsā 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. āIām always seeking out the most āout-thereā, experimental, risk-taking musicians I can find to work with,ā he says, āto capture vibrant, detailed recordings and create three-dimensional mixes of music that might otherwise struggle to know where to begin in the studio environment.ā
Stokes currently lectures in Music Production at City, University of London.
https://www.vokagentle.com/
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts -
Mercury-nominated vocalist, composer and producer ESKA talks about her favourite studio gear and how her background as a live jazz musician shapes her approach to writing and recording.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:30 - ESKA's Journey Into Music
06:21 - Using Tech To Tell A Story
14:23 - Approaching Each Track Individually
16:35 - Developing A Sonic Identity
20:18 - Live vs Studio Artist Methods
26:59 - Solo Albums And Soundtracks
31:47 - Exploration And Improvisation
32:43 - Collaborating With Musicians
38:57 - Live Performances With Ableton#CamelCrusher #NeumannTLM103 #NeumannU87 #PrismLyra2 #AbletonLive
Eska Biog
ESKA is a Mercury Award nominated singer, songwriter, composer and producer. Her music blends elements of folk, soul, psychedelia and electronica, shaped by years of live performance and a strong jazz influence. She has released acclaimed projects including her self-titled debut album ESKA and her more recent release, The Ordinary Life of a Magic Woman. Her work has received radio support from Gilles Peterson, Lauren Laverne and John Kennedy, and her debut EP was named one of Bandcampās Best Releases of 2013.Alongside her solo career, ESKA has collaborated with artists such as Grace Jones, The Cinematic Orchestra, Zero 7, Bobby McFerrin, Esperanza Spalding, Shabaka Hutchings and Kae Tempest, and her credits include theatre and film scores as well as performances at major venues and festivals.
https://www.eskaonline.com/
https://www.instagram.com/eskaonline/
https://www.facebook.com/eskaonline/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.URL: http://carocsound.com/
Twitter: @carocsound
Inst: @carocsoundFB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts
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Composer, producer and Buchla enthusiast Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith joins William J. Stokes to discuss her latest album Gush. She also treats listeners to a live set, performed on a carefully curated selection of Buchla 200e modules.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:10 - Peacock Moments
06:24 - Working With Suzanne Ciani
10:54 - Discovering Buchla And Eurorack
16:40 - Blending Sensibilities
23:21 - Buchla 200e Modular System And 223e Input
28:48 - 259e and 261e Waveform Generators
36:58 - 296e Spectral Processor
43:37 - 227e System Interface
51:25 - The Performance#buchla200e #buchla223e #buchla259e #buchla #261e #buchla 296e #buchla 227e
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith Biog
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith is a classically trained American composer, producer and performer originally from the Pacific Northwest who now lives in Los Angeles. Drawing upon her formal training in composition and sound engineering from Berklee College of Music, she initially explored vocal performance, classical guitar and piano before her creative trajectory shifted when a neighbour lent her a Buchla 100 modular synthesizer. Her music combines the use of modular, analogue and rare synthesizers, orchestral textures and voice.Her early self-released works, including Cows Will Eat the Weeds and Tides: Music for Meditation and Yoga (2014), were followed by Euclid (2015), her first official album with Western Vinyl, which combined structured songwriting with ambient exploration. This was succeeded by EARS (2016), which critics praised for its seamless layering of organic instrumentation and analogue synthesis to evoke feelings of awe and disorientation. Her 2017 release, The Kid, marked a conceptual leap, tracing stages of human development through richly textured, emotionally resonant compositions that bolstered her status among experimental music audiences.
Kaitlyn has performed alongside artists like Hot Chip, Glass Beams, RY X, Caribou and Four Tet, composed original works for Apple, BBC Orchestra, Adult Swim, MoMA, Red Bull and others, plus her song āStratusā was also synced in the 2023 film Priscilla Motion Picture Soundtrack. She has also collaborated with longtime inspiration Suzanne Ciani and other artists like Emile Mosseri, while exploring multidisciplinary projects through her label, Touchtheplants. On her latest album, GUSH, Kaitlyn sets her sights on aesthetics, focusing on the heightened awareness of and presence in the world where every interaction, whether with people, objects or nature, has the potential to become a moment of connection and personification.
https://kaitlynaureliasmith.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynaurelia/
https://www.facebook.com/kaitlynaurelia/
https://x.com/kaitlynaureliaWilliam J. Stokes Biog
William J. 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 Lipsā 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. āIām always seeking out the most āout-thereā, experimental, risk-taking musicians I can find to work with,ā he says, āto capture vibrant, detailed recordings and create three-dimensional mixes of music that might otherwise struggle to know where to begin in the studio environment.ā
Stokes currently lectures in Music Production at City, University of London.
https://www.vokagentle.com/
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts -
Catherine Anne Davies, also known as The Anchoress, joins Caro C to discuss her preferred recording methods, the decision to invest in her own studio and receiving three consecutive MPG Award nominations.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:14 - From Multitrack To MPG Nominations
04:09 - Balancing Locations And Condensed Hours
08:14 - Old School Recording Techniques
11:20 - Recording Piano And Vocals
12:51 - Piano Recording Technique
14:09 - Re-releasing Communion
18:57 - Last Night From Glasgow
21:39 - Favourite Synths
24:41 - New Album Project
27:20 - Recording Own Vocals
32:24 - TeachingCatherine Anne Davies Biog
Catherine Anne Davies is a producer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter originally from Wales. Her artist project, The Anchoress, has seen her twice nominated for the Welsh Music Prize and named an Album of the Year by everyone from Elton John to The Sunday Times, to Record Collector.A three times nominee for the prestigious Music Producers Guild Awards, Catherineās early roots as a classically-trained flautist have seen her journey from her engineering and co-writing credits on Top 20 albums, to recently being appointed as Professor of Music Production and Songwriting at ICMP & SAE.
Since winning a PRS Writer/Producer award in 2019, she has spent much of the last six years on her current obsession with vintage synthesizers, as well as building a growing reputation as a go-to remixer for artists such Bishi, Thea Gilmore, and Roxanne DeBastion. Catherineās recent production projects include the lead radio single for Dot Allisonās remix project, producing and mixing on the Hen Hoose Vol. 2 compilation, co-producing her BBC 6 Music supported collaboration with Band Spectra, and producing and mixing the forthcoming Libertyās Mother album.
Catherine has previously co-written with and worked alongside a variety of prominent industry names including Ed Harcourt (Paloma Faith & James Bay), Liam Howe (Jessie Ware, Marina) and Paul Statham (Kylie, Dido). She has also co-written with artists outside of the alternative rock genre, including MOBO-nominated singer-songwriter/cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson and British rapper Riz MC .
Catherine also joined the line-up of Simple Minds in 2014, appearing on the Big Music (2015)and Walk Between Worlds (2018) albums before departing in 2019.
She released her debut solo album Confessions of a Romance Novelist in 2016, a collaborative album In Memory of My Feelings (2020) with Bernard Butler. The Art Of Losing (2021), and Versions (2023).
http://theanchoress.co.uk/http://www.facebook.com/theanchoress
http://instagram.com/theanchoressofficial
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCprifKdWotavrgXSy_qelEw
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.URL: http://carocsound.com/
Twitter: @carocsound
Inst: @carocsoundFB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts
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Composer and musician Yann Tiersen talks to William Stokes about his love of modular synthesis, the joys and challenges of touring and performing and how he found himself unexpectedly involved in film composition, followed by an exclusive performance using five selected modules.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction01:26 - An Accidental Film Composer
05:44 - Recording And Mixing Process
11:38 - Visiting Erica Synths
13:21 - Trans Musicale Festival In Rennes18:47 - Eskal Studio On Ouessant Island
21:00 - Module 1: Serge New Timbral Oscillator
25:51 - Module 2: InstruÅ LĆŗbadh
31:06 - Module 3: Mutable Instruments Beads
32:58 - Module 4: Erica Synths Black Stereo Delay
37:21 - Module 5: TouellSkouarn Ar Merc'het Brao
41:30 - Yann Tiersen Performance
Yann Tiersen Biog
Yann Tiersen is a French composer and multi-instrumentalist whose work spans classical, electronic, and experimental music. He gained international recognition in 2001 for his soundtrack to Le Fabuleux Destin d'AmƩlie Poulain (AmƩlie), following the success of his 1998 album Le Phare, which achieved gold status in France.Since then, Tiersen has released numerous studio albums and has performed extensively across Europe, North America and Asia. His discography includes collaborations with artists such as Jane Birkin, Elizabeth Fraser and Matt Elliott. His work has been featured in films, theatre productions and contemporary art installations.
