Stephen Roddy
Corpus/Mimesis - April 11th 2025
An experimental composer from Ireland, Stephen Roddy proves equally adept at crushing soundscapes as he does mysterious melodies.
- Bandcamp New & Notable, March 2022.
Corpus/Mimesis is a visceral sonic interpretation of the work of Jean-Luc Nancy which lodges itself permanently in the listeners subconscious. It emerged from a collaboration between AMAE, Pier Giorgio De Pinto and Jean-Luc Nancy for which the artist produced a series of compositions and installations between 2014 and 2022. Featured prominently here is the voice of Jean-Luc Nancy reading aloud his fifty-eight indices on the body, a series on short reflections on the body that explore themes of rhythm, noise, cycles, discontinuities, overlapping harmonies and, critically: the voice, as they relate to the body. Each index is enfolded in a unique soundworld that both reflects and elaborates upon Nancy’s statements, embodying the rich layers of meaning that inhere in his work through the medium of sound.
Cassettes available April 11th: Fiadh Productions
Digital downloads here: My Bandcamp
Liner notes provided below:
Stardust Sonata
Stardust Sonata released on June 21st 2024 on cassette through Fiadh Productions. It is both a tribute and lament to David Bowie in ritual ambient form. The six tracks feature ambient soundscapes informed by Bowie’s work with Eno & Fripp on the first two installments of the Berlin trilogy: Low (1977) and Heroes (1977). Stardust Sonata forgoes traditional rhythm and percussion opting instead to play on the lamenting aspects of Low and Heroes, allowing a sense of rhythm to emerge naturally from the materials. Each piece uses digital analogues of classic tape manipulation methods, along with the biting distortion processes, granularisation and buffer processing, cavernous reverbs, and powerful time-stretching techniques to transform fully improvised electric guitar performances into fully realised pieces.
Cassettes available here: Fiadh Productions
Digital downloads here: My Bandcamp
Liner notes provided below:
https://fiadh.bandcamp.com/album/stardust-sonata
From Dreams to Living Things II: Brawling Sparrows Brilliant Moon
From Dreams to Living Things II: Brawling Sparrows Brilliant Moon is the second compilation from Fiadh following on from last year’s From Dreams to Living Things.
The compilation features tracks from over 50 Fiadh artists and bands including my own track Connemara Chaos which originally appeared on Jupiter.
All proceeds from the record will be donated to Heartstone Sanctuary a vegan organic animal sanctuary in the North West of Ireland.
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Fixed-Media Musical Compositions for Performance & Installation
- Symmetric Relations and Hidden Rotations @ Irish Sound Science and Technology Convocation @ Ulster University September 7th-9th 2016.
- Symmetric Relations and Hidden Rotations @ Sonorities Festival of Contemporary Music @ Belfast November 24-26 2016.
Other/Earlier Projects
- Public Demonstration of Gestural Control System for UAV (Drone) Flight Trinity College Dublin Open Day 2019.
- Deslitary The Ghost of Lochmarne w/Daniel O'Connor, Online Video/Music, 2013.
- Will & Implementation @ DAWN 2011, DMARC, University of Limerick, 2011.
- Bike @ DMARC, University of Limerick, 2010. Shifting Sands @ DMARC, University of Limerick, 2010 .
- Fúsball @ DMARC, University of Limerick, 2009.
Discography
Label Releases
- 2024. Stardust Sonata. A tribute and lament to David Bowie recorded in the winter of 2016 shortly after the release of Blackstar and Bowie’s premature death. The six tracks feature ambient soundscapes informed y the sound Bowie developed with brian Eno and Robert Fripp on his infamous "berlin Trilogy". On Fiadh Productions.
- 2024. From Dreams to Living Things II: Brawling Sparrows Brilliant Moon. A compilation album of more than 50 Fiadh Productions artists to raise money for Heartstone Sanctuary. On Fiadh Productions
- 2023. Leviathan. A dark ambient exploration of our impending climate catastrophe. On Fiadh Productions
- 2021. Idle Hands [...] featured on Tides: An ISSTA Anthology. On the Stolen Mirror Label.
