London-based digital artist Weirdcore (Aphex Twin, Radiohead/the smile, Charli XCX, Daniel Lopatin) has collaborated with Native Instruments to create the visuals for the newly released Absynth 6 – the legendary soft synth used on records by Brian Eno, Aphex Twin, Björk, and many more.
To celebrate the ‘Weird by Design’ nature of the instrument, NI has commissioned a series of groundbreaking producers to create exclusive new music using Absynth, with Weirdcore creating custom visualizers for each new track.
The first of these is by fêted DJ/producer HAAi, and will be dropping on Jan 15th. The improvised track, created solely with Absynth 6, builds on the sense of euphoric calm explored on her recent album HUMANiSE, while showcasing the endless creative soundscaping that is a hallmark of the synth.
The uncanny valley nature of Absynth – at once familiar and futuristic – similarly feeds into Weirdcore’s visuals, conjuring a liminal world of cathode ray screens, degraded urban landscapes, and off-kilter AI. HAAi’s track marks the first in a series of videos by Manni Dee, Manuka Honey, HEZEN, LUXE, LCN, ex.sess, AM SIN, Wordcolour, Ikava Pii and more, chosen for their uncompromising and unconventional approaches to music creation, spanning a number of genres and regions. The tracks, composed on Absynth and with custom visuals by Weirdcore, will be released via Native Instruments’ Instagram and YouTube.
“Absynth has always been about altered perception, a way of stepping into sound and seeing differently. HAAi’s beautiful interpretation exists inside the world of Absynth, with Weirdcore’s visuals giving that world a form that’s uncanny, immersive, and emotionally charged. Bringing Absynth back was about preserving its surreal legacy while opening new doors for artists today.” — Nadine Raihani (NI Director, Product Design).
Absynth 6 represents an evolution for one of the best loved soft synths of all time, one that enabled a generation of producers and composers to create never before heard sounds across ambient and experimental electronic music, and scores for film, television, and video games. The semi-modular powerhouse was overhauled for a new generation of musicians, featuring full MPE polyphonic aftertouch, surround support and an AI-powered browser. Reflecting this heritage, Absynth 6 launched with a suite of presets created by musicians that best embody this restless creativity, including Brian Eno and Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, with more to be added in forthcoming updates.
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