Lars Åkerlund, born in1953, is a Swedish musician, performer and composer working with computers, synthesizers, analog sound and field recordings - rooted in texture, noise and transformation. Since the 1980s he has worked both solo and in collaboration with musicians and artists from various disciplines. Over the past ten years Åkerlund has primarily focused on composition, live electronics, touring, collaborations and the publication of works on different platforms. He got several commissions and grants from EMS, GRM, Art Zoyd, ZKM, Finnish National Ballet, Rambert Dance Company, Gothenburg Opera… and worked with musicians like Zbigniew Karkowski, Reinhold Fridl, Erik Drescher, Dror Feiler and Kasper T Toeplitz.

Education
Pedagogy at the University of Stockholm 2012 Master in classical guitar at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm 1986 Master in electroacoustic music at EMS/Royal College of Music, Stockholm 1982 New Music at Fylkingen/Birkagårdens Folkhögskola, Stockholm 1978 Musicology at the University of Stockholm 1976 Classical guitar studies in Palma de Mallorca, Spain 1973-1975 Solfeo and music theory, Conservatorio del Liceo, Barcelona, Spain 1973-1975

Artist-In-Residence
Cité Internationale des arts, Paris, 2022-2023 and 2026 Art Zoyd, Valenciennes, France 2022 and 2023 VICC, Visby, Sweden 2003, 2009, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025 Institut Suédois, Paris 2015, 2016, 2018, 2022 L’ullcec, Barcelona 2015 Carina Ari Foundation, Paris, 2015 Espace Mendes France, Poitiers 2014 ZKM, Karlsruhe, Germany 2014 La Muse en Circuit, Paris 2013 Groupe des Recherches Musicales (GRM), Paris 2013 CDMC, Centro de Arte de Reina Sofia, Madrid 2001

Major Festivals
Norbergfestival, Sweden 2011, 2024 Marché de Noel, Valenciennes, France 2023 Audioblast #9, Valenciennes/Nantes, (curated by Toeplitz/Ottavi) France, 2021 Experimental Intermedia (curated by Phill Niblock), New York 2021 Festival Acouphène/Fréquences, Genève, Switzerland 2019 Endy Times IX, (curated by Bob Bellerue) New York, 2018 Chiang Mai Elektroniks Musik, Thailand 2018 Ex-L’tronica, Berlin, 2018 Festival Bruits Blancs #8 (curated by Franc Vigroux), Paris 2018 Electropixel #8, (curated by Ottavi/Pickett, APO33), Nantes, 2018 Sound of Silence, Berlin, 2016 Sound of Silence,Tokyo, 2014 Swedish Energies, Issue Project Room, New York 2012 Rencontres Paris/Berlin/Madrid, 2009 ICA, London, 2008 New Media Art Festival, Chiangmai, Thailand 2003 Eukabek Festival, Chiangmai, Thailand 2002 Musica Viva, Lisbon, 2002 Bourges (GMEB) 1981, 1982 and 1985 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, 1997

Music releases
”Falls” (/E Abecassis) Nominated Best Experimental at Manifest Awards 2020, CD, Mikroton 2020 ”Sub Liminal Transmission" 3 CDs FER 2018 ”time profiles”, Inert/e, 2 CDs, Zora 2017 ”Congruences contrairées”, Inert/e, CD, Zora 2017 ”Rhapsody in Stockholm” (/Tetsuo Furudate, CM von Hausswolff, Leif Elggren, Dror Feiler), CD, Menstrual Recordings 2016 ”Aware Not Aware”, (split LP w/ Z Karkowski), Fylkingen Rec 2015 "A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush”, (/Z Karkowski, J-L Huhta), 2 CD, Subrosa 2014 ”INERT/E” , Inert/e, (/ K Toeplitz), Nominated Nutida Sound Awards 2014 , CD, R.O.S.A. 2014 ”Live in Bourges”, Label+ 2014 ”Unreleased Materials” CD, compilation, FIBRR 2014 ”Horology", (/Z Karkowski, J-L Huhta), CD, Monotype Records 2013 ”Ur/Volt” CD, Fylkingen Rec 2012 ”Xenon”, CD, FER 2011 ”Rivers of Mercury/Via Styx”, CD, FER 2010 “The Wire Tapper” Issue 290 2009 ”Welcome to Lucky People Center”, CD, MNW 1992 ”Dra kron P.I.T.T. & the Dreamers”, LP, Radium 226.05 1990

