KYLE BATES
Intermedia artist, composer, sound engineer, and writer from the Pacific Northwest currently living and working in Los Angeles, CA.
EDUCATION
2024
The Herb Alpert School of Music at the California Institute of the Arts,
Doctor of Musical Arts in Performer-Composer (focus on experimental sound practices, live electronic music, installation and intermedia art)
2021
Mills College,
Master of Fine Arts in Electronic Music and Recording Media.
2016
Oxford Seminars,
TESOL/TESL/TEFL certificate to teach English as a second language.
2015
Portland State University,
Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Letters with a focus on Music and English Literature. Minor in Spanish. Graduated with honors. Final quarter spent studying and teaching abroad in Zamora, Spain.
SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY
2024
Hey Chicago (Low Cover), for Your Voice is Not Enough, an LP of covers of the band Low by The Flenser artists in memory of Mimi Parker (2024; The Flenser)
2023
A Matinee, LP by Lula Asplund and Kyle Bates (2023; Whited Sepulchre Records)
2022
Wane into It, LP by Drowse (2022; The Flenser)
2021
Cold Fronts, Experimental full length featuring works by Bryan Manning, Jonathan Tuite, and Planning for Burial, alongside Room Impression, a composition for Buchla 100s, Moog IIIP and processed voice by Drowse. Mastered by Kyle Bates (2021; Glowing Window Recordings)
2020
Screen (Hyperreal) - Version, Buchla 100s and processed sound composition by Kyle Bates for the Mills Spring 2020 Compilation of works from artists working in The Center for Contemporary Music (2020; Mills College)
Voucher - Version, Buchla 100s and processed sound composition by Kyle Bates for Forever in Construction, a collection of audiovisual works from The Center for Contemporary Music (2020; Mills College)
(Also released as part of a companion cassette compilation for the magazine Medicine for a Nightmare.)
2019
Amulets/Drowse Split, Commissioned split with Portland based artist Amulets for Whited Sepulchre’s fall 2019 cassette series (2019; Whited Sepulchre Records)
Second Self, Mini-LP by Drowse in collaboration with Lane Shi Otay:onii (2019; The Flenser)
Light Mirror, LP by Drowse (2019; The Flenser)
2018
Fog Storm pts. 1-4, Audiovisual art split with Planning For Burial by Drowse & Jesse Keating (2018; Glowing Window Recordings)
Cold Air, LP by Drowse (2018; The Flenser)
2016
Memory Bed, EP by Drowse (2016; The Native Sound)
Uncontrollable, LP by Miserable--created the audio for the tracks ‘Stay Cold’ and ‘Salt Water’ (2016; The Native Sound)
2015
Soon Asleep, LP by Drowse (2015; Apneic Void Sounds)
Covered, collection by Drowse (2015; self-released)
2014
Naive Sleep, collection by Drowse (2014; self-released)
2013
Songs to Sleep On, EP by Drowse (2013; Television Records)
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
2022
Untrue in Headphones, audiovisual piece, featured on Stereogum (The Flenser; September 2022)
2021
Failing Memory Theatre, audiovisual piece created for and premiered as part of Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Netherlands (premiered online as part of Roadburn Redux due to the Covid 19 pandemic, April 2021)
2019
Bipolar 1, audiovisual piece created with re-contextualized footage from Second Self (The Flenser; May 2019)
2018
Second Self, audiovisual component to an installation created at Studio Kura in Itoshima, Japan (December 2018)
Fog Storm pts. 1-4, audiovisual collaboration with Jesse Keating, premiered via Treble Magazine (Glowing Window Recordings; July 2018)
Klonopin, premiered via NPR (The Flenser; Feb. 2018)
2016
Memory, premiered via CLRVYNT (The Native Sound; Oct. 2016)
Break, premiered via Spin Magazine (The Native Sound; June 2016)
Stay Cold, audiovisual collaboration with Kristina Esfandiari and Neil Davis, premiered via CVLT Nation, (The Native Sound; April 2016)
2015
Melt, audiovisual collaboration with Victoria Ayers and Tuesday Faust, premiered via Exclaim!, audio premiered via Vice Magazine (Apneic Void Sounds; June 2015)
SELECTED INTERMEDIA/SOUND ART/INSTALLATION WORKS
2024
Vernal Folds, eight-channel field recording and synthesis installation at the WaveCave Experimental Sound Space, Los Angeles CA
2023
Overcasts, intermedia installation/performance piece initially realized at R.O.D. at CalArts
2022
Autumn Folds, quadraphonic field recording and synthesis installation initially realized at the WaveCave Experimental Sound Space
Habituation II: The Lake, intermedia installation/performance piece which synthesizes pieces of writing (Cloud Light Over Obsidian), process based field recording (Habituation II) and composition (Four a.m., Then Wind) into new work––initially realized at R.O.D. at CalArts
2021
Failing Memory Palace, building wide sound installation focusing on structure born sound that took place in the music building of the Center for Contemporary Music during the Covid-19 pandemic
2020
Habituation, serialized, site-specific, process-based field recording piece
2019
Six People Present, site-specific sound piece for Mills College Chapel–a six-channel sonic family portrait
2018
Second Self, interactive sound, video, and text installation realized in Itoshima, Japan at Studio Kura
Fog Storm, sound, video, and sculptural instrument installation in collaboration with Jesse Keating at NES in Skagaströnd, Iceland
SELECETED BIBLIOGRAPHY (INCLUDING INTERVIEWS)
2024
Overcasts: Selected Writings 2019-2023, book collecting short stories and essays to be published by The Flenser Books in early 2024.
