Electronic Music

Composer, pianist and producer Martin Kohlstedt talks to Caro C about his approach to combining piano and electronic instruments, improvisation in the studio and on stage, plus the work he is doing to reduce the carbon footprint of touring. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:42 - Combining Piano And Electronics 05:10 - Organic, Improvised Performances 09:29 - Incorporating The Voice Into Recordings 10:23 - Favoured Hardware Choices 12:56 - Touring Equipment 15:54 - Selecting A Live Team 17:10 - The Recording Process 20:14 - Launching The Edition Kohlstedt Label 23:39 - Film, TV and Other Commissions 25:11 - The Process Of Collaboration 27:14 - The Influenced Of Nature 30:15 - Supporting Ecological Projects 32:07 - Planning The Touring Schedule 35:52 - Kinship With Other Artists Martin Kohlstedt Biog Martin Kohlstedt is a composer, pianist and producer known for his work in instrumental music and electronica. His albums, including Tag and Nacht, Strom, Ströme, Flur and Feld, along with their respective reworks, have earned international recognition and led to global concert tours. Kohlstedt’s music blends electronica with acoustic and analogue elements, incorporating classical piano, ambient sounds, field recordings, and score design. His work is characterised by the seamless integration of diverse influences and soundscapes. Whether performing at festivals, in intimate piano concerts, or creating movie scores, his music is dynamic and immersive, evolving in real-time during live performances. He describes his approach as modular composition, where his pieces are never fixed. Improvisation plays a key role in his process and he values audience interaction, the freedom to experiment and to collaborate with people, spaces and contexts. Throughout his career, Kohlstedt has worked with notable partners such as the Leipzig Gewandhaus Choir, artists like Douglas Dare and Sudan Archives and labels including Warner Classics. In addition to his own compositions, he creates music and scores for films, plays, podcasts and audiobooks. Kohlstedt also runs his own label, Edition Kohlstedt that supports a reforestation project near his hometown. 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: @carocsound FB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/ Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

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 “End of Summer”, “Sicario”, “Arrival”, “Last and First Men” with Johann Johannsson and “It Comes at Night” with Brian McOmber. In recent years Robert has scored “Candyman” for Nia DaCosta, “The Color of Care” and “Power” for Yance Ford, “Master” for Mariama Diallo, “Grasshopper Republic” for Daniel McCabe, docuseries “Telemarketers”, “UNION” for Brett Story and Stephen Maing, “The Man In My Basement” for Nadia Latif, “Life After" for Reid Davenport and “Seeds” for Brittany Shyne. Through collaboration Robert has worked with Tarek Atoui, Ben Russell, Ben Rivers, Rose Lazar, Nicolas Becker, Rashaad Newsome, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Hildur Guđnadóttir, Sabrina Ratté, Philippe Parreno, Evan Calder Williams, Ariel Kalma, Susie Ibarra and YoshimiO, as well as many others. 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: @carocsound FB: https://www.facebook.com/carocsound/ Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

In this occasional series exploring modular synthesis and live performance, William Stokes talks to Tony Rolando, electronic musician and founder of modular company Make Noise. Tony talks about his beginnings in the industry and how Make Noise has relaunched in 2025 with a new team and a brand new module release, which he then showcases in an exclusive performance alongside four additional modules. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 05:22 - Creating Social Media Posts 12:10 - Recent Innovations In Modular 14:02 - Revisioning Jettisoned Music Technology 21:08 - Module 1: Maths 30:17 - Module 2: Morphagene 47:42 - Module 3: Qpas 57:57 - Module 4: Bruxa 01:12:52 - Module 5: New Universal Synthesizer System 01:27:40 - The Performance Tony Rolando Biog Tony Rolando is a self-taught musician and electronic musical instrument designer who started his career building electronics for artists, such as the light controlled mixer for Simon Lee’s “Bus Obscura,” working for Moog Music and playing in bands. He has recently released music with Important Records and the Asheville, NC based Ceremony of Seasons. Tony is the founder, lead designer and co-owner of Make Noise, a modular synth company launched in 2008, known for modules such as the Morphagene and 0-Coast, popular with artists like Thom Yorke and Robert Lowe, aka Lichens. They operate out of Asheville, NC and have global distribution through a number of music tech dealers. https://tonyrolando.bandcamp.com/ www.makenoisemusic.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

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...

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 Get a print or digital subscription to Sound On Sound magazine.

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 Get a print or digital subscription to Sound On Sound magazine.