COLLABORATIONS:

Music
Eryck Abecassis, Ulf Bilting, Erik Drescher, Leif Elggren, Dror Feiler, Reinhold Friedl, Fläskkvartetten (Flesh Quartet), Tetsuo Furudate, Carl Michael v Hausswolff, Jean-Louis Huhta, Zbigniew Karkowski, Kroumata, Lise-Lotte Norelius, LÒEK, Sebastian Öberg, Julien Ottavi, Jenny Pickett, Johan Söderberg, Kent Tankred, Kasper T Toeplitz, Freddie Wadling, Dennis Wong…

Choreographers
”Circular”, music for dancer Ana Elena Tejera, Paris 2023 ”Konturer, vittringar”, Choreography KAI-EN, 2021 ”Pouros” Choreography KAI-EN, 2018 ”Tangled” Choreography KAI-EN, 2017 ”The Omniscient Dogs-III” Choreography Björn Elisson 2014 ”The Omniscient Dogs-II” Choreography Björn Elisson 2011 ”Systrar – Tesoro III” Choreography Eva Ingmarsson (Atalante, Göteborg) 2011 ”Falter” Choreography Johan Inger (Gothenburg Opera Ballet) 2010 ”The Omniscient Dogs-I” Choreography Björn Elisson 2009 ”La Rose Suprème” Choreography Björn Elisson 2008 ”Minnesdvärgar” Choreography Björn Elisson 2007 ”Aurum” Choreography Björn Elisson 2006 ”Sken” Choreography Björn Elisson 2005 ”Volt” Choreography Björn Elisson 2004 ”En Man” Choreography Cristina Caprioli 2001 ”Ur” (Finska Nationaloperan, Helsingfors) Choreography Per Jonsson 1998 ”Rivers of Mercury” (Per Jonsson Dance Company). Choreography Per Jonsson 1998 ”Port for Angels” (Rambert Dance Company, London) Choreography Per Jonsson 1997 ”Via Styx” (Per Jonsson Dance Company), Choreography Per Jonsson 1996 ”Neptune´s Inclined” (Per Jonsson solo dance) Choreography Per Jonsson 1996

Visual Artists/Performers
”Electric Chamber Choir”, installation with Celine Struger (AT) , Paris 2023 ”Transformation”, music to video by Katharina Gruzei, (AT), 2023 Video/music for ”Eternal Life”, exhibition commissioned by Nobel Prize Foundation/Liljevalchs, Stockholm 2022-2023 ”Kaperlak” (music for exhibition), Art Academy, Stockholm, artist Olof Thiel 2022 ”Tai Kwun ”, (music for video), Hongkong, artist Royce Ng 2019 ”Exercis” (music for video diptyk and live performance at the Modern Museum, Stockholm and live on the streets of Stockholm), artist Maria Heimer Åkerlund 2003 and 2008”Iris”, artist Petra Lindholm, Video/music for the inauguration of Bonniers Konsthall 2006 ”Turkey” (installation, Odenplan Metro Station, Stockholm), artist Maria Heimer Åkerlund 2003”Fucking Airplanes” (sound installation mobile sculpture), artist Maria Heimer Åkerlund 2001”Vibrant Intervention” artist Maria Heimer Åkerlund 1997 ”Onge - Bälg4 - X”, with Ulf Rollof/Zbigniew Karkowski/Ulf Bilting/Johan Söderberg 1990

Filmmaker
Music for Swedish film director Jan Troell’s ”Il Capitano” (Silver Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival 1992 and the Guldbaggen Award for Best Film 1992, Stockholm) and ”Their Frozen Dream” (Awarded at San Francisco International Film Festival 1999 and Valladolid International Film Festival 1999).

Groups, past and present
LPC (Lucky People Center) (w/Johan Söderberg and Sebastian Öberg) P.I.T.T. (w/Zbigniew Karkowski, Johan Söderberg and Sebastian Öberg) LLLSD (w/Lise-Lotte Norelius, Daniel Rozenhall, Sten Backman) Mental Hackers (w/Zbigniew Karkowski, Johan Söderberg, Ivo Nilsson and Jonny Axelsson) INERT/E (w/ Kasper T Toeplitz) LÒEK (w/Óskar Þór Arngrímsson, Katharina Gruzei, Ella Medicus)

Concerts and tours
Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Italy, USA, Cuba, Venezuela, Egypt, China, Thailand, Macau, Hongkong, Taiwan, Japan, Cyprus, Serbia

Teaching/Artist talks/Workshops/Lectures
Elektronmusikstudion EMS, Stockholm 2005-2020 Kenzai University, Tokyo 2018 DigiLog, Taipei, Taiwan 2015 Musashino Art University, Tokyo, Japan 2014 École Nationale Supérieure d’Art de Bourges, France 2013 SADA, Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts (Stockholms Dramatiska Högskola) 2011-12 University of Arts, Crafts and Design (Konstfack), Stockholm 2008 Dramatiska Institutet, Stockholm 1978-79, 2009-10 Royal Institute for Art (Kungliga Konsthögskolan), Stockholm 2007 Danish National School of Theatre and Contemporary Dance, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2007 Nordic Art School, Kokkola, Finland 2005-2007 Royal Institute for Art (Kungliga Konsthögskolan), Stockholm 1992 Chiang Mai University, Thailand 2003, Theatre des Nations, Nancy/Universtité de Paris VIII, France 1984

Stipends/Grants
Swedish Art Grants Committee (Konstnärsnämnden) (5 year grant 2013-17, project grants 2014 and 2017 and several one-year grants) STIM (several grants) FST, Swedish Society of Composers (several grants) Swedish Institute (several grants) Svenska Filminstitutet Helge Ax:son Johnssons Fond Musikaliska Akademien (Electric Guitar Project and Cité Internationale des arts, Paris) Swedish Arts Council (several grants, Kulturrådet) Foundation for artistic development, Royal College of Music, Stockholm Sasakawa Foundation, Japan

Various
“Elektronmusikstudion – art, technology and politics” exhibiting works at the Swedish Performing arts museum, Stockholm 2023-24 ”Eternal Life” music for Nobel Prize Foundation/Liljevalchs museum exhibition 2022-23 Organized a three day festival introducing French composer Jean-Claude Eloy, Stockholm 2018 Music for the silent Chinese movie ”The Peach Girl” (92’) from 1931, live performances in Tokyo & Berlin 2014/2016 Carte Blanche: APO 33, Nantes, France 2015 Inauguration music for the opening of the Bonniers Konsthall (Bonnier Art Hall), 2006 One of the founding members of the multimedia group Lucky People Center 1990

Statement
I am a musician, performer and composer working with computers, synthesizers, acoustic instruments, analog sound and field recordings, rooted in texture, noise and transformation. In one way, music is a social and cultural phenomena but music is also nature, though many would say culture alone. This is more obvious when it comes to noise music and the raw fluxus of electricity. We can’t understand nature - but man will always try. You must understand that you can’t understand, that music is not about understanding. Music becomes political in the sense that WHEN being demanding, confrontative, illogical, intuitive it will make the listener react, like, dislike, start thinking, stop thinking, experiencing, reorganize mental structures, create bodily reactions and moves… Music has the power to change and that’s why music in the end is political. My work takes departure in a concept, a concept that often is born during improvisation, it could be a sound, a combination of textures or something else. I work with multi layered structures, where different events occur at the same time, sometimes without apparent connection at first sight but also with evolving, confronting textures or as flowing streams. As a live electronic performer I like the idea to cherish the unpredictable, the ugly or beautiful, the friction, to manage and embrace the sonic reality in whatever way it may manifest itself. The risk in itself is a quality the sharpens the sense of presence. For that reason I often work with programs or patches that have an inherent instability to cause situations where the imagination is essential, to find ways that connect and make sense. Since the 1980s I have worked both solo and in collaboration with musicians and artists from various disciplines. Over the past ten years I have primarily focused on composition, live electronics, collaborations and the publication of works on different record labels, touring in the Far East, South East Asia, having concerts in the USA and spending a lot of time with collaborators in France (even before my residency at Cité des Arts in Paris). Important collaborators in my life have been Zbigniew Karkowski and Per Jonsson (choreographer) I received several commissions and grants from EMS, GRM, Art Zoyd, ZKM, Finnish National Ballet, Rambert Dance Company, Kroumata, Gothenburg Opera… and worked with musicians like Zbigniew Karkowski, Reinhold Fridl, Erik Drescher, Lise-Lotte Norelius, Dror Feiler and Kasper T Toeplitz.

Photo: Katharina Gruzei

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