Episodes

  • 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.


    https://www.rossum-electro.com/

    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.

    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 “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.

    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 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.


    https://www.vokagentle.com/


    Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

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  • 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.

    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: @carocsound

    FB: 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 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!

    http://www.cydoniacollective.co.uk/

    Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

  • 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

    Morphagene - 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
    Instruō øchd - 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 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.

    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 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.


    https://www.vokagentle.com/

    Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

  • 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.


    MIDI Sprout - https://www.midisprout.com/
    PlantWave - https://plantwave.com/en-gb

    Jason Singh Biog

    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.

    https://jasonsinghthing.com/


    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.

    URL: http://carocsound.com/

    Twitter: @carocsound
    Inst: @carocsound

    FB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/

    Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

  • 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.

    https://oberheim.com/


    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).

    Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

  • 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.


    https://www.jlintheinnovator.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: @carocsound

    FB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/

    Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

  • 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
    21:59 - The Introduction Of Drum Pads And Brains
    25:27 - The Arrival Of Digital Samples And The Linn Drum
    30:59 - The Era Of Sampling Drum Machines
    37:11 - The Impact Of The Roland TR-808 and TR-909
    42:54 - Other Notable 80s Drum Machines
    44:41 - The Introduction of MIDI
    46:51 - Standardised Layouts And Spec
    50:12 - Analogue Circuit Modelling And Software
    53:45 - Back To Hardware With Eurorack Modular
    54:52 - 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.

    www.synthevolution.net
    www.linktr.ee/olifreke

    CREDITS

    1. Chamberlin Rhythmate - audio.com (@Drum Machine)
    2. Wurlitzer Sideman - Internet Archive (archive.com)
    3. Korg Doncamatic - Korg (Germany)
    4. Korg Minipops 3 - Corsynth Modular (Corsynth.com)
    5. Ace Tone F-1 - @YouAreTheRobots
    6. Roland TR-77 - @vintageaudioinstitute
    7. Mattel Bee Gees Rhythm Machine - Thomas P. Heckmann (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn8mxHfY4vM&t=4s)
    8. Maestro MRK-2 - @organ61
    9. Korg KR-55 - Steve Porter (synthmagic.co.uk)
    10. Roland CR-78 - AnalogAudio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0CHoU24Dis&t=129s)
    11. Eko CompuRhythm - Hainbach (https://www.youtube.com/@Hainbach)
    12. Paia Programmable Drumset - Thomas P. Heckmann (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2afPnOpv4U)
    13. Boss DR-55 - Leonard de Leonard (https://www.sound-provider.eu/)
    14. Movement Computer System - @Theccrstudio
    15. Pollard Syndrum - recording: Joe Bataan, ‘Rap-O, Clap-O’
    16. Simmons SDS-V - Alain Levesque
    17. Linn LM-1 - John Diligio (@javd007)
    18. LinnDrum - @zibbybone
    19. Sequential Circuits DrumTraks - AnalogAudio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxhRyEEZCYA)
    20. E-Mu Drumulator - @synthmania
    21. E-MU SP-12 - AnalogAudio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDpvKBoJjug&t=287s)
    22. Oberheim DMX - @synthmania
    23. Roland TR-909 - @DoctorMix
    24. Roland 707 - AnalogAudio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eRhSRHFkMA)
    25. Yamaha RX-11, Casio RZ-1 - @synthmania

    Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

  • 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.

    http://www.richardbarbieri.co.uk/

    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).

    https://natalieberidzetba.bandcamp.com/

    Carsten Nicolai / Alva Noto Biog

    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.

    https://alvanoto.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: @carocsound

    FB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/

    Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

  • 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.


    https://linktr.ee/afrodeutsche


    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: @carocsound

    FB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/

    Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

  • 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.


    https://landscape.band/

    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.

    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

  • 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.

    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

  • 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

    https://deliaderbyshireday.com/dd-archive/

    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 on film, 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.

    URL: http://carocsound.com/

    Twitter: @carocsound
    Inst: @carocsound

    FB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/

    Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

  • 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.

    https://www.niknakdjmusic.uk/

    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: @carocsound

    FB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/

    Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

  • 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.


    https://www.hazelmills.com/
    https://www.willgregorymoogensemble.co.uk/
    Instagram: @hazelmills

    X: @hazelmills

    TikTok: @hazelmillsmusic

    YouTube: @hazelmillsmusic

    FB: @hazelmillsmusic


    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: @carocsound

    FB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/

    Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

  • 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.

    https://inventingelectronicpop.com/

    Accompanying Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/ 31rfel5t6akji2obaa3g2bdyhpni


    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.

    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

  • 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.

    The Alan R Pearlman Foundation - https://alanrpearlmanfoundation.org/

    All music composed, performed, recorded and performed by Alex Ball - https:// www.youtube.com/@AlexBallMusic


    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.

    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

  • 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.


    https://throttleclark.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: @carocsound

    FB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/

    Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

  • 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!

    http://www.cydoniacollective.co.uk/

    Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts