UTKUCAN EKEN

Composer & Sound Artist

Media Works

Collaborations

ELSE

Work in progress

“Balanced Interplay in Electro-Acoustic Music” represents a research idea exploring the ways of applying technology in coexisting methods in electroacoustic music, where the acoustic and electronic realms of sound coexist in an intertwined manner rather than separately or dominantly.

Currently, this project is in the research and development stage, implementing this technique with certain acoustic instruments and augmenting them. The focus is presently on the cello. A demonstration video showcasing some early results on the cello can be seen below. The true impact of this method is better understood in a physical/acoustic environment rather than when recorded, but it can still illustrate how this method can broaden the sound palette for composers. In this demonstration, all sound layers occur simultaneously and originate from the cello itself. No post-processing is involved.

Biography

Utkucan Eken is a London-based composer, audio producer, and sound artist, with expertise in sound and music for various new media, film, and TV projects. Born in Izmir, Turkey, Utkucan began his musical journey with piano and cello lessons. He furthered his education with a degree in music technology from Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul, where he graduated with honors. Later, he moved to London and completed an MA in Audio Production at the University of Westminster, earning distinction and receiving the John Leckie Award for Innovation in Audio Production.

Throughout his career, Utkucan has adeptly combined acoustic, electronic, and digital elements across diverse genres. His music has been featured in numerous films, some of which have garnered recognition at esteemed film festivals like Berlinale and the Cannes Film Festival. His contributions extend to projects that have aired on platforms such as ITV, Sky Arts, and Netflix, with notable mentions like the BAFTA-nominated documentary "The Crossing”.

Beyond his work for film and TV, Utkucan is an active member and performer in the East London Sound Ensemble (ELSE), a Cross-Cultural collective that integrates electroacoustic music with interactive performances and sound installations.

In the academic realm, Utkucan has shared his knowledge through lecturing in “Sound Design and Synthesis” and “Composing for Media” at the University of Westminster. He is also preparing to undertake a PhD, focusing on the research of a balanced interplay between electronic and acoustic music.

With a fusion of hands-on experience and scholarly exploration, Utkucan Eken effectively bridges the realms of traditional and contemporary music, production, and education.

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