Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

Built around the Buchla modular synthesizer, the work of Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith treats unpredictability as a creative partner rather than a flaw. The American composer, performer and producer grew up on Orcas Island in the Pacific Northwest and now works from Los Angeles, and her sound keeps the thrill of small accidents: a light switched on in the room, a loose ground, a new cable that changes everything. She describes the instrument as feeling like working with something alive, with a biofeedback she sets against more predictable synthesizers.

Smith studied composition and sound engineering at Berklee College of Music in Boston, performing with the indie folk duo Ever Isles along the way. A neighbour who shared her enthusiasm for Terry Riley introduced her to the Buchla 100 after she returned home, and a year of experiments led her to abandon the next Ever Isles album. Euclid arrived in 2015 on the independent label Western Vinyl, followed by Ears in 2016, which drew acclaim, and The Kid in 2017. More recent releases include Gush and Thoughts on the Future, both from 2025, with Ruin: It's Not Just Music due on 2 October 2026.