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Moritz Simon Geist is a music producer and researcher working with sound, robotics and algorithms. Beginning his academic career in semiconductor sciences as a PhD student, Geist made a career shift to focus on art and music, where he now merges sound with robotics and algorithms. His approach to electronic music, which involves creating sound through mechanical robots, has earned him international recognition.

In 2012, Geist's first work, the "Drum Robot MR-808," went viral, and he has since explored the sound making and producing of electronic music with robots and mechanics as well as releasing many influential and viral works. 

Geist's compositions are influenced by a broad range of musical styles, including various electronic music genres and classical music, creating a unique and experimental sound. Over the years, he has collaborated with a range of renowned artists, including Mouse On Mars, Tyondai Braxton, Robert Lippok, and Thieß Mynther. His work has been showcased at many international venues and events such as the Venice Biennale, South by Southwest (SXSW), the Philharmonie de Paris, and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. He has also presented his work in Japan, Australia, and South Korea. 

From 2017 - 2020 he held a master class at the NYU Berlin. His contributions to the field have been recognized with numerous awards, such as the ISEA Conference 2024, the Working Grant ZER01NE Seoul in 2023, German Pop Music Prize 2022, and the VIA VUT Award in 2019.

Life and education

Geist has a classical music education on piano, clarinet and classic music, but turned to electronic, punk and noise music in his student years. After finishing his diploma in electrical engineering and starting his PhD in a research facility, he turned to work as a freelance artist full-time in 2012.

Works

In 2012 Geist build his first robotic music instrument the “MR-808”, designed after the classic electronic drum machine “TR-808”. The “MR-808” features 12 drum instruments which are beaten by small robots, such as a snare, toms or bass drum. The instrument is controlled with MIDI, and can be played by the audience. The work gained a lot of attention online and was displayed at many occasions. The installation won the Cynetart Prize 2014 and is part of the touring exhibition 'Electro' by the Philharmonie de Paris alongside works of Jeff Mills and Jean-Michel Jarre.

Tripods One (2017)

In 2017 Geist released the installation “Tripods One”, which is a small robotic music system featuring five robotic percussive robots. In an interview for the magazine Fast Company Geist states he wanted to create DIY futuristic instruments which have something new to them, and which don’t reference something that already exists. The installation won the Visual Music Award 2017 and was nominated for the design price of saxonia 2018.

Album “Robotic Electronic Music” (2018)

In 2018 Geist released his debut Album “Robotic Electronic Music” distributed by Kompakt Distribution and produced by Andi Thoma from the band Mouse On Mars. On the 8-Track Album, Geist used only physical instruments, and it was sold with the claim of being the first techno album entirely played by robots.

Collaboration

In 2014, Geist started a collaboration with the electronic duo Mouse On Mars. They played together at international occasions, such as the Moog Festival or at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. In 2018, the Mouse on Mars Album Dimensional People was released, for which Geist built a custom made robotic music system. With this system it is possible to trigger various objects and percussion elements with MIDI.

Exhibitions

Since 2016, Geist has exhibited several works at museums, for example at the AIx Music exhibition at the Ars Electronica Center or at the Science Museum Milano. In 2019, Geist was nominated for the VIA/VUT Award alongside Holly Herndon, who won the title. Since 2020, Geist runs a studio also doing corporate works in Dresden, Germany

Team

F.L.T.R.: Anika Jankowski, Florian Burdyl, Jonas Engelhardt, Moritz Simon Geist, Robert Arnold, Paul Werner, Mareike Pittig, Carl Ahner, Justus Ehras

Moritz Simon Geist

AWARDS & STIPENDS.

  • Working Grant ZER01NE 2023, South Korea

  • First Price „Pop Music Preis“ Saxony Germany, 2022

  • LIT Grant, Kepler University Linz, Austria, 2022

  • Grant of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (BMWI), Germany, 2022

  • Ars Electronica Residency Programm EMARE, Linz, 2020

  • Working Grant Cultural Fund KDFS, Germany, 2020

  • Nominated for the Indie Via Awards, Germany, 2019

  • Design Price Saxony, Germany, 2018

  • Working Grant Cultural Fund KDFS, Germany, 2018

  • Visual Music Award Germany 2017, Germany,

PUBLICATIONS

  • EP: The Material Turn SRR001

  • LP: Robotic Electronic Music SRR002

  • Mouse On Mars, “Dimensional People” (Thrill Jockey)

  • Contribution to Mouse On Mars, “Lichter” (Infinite Greyscale)

EXHIBITIONS

Venice Bienalle, Philharmonie de Paris, Ars Electronica Center, Leonardo Da Vinci Science Museeum, Mutek Barcelona, Ars Electronica, Mapping Festival, NCCA Moscow, Transmediale, Amsterdam Dance Event, WWW Tokio, Jerusalem Design festival, Co-Pop … and many more