Oscillating between disciplines: composer/performer and media artist Pamela Z works primarily with voice, live electronics, sampled sounds, and video.

Born in Buffalo, New York, and based in San Francisco, California, the multi-hyphenate artist and pioneer of live looping constantly pushes the boundaries of her craft. Her solo works combine experimental extended vocal techniques, operatic bel canto, found objects, texts, digital processing, and wireless MIDI controllers, with which she can manipulate sounds through physical gestures. A hallmark of Z’s compositional practice is the use of various delay and sound processing technologies. On stage at BLAUES RAUSCHEN, she will also create loops, delays, and other effects and textures in real-time using computer technology and Max/MSP software. She uses gesture-based MIDI controllers like the BodySynth, a set of electrode sensors worn on the body that trigger and manipulate sounds through muscle movements and physical gestures.

In addition to live performances worldwide, she has been commissioned to compose scores for dance, theater, film, and chamber ensembles. Many of her works include text collages from self-conducted interviews.