monome

both in performance and dinner conversation ezra buchla has an astonishing talent for the unpredictable and a knack for captivation. he is an intensely sincere musician, a jaunty encyclopedia, a worthy table tennis opponent, and a like-minded lover of sugary treats. as a collaborator we’re very happy to have a high level dual class mathematician/mage along for the journey. -brian

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rodrigo constanzo is among a generation of exceptional composer-performers who are also exceedingly adept technologists. yet he does not guard his long-labored tools for solely his own use– quite the opposite as we’ve witnessed him encourage and support others’ musical exploration through his open-source patch releases. still he is unquestionably the master of these tools, transforming tiny gestures (a tapped kitchen utensil, a disconnected patch cable) into fluttering sonic clusters. a joy to behold. -brian

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marcus fischer focuses closely on the fine details of things- his sonic and visual work reveal an unfolding process of meticulous patience and refinement. where this sort of perfection-seeking normally alludes to sparse output, marcus is remarkably prolific in his varied creative practices. we’re not sure he sleeps because we can’t figure out when he gets it all done. beautiful music, glorious treehouses, family adventures, stunning photography- so inspiring. -brian

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last year jay gilligan visited our faraway farm for an epic twenty four hour adventure, astonishing us with his extraordinary skills and storytelling. the next day we both agreed decidedly that we missed him. born in ohio, now living in europe, jay is pushing boundaries teaching his craft of juggling at a leading circus school. sound is woven throughout his performances– sonic sensibilities influenced by a complete immersion in motion and physicality. and new shapes. and new machines. jay makes them all float. -brian

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in the late 00′s a flurry of videos appeared featuring a man dexterously pounding a lunch box. a carefully built lunchbox of buttons, that is. nicholas dematteo continues to push boundaries, making live electronic music that sounds, looks, and feels, well, refreshingly live. he’s got nothing to hide on his screen, but don’t let his mannered politeness fool you– things will be very loud indeed. and there will be celebration. -brian

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in a recent studio visit i found david primus luta dodson buried under prototype circuitry, soldering irons, band-saw split panels, various sound-distance-voltage measuring machines– in an earnest search for hidden energies. yet he also buries. his concrete mixtape is quite literally entombed, to be discovered or not. i expect more sonic treasures will be unearthed using a new device he’s been perfecting. we’re patiently waiting. -brian

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my first encounter with vlad spears involved a mysterious max patch he’d written which appeared to be equal parts math and magic. soon after another cryptically titled patch appeared, this one had a fascinating hidden detail: the question your beliefs license. a deep believer in the power of ideas, vlad channels energies from disparate realms into sculpted sound and digital operations. we’re dying to read the next chapter. -brian

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his attire might suggest anachronism but musically speaking alfred darlington is quite present. he exhibits unbounded determination in his process and his dedicated curiosity for a wide range of genres and instruments leads to compelling pairings and unexpected sounds. it is this seeking and searching that we find infectious. we’re always learning something new from alfred- be it the meaning of “put a donk on it”, a glimpse into the world of coffee specifics, or the multiple ways to tie a tie… it goes on. -kelli

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a catalyst for some of the most memorable monome gatherings and post gathering diner breakfasts, raymond embodies a fine balance of playfulness and seriousness, focus and openness. these qualities come out while performing as altitude sickness, and likely when studying photonic crystals– his research at cal tech makes me more optimistic about our energy future. i suspect he knows all the best taco trucks. -brian

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peter segerstrom has a great sense of humor and really nice hair. the evolution of his music making process combines an academic technical mastery with an overriding message to enjoy life fully. a very long time ago he and i played art gallery shows to audiences of six. more recently he’s been playing alongside our early heros and sending listeners on mystic californian journeys. -brian

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michael felix is an exceptional human being, storyteller, and keen observer of the world around. his enthusiasm for the natural order of things, organic architecture and the wide range of tools at his fingertips has generated a variety of compelling and curious works. have you heard? and have you seen? such heart. such humor. such sincerity. he is currently a professor of industrial and interaction design at SCAD. we think he has some lucky students. -kelli

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