- 2019. Der Kardinal featured on Dead Leaves - Charity Compilation (Out of Print). By Brutal Resonance.
Independent Releases
- Signal to Noise Loops (2023) is a series of human-machine collaborations made possible through cybernetic musical systems that unite human performance and composition with techniques and technologies from artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the internet of things.
- Darkness Visible (2022): Generative music EP in an industrial and ark ambient style.
- 30-Epoch Opus (2021) A short 4-track EP of AI-driven music.
- Jupiter (2021) A Doom infused, Blackgaze love-letter to everybody’s favourite gas giant using traditional doom, post-metal and industrial metal instrumentation. 10-track album.
- Wave Grid (2019) A Synth-heavy tribute to the classic sci-fi and horror soundtracks of the 1980s.10-track album.
- Le Son Du Corps Et Un Corps de Sons by Stephen Roddy feat. Jean-Luc Nancy, AMAE & DePinto) (2016) Sound works, experimental guitar and electroacoustic compositions based on 58(+1)/63 Indices on the Body. 16-track album.
- The Human Cost: A Sonification of Ireland's Economic Crash (2016) Includes sonifications and data-driven musical works exploring the socioeconomic data from Ireland’s 2008 financial crash. Includes works composed for my Ph.D. 5-track album.
- Purple Waves (2016) Experimental guitar with computer music techniques composed in tribute to Prince. 9-track album.
- Untitled #1. (2015) Contemporary music compositions with traditional instrumentation. 20-track album.
- Natural Drift (2015) A collection of compositions and soundworks across a wide range of styles encompassing contemporary, experimental electronic and soundart. 10-track album.
- Terminus Abruptus (2014) Lively synth heavy electronic music concept album. 9-track album.
- Line-In: R (2014) Computer music, electroacoustic and minimalist compositions. 10-track album.
- Alethia (2013) Melodic guitar driven and electronic pieces. 11-track album.
Available on: Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | Google Play | Amazon | Deezer | Tidal
Funding and Awards
- Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Research Fellowship 2017-2019.
- Best use of Sound in a Concert Piece or Demonstration, The International Community for Auditory Display 27th International Conference on Auditory Display 2022.
- Trinity College Dublin Postgraduate Research Studentship 2012-2015.
- Trinity College Dublin Travel Grant 2015
- Trinity College Dublin Postgraduate Travel Grant 2013.
Invited Talks & Panels
- Cybernetic Resurgences. November 15th 2024. Intangible Modalities Symposium, Centre for Practice Research in the Arts, University of Leeds, United Kingdom.
- Cybernetic Resurgences: Human-machine Co-creation in the Age of Artificial Media. November 1st 2024. Ubimus 2024 International Symposium, University of Saint Joseph, Macao S.A.R., China.
- In Practice: PhD conference on creative research and careers. Ulster University, Derry, 2021.
- "Whose Music?": Panel Discussion on AI in Music Composition at Music Current 2019, CMC Dublin.
- IoT and AI-Driven Audio in the Smart City: A Rhythmanalysis inspired approach. ISSTA 2018, Derry.
- Data-driven Sound for Raising Awareness, Public Outreach and Insight Generation in Complex Data Sets @ I.NY Creative Education Symposium, Irish World Academy, University of Limerick, October 11th 2017.
- Embodied Sonification @ D.A.T.A: Dublin Arts and Technology Association, The Connect Centre, November 3rd 2016.
- Sounding Human with Data: The Role of Embodied Conceptual Metaphors and Aesthetics in Representing and Exploring Data Sets @ The International Digital Empathy Workshop, Ulster University, October 31st 2016.
- Sound Place and Multi-place @ The Irish Sound Science and Technology Association Conference, Ulster University, September 7th 2016.