2023
“Prodigal Portlander Drowse Returns to the Gloom: Kyle Bates on pursuing a doctorate in composition, the long, warm, drones he’s been making with Chicago sound artist Lula Asplund, and his upcoming show at Mississippi Studios.” Interview by Ben Salmon. The Portland Mercury, July 2023: Print.
“Drowse Makes Slowcore with a Black-Metal Edge.” Interview by Justin Criado. Westword, June 2023: Print.
Overcasts, short story component to the Overcasts intermedia performance piece at the California Institute of the Arts, April 2023: Print.
2022
“Drowse Wades into Everything From the Internet to Henri Bergson to Elliot Smith.” Interview by Jacqueline Codiga. Merry Go Round Magazine, Dec. 2022: Web.
Cloud Light Over Obsidian, short story component of Habituation II: The Lake, to be published alongside Drowse’s Wane into It LP; Print
2021
Three Engrams: Human and Mechanical Memory: Temporality in Experimental Electronic Composition, Published MFA thesis for Mills College, March 2021; Print.
2020
"Hazy Future." Interview by Daniel Bromfield. Willamette Week, Jan. 2020: Print.
2019
Second Self & Light Mirror Journal, journal and short story, The Flenser, June 2019
“Drowse Interview.” Interview by Tristan Jones. Sputnik Music, August 2019: Web.
“Exploratory Soundscapes: Drowse Interview With Kyle Bates.” Interview by Lucy Brady. New Noise Magazine, June 2019: Print.
“D//E Interviews: Drowse.” Interview by ZR. Destroy//Exist, May 2019: Web.
2018
"Drowse Confronts the White Noise of Fear." Interview by Ben Salmon. Portland Mercury, March 2018: Print.
"A Conversation With Kyle Bates." Interview by Morgan Enos. North of the Internet, Feb. 2018: Web.
2016
"Drowse Commits His Life to Tape--The Pain, Recovery and Everything in Between." Interview by Cris Lankenau. Willamette Week, Oct. 2016: Print.
2015
"The Feeling of Sickness-An Interview With Drowse." Interview by Karol Kaminski. Idioteq. Aug. 2015. Web.
"Soon Asleep With Drowse-An Interview." Interview by Renato Malizia. The Blog That Celebrates Itself., July 2015. Web.
"Drowse Unravels a Dark Past." Interview by Ryan J. Prado. Portland Mercury June 2015: Print.
Mnemonic, disjunctive memoir, Apneic Void, June 2015
2014
Passing, poem, From Bellingham With Love, Oct. 2014
2013
A Little Pink Pill…, graphic memoir, Television, Dec. 2013
COMMISSIONS, RESIDENCIES, & AWARDS
2024
Sound Commission: commissioned by Roadburn Festival, Netherlands, to create an audiovisual piece in collaboration with the band Ragana.
2023
Sound Commission: commissioned by Oblivion Access Festival, Austin TX, for an exclusive
audiovisual performance piece.
Video Commission: commissioned by SF based label The Flenser to create a videos to
promote the Sprain album The Lamb as Effigy.
2022
Artist’s Residency: Artist in Residence at La Barre Residency, La Barre, France.
2021
Music Scholarship: awarded a scholarship and living stipend to attend a doctoral program at the California Institute of the Arts.
Music Commission: commissioned by Roadburn Festival, Netherlands to create an exclusive audiovisual performance piece for Roadburn Redux.
Video Commission: commissioned by SF based label The Flenser to create a video to promote the Succumb album XXI.
