Co-presented with NOW Society

Brian Bamanya, known professionally as Afrorack, is a Ugandan multidisciplinary artist, engineer, and musician who has pioneered Africa’s first DIY modular synthesizer. Driven by a passion for electronics and a desire to make modular synthesis accessible in Uganda, Bamanya constructed his own synthesizer using locally sourced components and self-taught engineering skills. This innovative instrument, also named “The Afrorack,” serves as both his artistic moniker and a symbol of his commitment to blending technology with African musical traditions. He has appeared at several international festivals which include Sonar, Rewire, Elevate, Dakar Art Biennale and CTM among others.

In May 2022, Afrorack released his self-titled debut album, The Afrorack, through the Ugandan label Hakuna Kulala. The album showcases his unique approach to electronic music, merging polyrhythmic structures inherent in African music with elements of acid, techno, and ambient sounds. Tracks like “African Drum Machine” exemplify his use of Euclidean rhythm sequencing to create complex, algorithmic patterns that echo traditional East African rhythms. The album was received with popular acclaim making it to several music writers’ best albums of 2022 including

The Wire Magazine top 50 albums of 2022, The Quietus best of 2022 and He has also been featured on the BBC world service radio. Afrorack’s innovative work continues to inspire a new generation of musicians and technologists, bridging the gap between traditional African music and contemporary electronic soundscapes.

Suoni 2026 artist-in-residence Adrian Avendano, a gifted percussionist from Vancouver, collaborates with interdisciplinary artist & contrabassist Roxanne Nesbitt and Montreal’s Engone Endong, who blends rich Gabonese tradition with cutting-edge electronic sound design.

Roxanne Nesbitt is a designer, musician, composer, and sound artist. Following formal studies in classical double bass and architecture, Roxanne works between the fields of music and design. Her research explores radical instrument design, the meeting place of composition and improvisation, sculptural ceramics and participatory sound installation. Roxanne collaborates with instrument designers, musicians, composers, and choreographers to create work.

Her compositions and instruments have been played across Europe and North America including performances at Gadeamus Muziekweek in Utrecht, November Music in Den Bosch, Bauchhund in Berlin, Array Space in Toronto, and the Center for New Music in San Francisco. She celebrates process making work that is intimate, inquisitive, and exploratory. Roxanne is currently based in Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal.

Adrian Avendaño is an improvising drummer and percussionist, sound artist, DJ and recordist. His work explores the connection between sound, space, and territory. His approach to drums and percussion is informed by elements of acoustic ecology, deep listening, and the connection to his diasporic Latine heritage.

Based in Montreal, Engone Endong is a visionary producer and composer blending rich Gabonese tradition with cutting-edge electronic sound design.

Recently performed with Orchestre Métropolitain (Montreal), National Arts Center Orchestra (Ottawa) and Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana (Switzerland), Engone Endong co-composed for Symphonie de Coeurs (Rhodnie Desir), captivating the audience with his immersive soundscapes and unique textures; pushing creative boundaries.

Engone Endong also crafted innovative tracks with artists such as Pindi, Elom 20ce & Blitz the Ambassador, Tali Taliwa, Slam Action, Orchestra Maestro and conductor Liberté Anne Lymberiou, and JUNO nominated artists Waahli and Eccodek.

His last album release, Okeng (UNLOG), gained international exposure on AFROPUNK and OkayAfrica, and he has played Piknic Electronik, Pop Montréal, Mellotron (France), Festival Renaissance des Étoiles (Gabon), and also performed at Societé des Arts Technologiques (Montréal).

He is currently busy putting the final touches on his much-anticipated new album, which will be released later this year.