Northeastern Synth Fest Performers

Can’t make it to the live event? Watch the performances on our YouTube livestream.

New England Synth Fest, Northeastern Univ., November 9, 2024

12:00

Sherisa Sterling with visuals by Allison Tanenhaus

12:30

Doug Bielmeier with visuals by Christie Bielmeier

1:00

Basement Diver and Motherboard

1:30

FUTURACTIV

2:00

TotoRobyn with visuals by DebStep

2:30

J. Bagist with visuals by DebStep

3:00

Violet Nox with visuals by DebStep

3:30

This Bliss

4:00

Thorny with visuals by Digital Awareness

4:30

Doomsdroid with visuals by Digital Awareness

5:00

Edith Snugglenut with visuals by Anagram

5:30

:mousekid:

Sherisa Sterling

It was about 1975 when I purchased my first synth which was an ARP Odyssey. It was over twenty years before I acquired two Alesis synths: an Ion and an Andromeda. I still have all of the above, but they are not as good as new. So I will be using some of my newer equipment at this event maybe manufactured by Erica Synths, Moog, Behringer, or Arturia or another company. My “songs” will include quite a bit of improvisation and I hope that you enjoy them.

Allison Tanenhaus

Allison Tanenhaus (she/her) is a New York–born, Boston–based digital glitch artist. She specializes in trippy op art, anachronistic tech mashups, and unexpected dimensional qualities.

Allison’s work has been showcased in 26 countries via exhibitions, installations, festivals, dance parties, music videos, live performances, and guerrilla street art. She is a grantee of Somerville’s Visual Art Fellowship and the City of Boston’s Transformative Public Art Program, and a member of electronic music group The Square Root of Negative Two and optical installation duo bent/haus.

Doug Bielmeier

Boston-based Doug Bielmeier crafts commercial and experimental music catching ears from boutique audiences to media giants. Internationally performed, notably by NYC’s Unheard//of and Hypercube Ensembles, his 2021 “Ambient Works” topped NACC’s Chill Genre. With broadcasts on prominent stations like WMBR and KALX, and accolades likening him to Xenakis, Bielmeier’s sonic palette captivates, challenges, and mesmerizes. His rich discography highlights a distinctive voice in contemporary music.

Christie Bielmeier

Christie Bielmeier, PhD, is a Boston-based mixed media artist and design engineer known for her abstract video art that explores the dynamic interplay between fore and backgrounds. Using scientific principles to construct immersive visuals, Christie creates compelling, abstract landscapes that captivate viewers.

Basement Diver and Motherboard

Basement Diver is Belle Cirino and Motherboard is Lily Kahn. They are both Berklee students with a special interest in sound design and electronics. Influenced  by Aphex Twin, Beach House, Imogen Heap, and Blood Orange, Together they combine analog and digital synthesis in generative and improvisational ways. 

 

FUTURACTIV

FUTURACTIV is multidisciplinary artist Casey Figueroa, located in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Casey produces diverse artworks utilizing sound, light, and visuals to present an engaging and immersive experience. Embracing a diverse palette of musical influences, his music shares much in common with his approach to visual art-making; interdisciplinary, exploratory, and intriguing.

As a member of Wamptronica, a crew of musicians and performers located in New Bedford, Casey has DJed events around Boston and the South Shore, and is currently working on producing music for upcoming releases.

TotoRobyn

Based out of Boston, Mass., Robyn Alman a.k.a TotoRobyn loves the exploration of electronic music using a mix of hardware and modular synths. She primarily composes ambient, downtempo, and dance music – you can typically find TotoRobyn streaming online at Twitch. Her recent album, journeys versus destinations, dives into darker ambient and experimental electronic music territory. 

DebStep

DebStep is an interdisciplinary artist in Boston, Massachusetts working in video synthesis. They develop clips with analogue hardware for use in live performances. Their video work has been shown in exhibitions and performances throughout New England.

J. Bagist

J. Bagist is an artist/musician working in Boston, Massachusetts. J’s sound is defined by its roots in sample-based drone and ambient music, creating otherworldly atmospheres punctuated by raw, sequenced rhythms and hypnotic loops.

Violet Nox

Violet Nox is a Boston based electronic music project and will be performing at NESF as a duo. They released their 7th album “Hesperia” October 1st 2024 on Somewherecold Records USA.

A sci-fi chemistry of vapours, the Boston electronic outfit Violet Nox is fizzing with techy sophistication and escapism, and continue to map out a fresh sonic universe.

This Bliss

This Bliss is a husband and wife duo, Nick Zampiello and Jess Baggia, based in Boston, MA. Our approach to electronic music is both evocative and content-driven, blending modern and nostalgic elements. We showcase our passion for analog synthesizers and drum machines while maintaining an inherent pop sensibility. Additionally, we own and operate the New Alliance Gallery and New Alliance East recording studio.

Thorny

Thorny, the ambient project of synthesist/bassist JD Ryan from Vermont, specializes in hazy, ethereal soundscapes. His music often explores themes of nature and human experience, blending gray, cloudy textures with haunting atmospheres. Albums like “Flood” reflect his unique approach to ambient music, creating immersive auditory experiences.

 

Digital Awareness

DA is a live video art performance and installation project, created in an Allston basement in 2021! DA sets combine video synths, mixers, and live camera feeds to create live visuals that boggle the mind and delight the eyeballs. The team is composed of Harley Spring, Josh Artman, Nate Scaringi, and Abbey Franz. Follow @digital__awareness to become Digitally Aware!

Doomsdroid

From its base on the moon Doomsdroid travels to earth to explore the causes of humanity’s presumed extinction. Crunchy bass, classic keys and synths mix with the only two voices left to tell the story: the droid and its soul. Musical tales from the first two chapters of the journey, A.Y.A.O. (After You’re All Over) and Protocol 94, are brought live to this edition of NESF.

Edith Snugglenut

Edith Snugglenut is an electronic music project by Katie Daugherty. 

Anagram

Anagram is the live visual performance moniker of toolmaker/multimedia artist Michael Dewberry. As Anagram he improvises immersive, audio-linked somewhereness out of past and future electronics. He has performed and/or installed work at Together Festival, First Night Boston, Illuminus, HUBWeek, Burning Man, and various under and overground spaces.

:mousekid:

:mousekid: is a Boston-based electronic music artist whose work consists primarily of sample-based beats and noise. Recordings for the project began in 2020, and over the past few years it has expanded to live performances, which have included Somergloom, Knobs and shows at various other Boston venues.