2020
Visual Art Commission: commissioned by Medicine for a Nightmare magazine to create a full page, full color work of art, Lonely Water, for their magazine (collage).
2019
Writing Commissions: commissioned by SF based label The Flenser to write biographies for artists including Giles Corey, Mamaleek, Sprain, and Midwife.
Music Commission: commissioned by SF based label The Flenser to create a collaborative work with Lane Shi Otayonii for their vinyl membership series.
Video Commission: commissioned by SF based label The Flenser to create a teaser video to promote the Have a Nice Life album Sea of Worry.
2018
Artist’s Residency: Artist in Residence at Studio Kura, Fukuoka, Japan.
Artist’s Residency: NES Artist Residency, Skagaströnd, Iceland.
2017
Soundtrack/Music Commission: commissioned by The Fullbright Company to create music to soundtrack the exploratory feminist sci-fi videogame Tacoma. Videogame released on Xbox One, Mac and PC.
Music Commission: commissioned by Part Time Punks LA (radio and club) to record an official Part Time Punks Studio session.
2016
Music Commission: commissioned by Part Time Punks LA (radio and club) to perform a Part Time Punks sponsored show and record an official Part Time Punks Studio session under the name Drowse.
2015
Music Commission: commissioned by poet Zachary Cosby for an audio/video/text collaboration for his performance at Poetry Press Week.
2014
Soundtrack/Music Commission: commissioned by U.K. based filmmaker Christopher Marsh to contribute work to the soundtrack of his project Sensory Dimensional Gulf.
SELECTED ARTICLES & REVIEWS
2024
Chretien, Rosalie “Drone and Distortion Music With Drowse and This Quiet Army.” atuvu.ca, June 2024: Web.
2023
McPherson, Matty “A Night With the Flenser [...] Live Review.” Post-Trash, June 2023: Web. Rose, Brad “Lula Asplund & Kyle Bates.” Foxy Digitalis, June 2023: Web.
2022
Lyons, Patrick “Wane into It.” Pitchfork, Dec. 2022: Web
Lacuna, Nat “Album Review: Drowse – Wane into It 4.5/5.” New Noise Magazine, Nov. 2022: Print.
Breihan, Tom “Drowse – Mystery Pt. 2.” Stereogum, Oct. 2022: Web.
2021
Bird Dog “Cold Fronts (Planning for Burial/Bryan Manning/Drowse/Jonathan Tuite) by Drowse.” Warmth Highest, July 2021: Web.
2020
Bromfield, Daniel "Hazy Future." Willamette Week, Jan. 2020. Print.
Sacher, Andrew “The Flenser Throwing NYC showcase w/ Giles Corey, Planning for Burial, Drowse, ECW, more” Brooklyn Vegan, Jan 2020. Web.
2019
Beitler, Ryan “Album Review: Drowse - Light Mirror.” New Noise Magazine. June 2019. Web.
Keyes, J. Edward “Essential Releases.” Bandcamp Daily. Jun 2019. Web.
Quinlan, Keely “Drowse - “Between Fence Posts.” Stereogum. April 2019. Web.
2018
Coral, Evan “Drowse - “Cold Air” Review." Tiny Mix Tapes. N.p., March 2018. Web.
Sacher, Andrew "Drowse Releasing 'Cold Air' This Week (Stream It)." Brooklyn Vegan. 7 March 2018. Web.
Gotrich, Lars. "Drowse's 'Klonopin' Soundtracks a Heavy Dose." NPR Music. NPR, 14 Feb. 2018. Web.
2017
Crecente, Brian. "'Tacoma' Creators Talk Diversity, Evolution and 'Gone Home'." Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone, 31 July 2017. Web.
"Tacoma Review: With Their Latest, the Portland-Based Creators of Gone Home Visit Outer Space. So Should You." Review. Portland Mercury. Aug. 2017: Print.
2016
Domanick, Andrea. "Drowse's 'Memory Bed' EP Is a Beautiful Study of Detachment." Noisey. Vice Magazine, 4 Aug. 2016. Web.
C, Monster “Drowse - “Memory” ." Tiny Mix Tapes. N.p., 13 July 2016. Web.
Malone, Matt. "Drowse Composes His Own Mental ‘Break’ in New Video." Spin. Billboard Music, 22 June 2016. Web.
2015
Kaminski, Karol. "EXPERIMENTAL SHOEGAZE/LO-FI ACT DROWSE COLLABORATES WITH SPANISH VOCALIST DULCE MEMBIBRE." Idioteq. N.p., Oct. 2015. Web.