Tiersen's compositions have appeared in a range of films beyond AmƩlie, including Good Bye, Lenin! (2003), Alice et Martin (1998) and Tabarly (2008), as well as various short films and documentaries. His music is frequently used for its emotive and atmospheric qualities, particularly in European cinema.
His latest release, Rathlin from a Distance | The Liquid Hour (2024), is a double album where the first part comprises eight solo piano pieces written during a 2023 sailing trip, each linked to a specific location. The second part shifts to electronic production, incorporating modular synths, samples and rhythmic textures, created following a night at sea near Belfast. The project reflects Tiersenās ongoing interest in location-based composition and the integration of acoustic and electronic elements.
Tiersen records at his studio on the island of Ushant, off the coast of Brittany and continues to tour internationally.
https://www.yanntiersen.com/
https://www.instagram.com/yanntiersen
https://www.facebook.com/yanntiersen.official
https://www.youtube.com/yanntiersenWilliam 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 Lipsā 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. āIām always seeking out the most āout-thereā, experimental, risk-taking musicians I can find to work with,ā he says, āto capture vibrant, detailed recordings and create three-dimensional mixes of music that might otherwise struggle to know where to begin in the studio environment.ā
Stokes currently lectures in Music Production at City, University of London.
https://www.vokagentle.com/
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts -
Nick Rothwell is joined by Jeff Albert, Associate Professor at Georgia Tech, and Paul McCabe, Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation at Roland, to discuss the 2025 Guthman Musical Instrument Competition - an annual event showcasing new technologies and innovations in music.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:10 - Jeff Albert And Georgia Tech
05:02 - Paul McCabe And Roland's Future Design Lab
10:17 - Judging The Guthman Competition
12:06 - Getting Hands-On With The Instruments
13:45 - Getting The Back Stories From The Creators
15:11 - A Wide Range Of Instruments And Technologies
17:37 - Face-To-Face Demos And Performances
18:45 - The Origins Of The Guthman Competition
21:33 - The 2025 Winner: Chromaplane
24:55 - 3rd Place: Adult Corythosaurus
30:34 - How The Instruments Are JudgedThe Guthman Musical Instrument Competition
The Guthman Musical Instrument Competition began in 1996, founded by Georgia Tech alumnus Richard Guthman in tribute to his wife Margaret, a talented pianist. Originally a jazz piano contest, it grew steadily over a decade, drawing students from dozens of US states.As Georgia Tech's music landscape evolved, introducing a Music Technology Masterās in 2006 and launching the Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology in 2007, the competition shifted focus. In 2009, it was re-imagined as the Guthman Musical Instrument Competition, celebrating innovation in musical instrument design. Now an international event, it attracts inventors from across the globe. From experimental prototypes to market-ready products, entrants showcase their creations live, competing for recognition as the most groundbreaking idea in music technology.
