Simon Kanzler

Simon Kanzler is a German composer, laptop performer and computer music researcher. He is equally fascinated by the complexity of organization principles found in nature and those developed for machines, leading him to address the dichotomy between nature and machine and the question of how technology changes our perception of the world. Driven by an obsession with rhythm and time that is informed by his background as a jazz musician, he is interested in algorithmic processes that produce a pulsating physicality that is combined with carefully designed timbral combinations of instruments and electronics. 

He is currently leading a research group at IRCAM in Paris on the theme of synchronization, a research project that was initiated by IRCAM’s head of research Carmine-Emanuele Cella. In addition, he was selected for the Post-Cursus and commissioned to write a new piece developed in collaboration with the percussion group Eklekto. 

Simon attended the IRCAM Cursus 2022/23 under the instruction of Pierre Jodlowski, studied composition with Mauro Lanza at the UdK Berlin and vibraphone performance at the Jazz-Institute Berlin. He is currently persuing a DMA in composition at Stanford University in California.

He is the co-founder, co-artistic and technical director of the New York-based ensemble PinkNoise, with whom he performs on his live-computer instrument and has worked in close collaboration on many projects. Since 2018, he has developed a modular software instrument for improvisation and interactive performance with acoustic instruments. Activities as a performer with this instrument include, in addition to his work with PinkNoise, various performances within Brooklyn’s underground improvisation scene and band projects led by pianist Elias Stemeseder. He has performed at festivals and venues such as the Jazzfest Berlin, FIMNME Mexico City, the Stone New York and Music Biennale Zagreb.