Bort "♫ Listen: Oligopolist Records - Olgp Sampler 2015." Tiny Mix Tapes. N.p., 29 Oct. 2015. Web.
"Drowse – ‘Melt’." Sounds Better With Reverb. N.p., 29 May 2015. Web.
Staff, Noisey. ""Melt" into Drowse's Hypnotic Exploration of [...]" Noisey. Vice Magazine, 26 May 2015. Web.
2014
H, Ryan. "Tape Haul August 2014." Tome to the Weather Machine. N.p., Aug. 2014. Web. 05 Sept. 2017.
Debonis, Patrick. "Drowse – Songs to Sleep on." Ravedeaf. N.p., 09 July 2014. Web.
"EP Review: Songs To Sleep On by Drowse." Alt Dialogue. N.p., 23 July 2014. Web.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
2024
8.3
Rave Down Festival, Chicago, IL
Solo performance.
6.3-6.8
Drowse Canada tour with Thisquietarmy and Your Winters are like Summers Here.
5.31-6.2
Prepare the Ground Festival, Toronto, Canada
Solo audiovisual performance.
4.18-4.21
Roadburn Festival, Tilburg, The Netherlands
Solo audiovisual performance and commissioned collaborative performance with Ragana.
4.9
California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles CA
Debut performance of the intermedia piece, Soundless Passenger, at the R.O.D.
2023
11.4
Suspirium, Los Angeles CA
Audiovisual performance at the Sway festival.
10.18
California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles CA
Debut performance of Aphasia Border [sketch]
7.30-8.6
Pacific Northwest tour with Ragana.
6.16
Audiovisual performance at the Oblivion Access festival, Austin TX.
6.8-6.16
Tour with Agriculture and Sprain.
4.11
California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles CA
Debut performance of the intermedia piece, Overcasts, at the R.O.D. feat. Lula Asplund.
1.7
Black Water, Portland OR
Drowse, Yellow Room, Folian, Jenny Haniver (Wane into It release show and live audiovisual performance).
2022
11.27
The Echo, Los Angeles CA
Drowse, Sprain, Cold Gawd, Urns and Argyles (Wane into It release show and live audiovisual collaboration with Sprain).
9.3
The Hideout, Chicago IL
Audiovisual performance with Planning for Burial.
8.18-9.3
West Coast Tour with Lula Asplund.
4.13
California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles CA
A performance of the experimental intermedia piece, Habituation II: The Lake, at the Roy O. Disney Concert Hall.
2021
10.19
California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles CA
A performance of the experimental sound piece, Seventeen-Year Closing, at the Wild Beast Concert Hall.
10.16
NonPlusUltra, Los Angeles CA
Drowse, Sprain, Shaki, Sutros (audiovisual performance with live projection and sound).
3.4
Center for Contemporary Music, Oakland CA
A building wide realization of my installation/composition Failing Memory Palace.
2020
11.3
YouTube Live, Internet
A performance based realization of David Tudor’s Rainforest.
10.1
Temporary Chambers Website, Internet
A live stream of my realization of Alvin Lucier’s Chambers under the guidance of Lucier’s technical assistant, James Fei.
4.18
Roadburn Festival-Tilburg, Netherlands
Special commissioned audiovisual set (postponed due to Covid-19).
4.4
Facebook Live, Internet
An audiovisual live stream Drowse performance in light of the postponement of European dates due to Covid-19.
3.31-4.16
European tour as Drowse alongside East Coast label-mates Elizabeth Colour Wheel.
3.21
Market Hotel, Brooklyn, NY
Drowse, Giles Corey, Planning for Burial, Elizabeth Colour Wheel, Heather Fortue & Thom Wasluck (special even celebrating Flenser Records’ ten year anniversary, postponed due to Covid-19).
1.3-1.25
West Coast tour as Drowse alongside West Coast label-mates Sprain.
2019
11.13
Mills College Chapel-Oakland, CA
Six People Present (Six channel audio installation).
10.24
Lisser Theatre-Oakland, CA
Your Breath is Wind (Eight channel fixed media piece as part of the annual Octophonia concert series).
8.30-9.3
East Coast tour in support of Light Mirror LP as Drowse alongside East Coast label-mates Planning For Burial including a show at the now defunct Brooklyn Bazaar.
7.12-7.24
West Coast tour in support of Light Mirror LP as Drowse alongside East Coast label-mates Elizabeth Colour Wheel.
6.13
Black Water-Portland, OR
Drowse, Surfer Rosie, Abronia, MSC, Rocketship DJ Set (Record release and performance with live projection collage by Kyle Bates).