https://guthman.gatech.edu/
Jeff Albert Biog
An Associate Professor and Interim Chair at Georgia Tech, Jeff Albertās areas of research and creative practice include improvisation and interaction, jazz performance, performance paradigms for live computer music and audio production. He has performed in concerts and festivals in the U.S and throughout Europe, and contributed as a performer, producer, or engineer on over 60 recordings, including the 2017 Grammy winner for Best Traditional Blues Album. He has been named a Rising Star in the DownBeat Critics Poll and his album Unanimous Sources was named a Top 10 album of 2020 by Jan Garelick in the Boston Globe. Albert received his B.M. from Loyola University New Orleans, and his M.M. from the University of New Orleans. In May of 2013, he became the first graduate of the PhD program in Experimental Music and Digital Media at Louisiana State University, where he was a founding member of the Laptop Orchestra of Louisiana (LOLs).https://jeffalbert.com/
Paul McCabe Biog
Paul McCabe is the Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation at Roland, where he has spearheaded the development of the Future Design Labs. Under his leadership, this global R&D team of engineers and researchers has been dedicated to exploring and harnessing emerging trends, fostering innovation, and shaping the global creative landscape for the next 50 years. In addition to his work at Future Design Labs, Paul also brings his expertise to Roland's Central Marketing Group, where he provides executive leadership to Consumer Research and Insights. Throughout his career, Paul has held numerous leadership positions, including VP of R&D and Strategic Partnerships, VP of Global CX and VP of Global Marketing. At Roland Canada, he served in various key roles such as President & CEO, COO, Product Manager, Marketing Communications Manager, Technical Marketing and Product Specialist.https://mccabepaulj.com/
https://www.instagram.com/mccabep/Nick Rothwell Biog
Nick Rothwell is a composer, performer, software architect, coder and visual artist. He has built media performance systems for projects with Ballett Frankfurt and Vienna Volksoper, composed sound scores for Aydın Teker (Istanbul / Kapadokya), Shobana Jeyasingh, AWA Dance, Luz&Mannion Dance (Flamenco) and Undercurrent Theatre, programmed physical media sculptures with Simeon Nelson and Rob Godman, live coded in Mexico and in Berlin with sitar player Shama Rahman, collaborated with the body>data>space collective in Prague, Paris and Dresden, written software for Studio Wayne McGregor, Beinghuman in Kathmandu, the Pina Bausch Foundation and Nesta's FutureFest, consulted for Tate Modern, and developed algorithmic visuals for large-scale outdoor projections in Poland, Estonia, the Cambridge Music Festival and Lumiere (London / Durham). He has taught design at CODE Berlin and currently runs the Computer Science undergraduate course at University of the Arts London.Project Cassiel - https://cassiel.com
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts -
Oli Freke talks us through the history of samplers, from the introduction of the Mellotron in 1963, through to current day sampling software, while highlighting the golden era of sampling from the late 80s to early 90s.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:08 - The Mellotron
02:28 - Pre-Digital Samplers
03:18 - Pierre Schaeffer And The PhonogĆØne
04:03 - Peter Zinovieff And EMS
05:44 - The University Of Illinois' PLATO
06:08 - Harry Mendell's Melodian
07:21 - Wendel Sampling Computer
08:29 - The Fairlight and Fairlight II
15:20 - The Fundamentals Of Sampling
19:43 - The Synclavier
23:47 - Digital Delay Lines (DDLs)
26:04 - EMU Systems Emulator
31:01 - Ensoniq Mirage
32:39 - Other Notable 1980s Releases
34:46 - Akai S1000 and Roland S Series
38:14 - Sampling And Legal Issues
41:16 - Modern Day SamplingOli 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, āSynth Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back)ā, featuring every commercial synth of the 20th century.
www.synthevolution.net
www.linktr.ee/olifrekeCatch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts
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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 ArtistsMartin 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, Strƶme, Flur and Feld, along with their respective reworks, have earned international recognition and led to global concert tours.
Kohlstedtās 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.
https://martinkohlstedt.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.URL: http://carocsound.com/
Twitter: @carocsound
Inst: @carocsoundFB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts
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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#morphagene #spectraphon #dxg #optomix #proworkout #arbhar
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 āEnd of Summerā, āSicarioā, āArrivalā, āLast and First Menā with Johann Johannsson and āIt Comes at Nightā with Brian McOmber. In recent years Robert has scored āCandymanā for Nia DaCosta, āThe Color of Careā and āPowerā for Yance Ford, āMasterā for Mariama Diallo, āGrasshopper Republicā for Daniel McCabe, docuseries āTelemarketersā, āUNIONā for Brett Story and Stephen Maing, āThe Man In My Basementā for Nadia Latif, āLife After" for Reid Davenport and āSeedsā for Brittany Shyne. Through collaboration Robert has worked with Tarek Atoui, Ben Russell, Ben Rivers, Rose Lazar, Nicolas Becker, Rashaad Newsome, JĆ³hann JĆ³hannsson, Hildur GuÄnadĆ³ttir, Sabrina RattĆ©, Philippe Parreno, Evan Calder Williams, Ariel Kalma, Susie Ibarra and YoshimiO, as well as many others.https://robertaikiaubreylowe.bandcamp.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.URL: http://carocsound.com/
Twitter: @carocsound
Inst: @carocsoundFB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts
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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 PerformanceTony 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 Leeās āBus Obscura,ā 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.