- Sonification @ The Connect Centre for Future Networks and Communications, Trinity College Dublin, August 2016.
- Sounding Human with Data: The Role of Embodied Conceptual Metaphors and Aesthetics in Representing and Exploring Data Sets @ Music Technology Workshop 2016, Michael Smurfit Business School, University College Dublin, June 10th 2016.
- Data Listening @ Discover Research Dublin 2015, Trinity College Dublin.
- Sonification and the Digital Divide @ Digital Material Conference, National University of Ireland Galway, May 21st 2015.
- Sonification, Soundart & IoT @ The Arts and Technology Research Lab, Trinity College Dublin, December 12th 2016.
Seminars
- Usability Testing Methods, March 2018-2021 @ Music and Media Technologies, Trinity College Dublin.
- Embodied Cognition and Sonification Research Methods, 2016 @ Music and Media Technologies, Trinity College Dublin.
- Empirical Research Methods in Music and Media Technologies, 2015 @ Music and Media Technologies, Trinity College Dublin.
- Csound & Synthesis, 2013 @Music and Media Technologies, Trinity College Dublin.
Media Coverage
Reviews & Coverage Online
- Industrial Complexx: Stephen Roddy - Corpus/Mimesis.
- Nialler9: New releases out today: Lankum, Hazey Haze & mankyy, The Mary Wallopers, AE MAK, O, Burial & more.
- Ghost Cult Magazine: Fiadh Compilation Launch. April 22nd 2024.
- Bandcamp: New and Notable - Leviathan September 16th 2023.
- Avant Music News: Leviathan Review (2023; Fiadh Productions).
- Industrial Complexx: Stephen Roddy - Leviathan.
- Aaron's Albums of the Year - Cave Dweller Music: Leviathan by Stephen Roddy
- Hayduke’s 2023 End of Year Round-Up. Moshpit Nation: Leviathan by Stephen Roddy
- The Sleeping Shaman: George Green AOTY Honorable Mention: Leviathan - Stephen Roddy (2023; Fiadh Productions).
- Avant Music News. Picks of the Week: Worrell, Blackman & King / Stephen Roddy / Dronal / Gdanian / John Zorn.
- The Wrong Biennale is Reshaping the Experience of Art - Fakewhale: FW/<LOG>.
- Tome To The Weather Machine: Thonis - Heracleion, Peaceful Beneath The Waves. 18th September 2023.
- Queen City Sound and Art: Darkness Visible EP.
- ICAD Community Spotlight: Stephen Roddy.
- Bandcamp: New and Notable - Darkness Visible March 13th 2022.
- Tome To The Weather Machine: opening to the ambient light. 31st January 2022.
- Brutal Resonance: Darkness Visible.
- Visual Ateiler 8: 61Years.
- Underground N' Proud: Darkness Visible..
- Underground N' Proud: No Light, But Rather.
- Last Day Deaf: Darkness Visible.
- The Journal of Music: TIDES: An ISSTA Anthology.
- Underground N' Proud: Jupiter Video.
- Roadie Metal: Jupiter Video.
- Indie Criollo: Jupiter Single.
- Last Day Deaf: Jupiter Single.
- Rock Era Magazine Jupiter Single.
- Brutal Resonance: Jupiter Album.
- Son of Marketing: Jupiter Album.
- A Closer Listen: Jupiter Album.
- Last Day Deaf: Ignite the Core.
- Postcard Elba: Connemara Chaos.
- Underground N' Proud: Ignite the Core.
- Synthpocalypse: Search Party Review.
- Sez Hoo (Aer Music): Search Party Review.
- Roadie Metal: SIGIL.
- METALPERVER: SIGIL.
- The Golden Plec: Search Party Recommendation.
- The Golden Plec: SIGIL.
- EBM Radio: Wave Grid.
- Synthpocalypse Wave Grid Review.
- Brutal Resonance Wave Grid Announcement.
