During May 2025, John Richards known under his artistic name Dirty Electronics will take part at artist-in-residence program at Radiona.org. For the residency he will focus on the idea of critical sound synthesis that follows in the critical design and critical making line of thought.

Photo: Katja Golat (c)

A synthesis that extends beyond sound itself to open-up reflection on technology and
society. During his residence he will be exploring this idea through building a
DIY version of MORE ROAR!, a digital synthesiser built using a tiny microprocessor.
During his residence a workshop will take place at Radiona.org.

John Richards explores Dirty Electronics focusing on shared experiences, social interaction and critical making. He is concerned with the performance of large-group electronic music and DIY electronics, and he has come to consider these activities as a holistic action. It is a fluid, live practice associated with the ideas of workshop-installation and performance-installation. His work pushes the boundaries between music, performance art, electronics, and graphic design and is transdisciplinary as well as having a socio-political dimension. He has also written numerous texts on DIY practices, performance of electronic music, and object-orientated and material approaches in relation to sound art.

As Dirty Electronics, Richards has created sound devices for various arts organisations and festivals. He released a series of hand-held synths on Mute Records in collaboration with the designer and writer Adrian Shaughnessy. Other significant artwork/sound circuits have included: the Sonar 20th Anniversary Synth for the electronic music festival Sonar; and Polytik, collaboration with graphic designer Jack Featherstone and Artists & Engineers. Richards considers these devices as ‘physical editions’, an embodiment and means of dissemination of musical ideas.