Artifice

Artifice Podcast by Emily Merrell
  • 5.0 (22)
  • ARTS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Great art almost feels like magic—it opens our minds to brand new ideas, and teaches us to see ourselves and our world more clearly. Of course, behind all great art, there are artists. And that’s where the real magic happens… As we go beneath the art itself to explore how different artists do what they do, we see glimpses of the sorts of creativity, resilience, and bravery that lead to the art that moves our world. And maybe we can learn to borrow some of that magic for our very own thinking. Join professional musician Emily Merrell for conversations with artists of all kinds. Together, we examine the mysteries of our own experiences, our muses and fears, our gifts and foibles, our beliefs about the origins of creativity, and the secret magic we’ve discovered in our unique creative processes. Mediums include: studio art, graphic design, dance, cooking, illustration, creative writing, storytelling, comedy, music composition, music performance, film making, acting, production, fashion design, photography, and more. Visit https://emilymerrellmusic.com/artifice-podcast/ for more information. - Theme Song "As You Are" by Emily Merrell @emilymerrellmusic - Illustration and Graphic Design by Sarah Keele @sarahkeeleart - Photography by Jen Palmer @jenpalmerphoto - HMU by Shawna Turner @shawnaturnerdesigns

  1. Ep. 230: Moritz Simon Geist

    4D AGO

    Ep. 230: Moritz Simon Geist

    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

    1h 59m
  2. Ep. 229: April Waller

    FEB 3

    Ep. 229: April Waller

    April Waller @aprilmakes is a "whimsical artsy mom" and content creator based in Atlanta, Georgia. She specializes in creative DIY home projects, sewing, painting, and homemaking.

    1h 39m
  3. Ep. 228: Olga Saretsky

    JAN 27

    Ep. 228: Olga Saretsky

    Olga Saretsky is a visionary performance artist, designer, and choreographer based in Miami. She is the creative mind behind Kikimora Studio, a unique performance art company that brings divine wearable sculpture and living art to life. Olga’s creations, often described as “high fashion,” blend mystery with beauty, evoking a sense of the extraordinary. Kikimora Studio also houses Kikimora Fashion, a collection of vibrant, high-performance costumes for dancers, yogis, and performers. Born in Kazakhstan to a Russian family, Olga began her artistic journey at age 15, evolving into a costume designer and choreographer. After performing globally, she founded Kikimora Studio in the U.S., where she now teaches and produces her visionary wearable art, captivating audiences worldwide. Performance booking Art for events- www.kikimorastudio.com, Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/kikimorastudioart/ Fashion brand, custom costumes - www.kikimorafashion.com , Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/kikimorafashion/

    1h 59m
  4. Ep. 227: Stephanie Kilgast

    JAN 20

    Ep. 227: Stephanie Kilgast

    Inspired by natural forms, Stéphanie Kilgast’s artwork is an ode to nature and its current biodiversity. Plants, mushrooms, insects and other animals intertwine in a vibrant swirl of colors under her brush or sculpting tools. Since 2017, in her series ‘Discarded Objects,’ she sculpts colorful organic growths emerging from manufactured objects, celebrating the beauty of nature in a dialogue with humanity and questioning the lost balance between human activities and the natural world. Her work has a cheerful post apocalyptic feel to it, a reassuring reminder that nature has the capacity to grow back, if we only let it. Her work has been exhibited in North America, Asia, Australia and Europe. She is French and was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, in 1985. She currently resides in Vannes, France. https://www.stephaniekilgast.com/bio https://www.instagram.com/petitplat/

