Always keen to explore new creative avenues, from producer, to DJ, film scorer, & even composer, Kate Simko once again proves to be fearless in the face of the unknown. Venturing, once again, into unchartered musical terrain, Simko & her London Electronic Orchestra are set to release their self-titled debut LP- a pioneering project that showcases a symbiotic blend of orchestral soundscapes and electronic music. The good news is that the LP will be released in Spring of 2016.
Better news: You can now stream the lead track, ‘Tilted’ in full here:
Kate is no stranger to exploring the unknown–especially in terms of her music. She began experimenting with combining classical instruments and electronic music while in the process of getting a masters at the Royal College of Music–fusing her keenness of electronic music with her musical background as a pianist.
London Electronic Orchestra is set to be released on May 6 on vinyl, CD, and for digital download via The Vinyl Factory. It is preceded by the three-track Tilted EP, which includes a spectacular remix by none other than legends LSOS (Seth Troxler and Phil Moffa).
“Rather than design a synthesizer sound, I worked with players trying different techniques and instrumental combinations, and then we’d make recordings. I was studying Composition for Screen, but ended up on a detour experimenting with orchestral instruments, seeing how I could combine them into electronic backdrops. The tones, ranges, and colour possibilities completely blew me away! Writing for orchestra is definitely the most exciting thing I’ve learned in my adult life.”
The results of her doing so are unparalleled by your average artist with Kate introducing a sound that is entirely her own. Powerful and unique, this innovative project definitely puts Kate up there with artists to keep your eye on in 2016.
A classically trained pianist, the Chicago native is a musical magpie, introducing versatility to a genre that has the tendency to become redundant in some cases. Kate Simko can do it all – from remixing Philip Glass, collaborating with legend Jamie Jones, producing for Katy B, touring an audio-visual live set, and managing to captivate audiences from London to Ibiza with her LEO shows and at clubs worldwide as an in-demand house DJ.
For Kate, it all goes hand in hand. ‘To me DJ’ing is live composition,’ she explains. ‘It’s an improvisation. You’re choosing music for the moment. And that spontaneity is channeled into London Electronic Orchestra.”
Photo via Luke Baker
A rare feat for those that dabble in the art of creating electronic music–or music in general, Kate both composes the orchestral parts and produces the original LEO songs in their entirety. But she is the first to say that collaboration is a key component to the project.
Regarding the collaboration with her musicians, Kate shares: “One of the things that bonds us is that we’re all taking our past experiences as musicians into a slightly new context. LEO is about showcasing these ornate instruments in a new way, letting the players have their own moments to shine, and working with other creative collaborators to make it all happen.”
Soon after engineering ASAP Rocky‘s latest LP, Grammy-winner Bea Artola recorded the majority of the album in London. The record was then mixed in New York by Dan Bora, who has worked with famed artists such as Laurie Anderson, Sufjan Stevens, Nico Mühly and Matmos, in addition to being Philip Glass’ main sound engineer.
“When I first heard electronic music it was an instant obsession,” says Kate. “It really struck me that both classical and electronic genres take you on a journey without words. The melodies, colors, and soundscapes let your imagination go on your own personal trip. That abstract freedom is what I love the most.”
Get familiar with Simko and her melodic sounds with this audio of her 2012 set at the Highline Ballroom in New York:
About Kate Simko & London Electronic Orchestra
Kate Simko’s music is largely influenced by underground house, as well as her background in classical piano and jazz music. Having carved out a path as a successful producer, film composer, and DJ, in 2012 Kate enrolled at London’s Royal Collage of Music to study Composition for Screen. In 2014, Kate founded London Electronic Orchestra, which is now distilled into a seven-piece group of former RCM musicians: Essi Kiiski and Kamila Bydlowska (violin) Zoe Saubat and Deni Teo (cello) Valeria Kurbatova (harp) and Nina Harries (bass). LEO have played a handful of acclaimed live shows to date, at London’s Roundhouse at the iTunes Festival, LEAF, the National Gallery, Latitude Festival, Bestival, and Ibiza. The best news, an international tour is in the works for 2016!
About The Vinyl Factory
Established in 2001, The Vinyl Factory Group encompasses a record label, vinyl pressing plant, the record shop Phonica, and the music magazine FACT, in addition to all of its visual arts activities. These include new arts commissions, exhibitions and collaborations between musicians and contemporary artists. The Vinyl Factory Space at Brewer Street Car Park is a dynamic cultural hub featuring arts commissions and audio-visual collaborations. Site-specific exhibitions at the space in the past have included Ryoji Ikeda’s supersymmetry, The Enclave by Richard Mosse and Ben Frost, Carsten Nicolai’s unicolor, The Talking Drum by Bill Viola and Ragnar Kjartansson’s The Visitors. The Vinyl Factory record label releases limited editions made in collaboration with musicians and artists among the likes of Massive Attack, Christian Marclay, Florence + the Machine, Pet Shop Boys, Gesaffelstein, The xx, and many more.
By FestPop Senior Editor & Director of Social Media
Courtney Young