Pop and electronic music have celebrated a collaborative history for nearly 30 years. Since the early days of New Wave and Industrial music of the 70s and 80s, pop has embraced technology, offering a synthetic sound palette that opened the doors for hip hop, electro, techno and contemporary synth pop. With the advent of computer based audio tools has come a seemingly endless array of creative possibilities with music. During the 90s digital pioneers like Aphex Twin and Autechre began influencing pop music and before long pop icons like Radiohead where embracing digital audio technology, which offered increased flexibility, unique sound design, vocal treatments and arrangements that were impossible with more traditional analog production tools. This digital deconstruction of traditional pop music has been the focus of many contemporary sub genres ranging from abstract hip hop to electro pop to even indie pop. At the center of this movement is Berlin, home to a plethora of electronic music composers embracing pop, hip-hop and indie rock. Berlin artists like Apparat, Modeselektor, T. Raumschmeire and Allen Ellien have all proven that electronic sound works just as well on the radio or rock club as it does on the dance floor.
Headlining this international bill we have two of Berlin’s finest, Jahcoozi and Barbara Morgenstern. Jahcoozi, lead by London born-Sri Lankan front woman Sasha Perera, are a unique dance hybrid that bring together the political unrest of M.I.A. with the frenetic beats of Modeselektor. Co-headlining the bill are Japanese born Tujiko Noriko and the Puerto Rican born quartet Balún, both of whom conjure dreamy pop landscapes that will appeal to fans of female electronic pop artists like Bjork and Mum. Opening the “Destructing Pop” showcase will be Careen Ajar, making their Seattle debut with help from video guru Scott Pagano.