Experimental electronic band
Record label
Saturn Never Sleeps pushed the envelop for hip hop, jazz, and live improvisational electronic music, contributing to the afrofuturism movement of the 2000s, in homage to the rich history of Philadelphia’s music scene.
Saturn Never Sleeps formed when music producer King Britt and singer/artist Rucyl collaborated in 2009 for two improvisational performances specifically dedicated to the music and sound of fellow Philadelphian Sun-Ra. Carrying on in the tradition of Sun Raʼs vision of process as art, they decided to continue their project, which led to performing at Moogfest (USA), Stadtmusik Festival (Basel, Switzerland), Art Basel (Miami), Micro-cosmos (Tokyo) and residencies in Philadelphia/NYC.
The duo were inspired by the works of classic electronic innovators like Herbie Hancock, Raymond Scott, Delia Derbyshire, the present day forward-thinking electronic scene as well as experimental composers, dub and rocksteady. These inspirations transpired in a solid stage show combining laptop/electronics with heart melting vocals and improvised electronic instrumentation, heavy bass vibrations and sonic ambience. The live two person show consists of King Britt on samples, beats, and textures with Rucyl layering vocals and added electronics. Often both performers varied their live rigs with home-brew music applications and experimental noise makers. Their sound resonated with fans of artists like Massive Attack, Little Dragon, Sun Ra and Philip Glass. They’ve opened for TV on the Radio, and also Sun Ra Arkestra - demonstrating that their unique approach to songs allowed for genre-defying collaborations.
Their debut album, Yesterday’s Machine, combined an experimental create-in-the-moment vibe with inspirational lyrics and vocal sonics that range from Sade tones to Flora Purimʼs ethereal layers. The result is well-crafted, intelligent, genre-pushing, electronic soul rooted in the duoʼs collective years of experience and musical expanse. The album was released in July 2011 on their label, SNS.
The SNS monthly events, often in Philadelphia at Silk City, were a celebration of the electric sound phenomenon and all that inspires it. Saturn Never Sleeps firmly believed in music as release and the necessity of maintaining the spirit of play in any artistic process. Hence the monthly electronic experiment fuels the creativity of live musicians of acoustic and electronic inventions, promoting improvisation.
SNS invited like-minded artists to come together to create a dimensional environment of delectable oscillations and bleeps for the modern audiophile. Guest appearances by visual and sonic innovators stretched the boundaries of genre, rhythm, and concept.
Guest artists included Ras G, Afta-1, Tokimonsta, Shabazz Palaces, Ben Neill (Mutant Trumpet), _vade (vj/programmer), Peter Kirn (vj/programmer/Create Digital Music), Taylor McFerrin, Flying Lotus, Sarah White, Stef Eye, Galapagoose, Damon Bennett, RJD2, Mary Anne Hobbs and many more.
Saturn Never Sleeps formed when music producer King Britt and singer/artist Rucyl collaborated in 2009 for two improvisational performances specifically dedicated to the music and sound of fellow Philadelphian Sun-Ra. Carrying on in the tradition of Sun Raʼs vision of process as art, they decided to continue their project, which led to performing at Moogfest (USA), Stadtmusik Festival (Basel, Switzerland), Art Basel (Miami), Micro-cosmos (Tokyo) and residencies in Philadelphia/NYC.
The duo were inspired by the works of classic electronic innovators like Herbie Hancock, Raymond Scott, Delia Derbyshire, the present day forward-thinking electronic scene as well as experimental composers, dub and rocksteady. These inspirations transpired in a solid stage show combining laptop/electronics with heart melting vocals and improvised electronic instrumentation, heavy bass vibrations and sonic ambience. The live two person show consists of King Britt on samples, beats, and textures with Rucyl layering vocals and added electronics. Often both performers varied their live rigs with home-brew music applications and experimental noise makers. Their sound resonated with fans of artists like Massive Attack, Little Dragon, Sun Ra and Philip Glass. They’ve opened for TV on the Radio, and also Sun Ra Arkestra - demonstrating that their unique approach to songs allowed for genre-defying collaborations.
Their debut album, Yesterday’s Machine, combined an experimental create-in-the-moment vibe with inspirational lyrics and vocal sonics that range from Sade tones to Flora Purimʼs ethereal layers. The result is well-crafted, intelligent, genre-pushing, electronic soul rooted in the duoʼs collective years of experience and musical expanse. The album was released in July 2011 on their label, SNS.
The SNS monthly events, often in Philadelphia at Silk City, were a celebration of the electric sound phenomenon and all that inspires it. Saturn Never Sleeps firmly believed in music as release and the necessity of maintaining the spirit of play in any artistic process. Hence the monthly electronic experiment fuels the creativity of live musicians of acoustic and electronic inventions, promoting improvisation.
SNS invited like-minded artists to come together to create a dimensional environment of delectable oscillations and bleeps for the modern audiophile. Guest appearances by visual and sonic innovators stretched the boundaries of genre, rhythm, and concept.
Guest artists included Ras G, Afta-1, Tokimonsta, Shabazz Palaces, Ben Neill (Mutant Trumpet), _vade (vj/programmer), Peter Kirn (vj/programmer/Create Digital Music), Taylor McFerrin, Flying Lotus, Sarah White, Stef Eye, Galapagoose, Damon Bennett, RJD2, Mary Anne Hobbs and many more.
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