https://tonyrolando.bandcamp.com/
www.makenoisemusic.comWilliam 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 Lipsā 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. āIām always seeking out the most āout-thereā, experimental, risk-taking musicians I can find to work with,ā he says, āto capture vibrant, detailed recordings and create three-dimensional mixes of music that might otherwise struggle to know where to begin in the studio environment.ā
Stokes currently lectures in Music Production at City, University of London.
https://www.vokagentle.com/
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts -
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. Rossumās 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. Rossumās 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.
Rossumās 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.
https://www.rossum-electro.com/Kevin Monahan Biog
Kevin Monahan was a key figure at E-mu Systems, contributing to the companyās legacy of groundbreaking innovations in electronic music technology. Monahan played a pivotal role in the development and marketing of E-muās iconic products during the companyās 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-muās success in both the professional and consumer music markets.
Beyond his technical expertise, Monahanās 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-muās 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 āhe 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 CMIās 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.www.failedmuso.com
Twitter: @failedmuso
Instagram: @failedmuso
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/failedmuso/
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts -
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 āLIVE Quadraphonic,ā 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-Colaās 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 Cianiās 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.
http://sevwave.com/
https://transversales.bandcamp.com/album/golden-apples-of-the-sun-3
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 Lipsā 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. āIām always seeking out the most āout-thereā, experimental, risk-taking musicians I can find to work with,ā he says, āto capture vibrant, detailed recordings and create three-dimensional mixes of music that might otherwise struggle to know where to begin in the studio environment.ā
Stokes currently lectures in Music Production at City, University of London.
https://www.vokagentle.com/
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts -
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 ProjectsInterviewee 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 jungleās 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 Krustās can be heard in his 1997 single āSoul In Motionā and similarly ground-breaking ā98 single āTrue Storiesā 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.
https://crosstownrebels.bandcamp.com/album/the-edge-of-everything
https://www.instagram.com/dj_krust/
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adaptthecanvas
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.URL: http://carocsound.com/
Twitter: @carocsound
Inst: @carocsoundFB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts -
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 Producerās Manual.
Having established his own multitrack home studio in the 1980s heās worked with many notable names including Bert Jansch and Gordon Giltrap. Heās 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 doesnāt see why everyone else shouldnāt too!
http://www.cydoniacollective.co.uk/
Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts
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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: InstruÅ Ćøchd DivKid
33:12 - Modular Social Community
35:31 - Modular Aesthetics
38:38 - Module 7: Bela Gliss
42:37 - The PerformanceMorphagene - https://www.makenoisemusic.com/modules/morphagene/
Mimeophon - https://www.makenoisemusic.com/modules/mimeophon/
Equation Composer (discontinued)
QU-Bit Prism - https://www.qubitelectronix.com/shop/p/prism
QU-Bit Nano Rand - https://www.qubitelectronix.com/shop/p/nano-rand
InstruÅ Ćøchd - https://www.instruomodular.com/product/ochd/
Bela Gliss - https://uk.shop.bela.io/products/gliss
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 worldās 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.
http://www.scannerdot.com
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 Lipsā 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. āIām always seeking out the most āout-thereā, experimental, risk-taking musicians I can find to work with,ā he says, āto capture vibrant, detailed recordings and create three-dimensional mixes of music that might otherwise struggle to know where to begin in the studio environment.ā
Stokes currently lectures in Music Production at City, University of London.
https://www.vokagentle.com/Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts
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