    2h 3m
  5. Ep. 226: Elodie Durande

    JAN 13

    Ep. 226: Elodie Durande

    Meet Elodie Durande, a French Perfumer whose journey into the captivating world of scents began in a quaint countryside village in Normandy, France, where she spent her childhood. With a creative mind and a rational scientist's brain, perfumery emerged as the perfect fusion of both her passions. Elodie's academic journey led her to study chemistry before she embarked on a transformative two-year Perfumery course at the University of Montpellier, France. During this pivotal period, she immersed herself in the fragrant world of Grasse, working as an intern. Fate intervened when she encountered Master Perfumer François Robert on the Île Sainte-Marguerite. From that moment, François became her mentor, guiding her on the path to realizing her dream of becoming a Perfumer. In February 2014, Elodie commenced her journey with Quintessence Fragrances as an intern. Swiftly rising through the ranks, she joined the evaluation team within six months. Three years later, an opportunity to continue her training as a Junior Perfumer presented itself, with François as her mentor. In January 2019, she officially earned the title of Perfumer. Elodie finds joy in the perpetual process of learning. A self-proclaimed globetrotter, she draws inspiration from her travels, reveling in the diverse cultures and natural wonders our planet has to offer. Her unique ability lies in finding beauty in the ordinary, turning the "ugly" into a masterpiece through the transformative art of perfumery. With a palette boasting hundreds of ingredients, Elodie is captivated by the alchemical process of discovering the hidden charm of scents that may challenge conventional notions. She perceives scents not just as fragrances but as textures, shapes, and colors, infusing each creation with a multidimensional allure. Her mission is to craft fragrances that transcend the olfactory senses, eliciting emotions and transporting individuals to distant landscapes or cherished memories. Elodie Durande has been the nose behind Ffern since 2018. Together with Owen Mears, the founder of Ffern, and his sister Emily Cameron, the creative director, the team conceive and develop each seasonal scent. As Ffern’s in-house head nose, Elodie is fuelled by a passion for experimental and innovative natural perfumery. Beyond perfumery, Elodie's eclectic tastes manifest in an array of hobbies, from cooking and pottery to leather work and acroyoga. Her life rhythm is complemented by a love for music, series, films, and the serene embrace of paddleboarding. LINKS: https://ffern.co/ https://quintessencefragrances.com/ https://www.fragrantica.com/noses/Elodie_Durande.html https://www.instagram.com/elodie.durande/

    2h 10m
  6. Ep. 225: Chris Ramos

    11/18/2025

    Ep. 225: Chris Ramos

    Christopher Ramos is currently serving as Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He conducts the UVU Wind Symphony and directs instrumental studies within the music education area. He additionally teaches courses in conducting, music education, and music appreciation. He received the DMA in instrumental conducting at The Hartt School, studying with Glen Adsit and Edward Cumming. While at Hartt, he assisted in conducting Hartt's instrumental performing ensembles and the Greater Hartford Youth Wind Ensemble, and as part of the adjunct faculty he taught courses for graduates and undergraduates in conducting, brass methods, diversity and belonging, jazz pedagogy, and in the core music theory sequence. Before Hartt, Chris served as a band director at Dalat International School in Penang, Malaysia where he taught Western classical and jazz music in performing and theory courses across grades 6-12, and his students were invited to perform in international festivals across Southeast Asia. He is also an active scholar working at the intersection of musicology, wind band studies, and music education with his latest publications forthcoming in the Music Educators Journal (NAfME) and the Utah Music Educators Journal (UMEA). In 2022 he received the Goldstein Award from the University of Hartford, and in 2016 he received the Joanne Kealinohomoku Prize from the Society of Ethnomusicology Southwest for his scholarship. He holds additional degrees from the University of New Mexico where he studied with Eric Rombach-Kendall, and from East Texas A&M University (formerly Texas A&M University-Commerce) where he studied with Phillip Clements (conducting), Luis Sanchez (piano), and Mike Morrow (horn). In addition to his conducting, researching, and teaching, he actively performs both on the French horn and at the keyboard. He has produced, performed, and conducted on records for the Naxos, Summit, and Parma record labels, and he has performed in and conducted ensembles in concert halls, stages, forests, and patios across the United States and Asia. An avid supporter of new music, he has been part of numerous commissioning projects for solo horn, chamber ensembles, and wind ensembles. He is a second-place winner in The American Prize for conducting and in 2025-27 he holds the Harry Begian Conductor Scholar Award at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. He is an active member in the College Band Directors National Association, Utah Music Educators Association, Utah Bandmasters Association, National Band Association, American Musicological Society, and National Association for Music Education, and is an honorary member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Music Fraternity.