- Nightride.fm Wave Grid Review.
- Pure Mzine: The Life and Death of Terminus Abruptus.
- The Metaphorical Boat: Terminus Abruptus.
Radio
- Lamenting the Deep. No Place Like Drone, Dublin Digital Radio, July 10th 2024.
- There are 99 miles of caves below the Burren. Whinger. KFJC 89.7FM California, 18th March 2024.
- Thonis-Heracleion, peaceful beneath the waves. Ears Have Eyes - PHONOSTALGIA: from other times and places, 11th October 2023.
- Leviathan. No Place Like Drone, Dublin Digital Radio, October 5th 2023.
- What’s This Called?, KFFP-LP FM 90.3 Portland Oregon, September 30th 2023.
- Piteraq Over Tasiilaq. Brainvoyager Electronic Fusion Episode #419, Modul303, SCIFI.radio & Radio Dark Tunnel 16-17 Septtember 2023
- Leviathan. Popular Culture Process Filter w/ Chuck Nicklow. WRUW FM 91.1 Cleveland, 11th October 2023.
- v5: Breathing Space, The Dylan Hunter Show CKCU-FM 93.1. February 24th 2023.
- opening to the ambient light, Ridgewood Radio with David Weinstein. January 4th 2023.
- Interview about AI in Music Composition on Gwaith Sŵn's Sonic Darts on Resonance.fm, June 6th 2022.
- 100 Epoch Opus, Gwaith Sŵn's Sonic Darts on Resonance 104.4FM, February 7th 2022.
- No Light, But Rather. Monthly Diatribe, Dublin Digital Radio, January 20th 2022.
- Signal to Noise Loops: A Quiet Year. Monthly Diatribe, Dublin Digital Radio, October 27th, 2021.
- 61years. The ISSTA Listening Room, SARC Radio QUB, 2022.
- Search Party - The Noisy Plug Episode 7
- Sketch 2, Improvised Guitar Take 1 - Glór Mundo 17th October 2018 - Glór Mundo - 93.7fm.
- The Good Ship Hibernia and the Hole in the Bottom of the World - Glór Mundo St Patricks Day Session 2018 - Glór Mundo - 93.7fm.
- Symmetric Relations and Hidden Rotations - Nova Sunday 13 September 2015 - Nova RTÉ lyric fm.
- No Output: Cellular Storm Nova Sunday 11 October 2015 - Nova RTÉ lyric fm.
- Extensive Structure No 1 - Nova Sunday 8 November 2015 - Nova RTÉ lyric fm.
- Fógraim/I Proclaim - RTÉ 1.The Good Ship Hibernia and the Hole in the Bottom of the World - Glór Mundo 27th September 2017 - Glór Mundo - 93.7fm.
- Cellular Storm [Excerpt] & The Good Ship Hibernia and the Hole in the Bottom of the World - Glór Mundo 29th September 2017 - Glór Mundo - 93.7fm.
- Sketch 2, Improvised Guitar Take 1 - Glór Mundo 4th October 2017 - Glór Mundo - 93.7fm.
Newsprint
- Irish Independent - ‘It’s great to be out again’ – Culture Night brings joy back to young and old, plus relieved artists.
- Newspaper Article "Offaly man prepares for 'unique' musical performance in London". The Offaly Express, 17 August 2017.
- Irish Times (Collaborative project)
- The Examiner (Collaborative project)
- TN2 (Collaborative Project)
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Cover Art by Mairead McGuinness.
Read more about the release on Ghost Cult.
Get the album through Fiadh Productions.
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You can sample some of the tracks below:
Leviathan - Physical & Digital Release 2023
Leviathan was released in October 2023 on Fiadh Productions.
Listen Here:
You can listen to the album above and read about the concepts explored in Leviathan in the liner notes booklet below. It contains a detailed overview of the album along with in-depth notes on each track. There is also a limited supply of tapes available through Ratti Incantati .
Available here: