Robert Chamberlain is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, sound designer and sound editor. Having studied percussion and audio production for well over two decades, his greatest lessons came from his immersion in New York City's vibrant music scene in the early 2000's. After completing his formal education at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), he took inspiration from everything around him: from subway busking to studio recording; touring with innumerable ensembles across equally innumerable genres, to performing alongside modern dance troupes and working with internationally acclaimed artists at the World Music Institute... all of these deeply nourishing experiences were absorbed and reflected in his playing style and approach to making records. 

 

After leaving New York for North Carolina in 2016, Robert entered a new phase of his career, marked by a newfound fascination with synthesis and hybrid drumming. At first, the approach was straightforward: blending traditional drum sets with samplers and analog synths to complement beats for whatever project required a fuller, more dynamic sound. From there, the endless possibilities of fusing the electronic and acoustic worlds lead to a much deeper exploration of sound itself. The appeal of modular synthesis became immediately apparent when Robert began making experimental ambient tracks for his solo project, and later for film and podcasts. In this context, he relies heavily on generative compositions, setting up the conditions for sounds to blossom organically, oftentimes as an accompaniment to his live playing. 

 

Today, Robert's musical interests remain as diverse as ever. He's performed solo sets two consecutive years at Moogfest in Durham, as well as at the experimental percussion festival Resonancy in Raleigh. He's written and performed an original score for Dreaming: Little Nemo in Slumberland, a puppet theater production at Duke University. He's toured extensively across the US with his own band Evil English, and, in 2019, travelled to Australia and New Zealand as the backing instrumentalist for John Davis (The Folk Implosion). He is currently working as a composer and sound editor for a documentary film focusing on death-positivity with director Scott Kirschenbaum, while also providing music and sound design for a short sci-fi animation, Chronotron, that will debut as part of an art installation at Burning Man in 2021. He can be found around town in Carrboro, NC with his partner and collaborator Lindsey Elcessor, or at home in their DIY skoolie.