5.3-5.7
Booked, tour managed, and played shows alongside Kelp from Fukuoka Japan as Drowse in the Pacific Northwest.
2018
12.22-12.24.18
Studio Kura-Itoshima, Japan
Second Self (Interactive audiovisual and text installation).
12.13.18
Utero-Fukuoka, Japan
Drowse (Multimedia solo performance).
4.27.18
Hérna Núna at Old Church-Blönduós, Iceland
Fog Storm in Old Church (Collaborative installation and improvisational performance with Jesse Keating).
4.22.18
NES-Skagaströnd, Iceland
Fog Storm (Collaborative installation and performance with Jesse Keating).
3.24.18
Black Water-Portland, OR
Drowse, Tender Age, Dragging an Ox Through Water (Record release and performance with live projection collage by Kyle Bates).
3.14-3.17.18
SXSW-Austin, TX
(Multiple performances at South By Southwest festival).
2017
9.13.17
Holocene-Portland, OR
Drowse, Tender Age (Performance with live projection art by Jon Timm).
8.26.17
The Hole-Oakland, CA
Drowse, Pardoner, The She’s, Wilt
9.2.17
Honey Hive Gallery-San Fransisco, CA
Drowse, Gossimer (Gallery specific sound pieces performed by both artists).
8.4.17
The Evergreen-Portland, OR
(Special performance for the launch of Tacoma by The Fullbright Company).
7.27.17
The Cave-Las Angeles, CA
(Part Time Punks live studio performance).
4.19.17
Mississippi Studios-Portland, OR
Drowse (3 guitar experimental set), NE-HI
4.1.17
Unknown-Anacortes, WA
Drowse performed an experimental drone set in a decommissioned church.
2016
12.28.16
Chop Suey-Seattle, WA
Drowse, Sloucher, Bod
12.21.16
Holocene-Portland, OR
Drowse, Turtlenecked (Good Cheer Records holiday show and label party).
11.23.16
Mississippi Studios-Portland, OR
Drowse (audio visual collaboration with Parker Johnson).
10.15.16
Reed College-Portland, OR
Drowse, Gillian Frances (audio visual performance piece curated by Drowse).
8.5.16
The High Water Mark-Portland, OR
Drowse, Dragging an Ox Through Water (‘Memory Bed’ release show feat. ambient sound collage performance piece).
7.24.16
The Echoplex-Las Angeles, CA
Drowse, Them Are Us Too, Altocamet (Part Time Punks showcase).
7.22.16
Good Mother Gallery-Oakland, CA
Drowse, Pardoner (gallery specific performance piece).
3.20.16
The Tonic Lounge-Portland, OR
Drowse, King Woman
2015
12.5.15
MST2K-Portland, OR
Drowse, Taylor M. (Ambient, spatially focused piece set to digital projection).
6.28.15
Rooftop-Calafell, Spain
Drowse electroacoustic collaboration with Dulce Membibre.
5.19.15
Poetry Press Week-Portland, OR
Drowse audio/video/text collaboration with poet Zachary Cosby.
5.8.15
The Know-Portland, OR
Drowse, Dragging an Ox Through Water (‘Soon Asleep’ performance).
4.13.15
The High Water Mark-Portland, OR
Drowse, King Woman, Braveyoung (Digital projection collage performance).
2.27.15
Poetry Confluence-Portland, OR
A live reading of the disjunctive memoir piece ‘Mnemonic’.
2014
12.14.14
Mosh Eisley-Bellingham, WA
Poetry reading and performance piece as Kyle Bates.
6.21.14
Optimist-Portland, OR
Drowse, Planning For Burial
6.14.14
Underbelly Festival-Bellingham, WA
Filmed Drowse set for Underbelly Festival.
3.22.2014
Scowling-Portland, OR
Drowse, Wreck and Reference (Digital projection collage performance).
2.21.14
J.D.C.-Portland, OR
Drowse, Taylor M. (Ambient audiovisual set).
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SKILLS
Software: Ableton Live, Max/MSP, Ppooll, Pro Tools, Logic, Reaper, Izotope RX, OBS, Adobe Creative Cloud and more.
Audio production: recording, mixing, editing, sound design, digital and analog synthesis.
Video production/post-production.
Writing and editing.
Online teaching and performance using Zoom, OBS, and learning management systems such as Canvas and Blackboard.
Musical instruments: guitar, vocals, bass, modular and digital synthesizers, percussion, electronic circuitry, experimentally mic’d found objects, feedback systems, programming.
Fluent in Spanish.