    2h 5m
  7. Ep. 224: Wade Ronsse

    11/11/2025

    Ep. 224: Wade Ronsse

    "Wade Ronsse is a touring drummer, private drum teacher, session musician, and a small but enthusiastic part of Boise, Idaho's vibrant music scene. He tours nationally with Americana/Jam troubadour Jeff Crosby and has been a part of many (mostly locally) well regarded bands, including Lounge on Fire, Wend, Sun Blood Stories, Freeman Dejongh, and Rider & Rolling Thunder. This more band-focused drumming has led to creative applications on projects spanning from heavy psychedelic rock, horn-driven R&B, psychedelic to avant-garde harp and string quartet experimental music, all the way to Honkey Tonk Country. His recording career is rooted in a deep appreciation for Boise-based musical creators, resulting in a small but cherished catalog of over 100 recordings with his favorite local musicians, collaborators, and friends. His 2025 record contributions include the surfy/twangy Day for Night with femme-fronted group Cactus Moon as well as the indie/folk and art rock Wait, Sky by Jesse Blake Rundle (released on DOE Records). When he's not behind the kit, Wade spends his time working on a small urban farm, taking long walks, reading and learning about mysticism and magick, consuming far too much Star Wars, and, of course, being a forever student of the drums." instagram: @darth_wade.r

    2h 4m
  8. 223: David Singer

    11/04/2025

    223: David Singer

    David Singer is an internationally acclaimed clarinetist whose career has included two performances at the White House and more than 150 appearances in Carnegie Hall. Joseph Horowitz in The New York Times wrote about David Singer, “To describe his playing would be to enumerate a catalogue of virtues.” Mr. Singer’s recording of the Aaron Copland Clarinet Concerto was praised by Lawrence A. Johnson from Gramophone Magazine in the UK as “one of the finest accounts around,” and his performances have been featured on the BBC and on Sirius XM as a principal performer of the Grammy Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, NYC. Professor Singer taught as a guest teacher at both the Yale and Princeton Schools of Music as well as at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, and is Emeritus Professor of Clarinet/Coordinator of Chamber Music at Montclair State University, NJ. He continues to coach young musicians across Southern California and performs with the Singer Chamber Players and the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra. His debut memoir, From Cab Driver to Carnegie Hall, chronicles his remarkable journey of overcoming obstacles and ultimately becoming successful in music and life. From Cab Driver to Carnegie Hall has just been chosen among many ten’s of thousands of books to be part of the Los Angeles Public Library collection. “From Cab Driver to Carnegie Hall shows how effort and perseverance can turn dreams into reality.” “This book is a testament to inspiration and resilience.” Diana Lopez, Readers’ Favorite Five Star Review A Courageous Story of a Life in Music - This is an excellent view of an inspired life in the turgid world of classical music in the late 1960’s – 2000’s. Reading of his struggles and triumphs to reach the top of his field and survive is stirring. Baron, Five Star Amazon Review “An intimate, candid look at the highs and lows of one musician’s artistic pursuit.” Kirkus Reviews Links Website: https://singerclarinet.com https://singerclarinet.com/events-media/ https://www.facebook.com/singerclarinet

    2h 8m
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5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

Great art almost feels like magic—it opens our minds to brand new ideas, and teaches us to see ourselves and our world more clearly. Of course, behind all great art, there are artists. And that’s where the real magic happens… As we go beneath the art itself to explore how different artists do what they do, we see glimpses of the sorts of creativity, resilience, and bravery that lead to the art that moves our world. And maybe we can learn to borrow some of that magic for our very own thinking. Join professional musician Emily Merrell for conversations with artists of all kinds. Together, we examine the mysteries of our own experiences, our muses and fears, our gifts and foibles, our beliefs about the origins of creativity, and the secret magic we’ve discovered in our unique creative processes. Mediums include: studio art, graphic design, dance, cooking, illustration, creative writing, storytelling, comedy, music composition, music performance, film making, acting, production, fashion design, photography, and more. Visit https://emilymerrellmusic.com/artifice-podcast/ for more information. - Theme Song "As You Are" by Emily Merrell @emilymerrellmusic - Illustration and Graphic Design by Sarah Keele @sarahkeeleart - Photography by Jen Palmer @jenpalmerphoto - HMU by Shawna Turner @shawnaturnerdesigns

Information

  • Creator
    Artifice Podcast by Emily Merrell
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    245
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Artifice