Mem1 | Biography

Mem1
Mem1 seamlessly blends the sounds of cello and electronics to create a limitless palette of sonic possibilities. In their improvisation-based performances, Mark and Laura Cetilia's use of custom hardware and software, in conjunction with a uniquely subtle approach to extended cello technique and realtime modular synthesis patching, results in the creation of a single voice rather than a duet between two individuals. Their music moves beyond melody, lyricism and traditional structural confines, revealing an organic evolution of sound that has been called "a perfect blend of harmony and cacophony" (Forced Exposure). Founded in Los Angeles in 2003, Mem1 has traveled extensively, performing at Roulette (NYC), REDCAT / Disney Hall (LA), the Orange County Museum of Art, Electronic Church (Berlin), the Laptopia Festival (Tel-Aviv), the San Francisco Electronic Music Festival, and the Borealis Festival (Bergen). In 2007, they were awarded an artist residency at Harvestworks in New York for the creation of a new surround sound piece entitled Sonodendron. They have since taken part in residencies at STEIM and Kunstenaarslogies in the Netherlands and USF Verftet in Bergen, Norway. In 2009, they created a site-specific installation for the Museums of Bat Yam (Israel); their work has been screened and installed at venues including the Sundance Film Festival, Fringe Exhibitions (Los Angeles), and the Hordaland Kunstsenter (Bergen). Their third full-length album, +1, consisting of collaborations between Mem1 and artists such as Steve Roden, Jan Jelenik, and Frank Bretschneider, was released in Spring 2009 by Interval Recordings.

Laura Cetilia
Born and raised on the east side of Los Angeles, Laura Cetilia leads the life of an orchestral and chamber musician, concert presenter, electronic musician, and cello teacher. Upon graduating with distinction from the School of Music at Indiana University, Laura accepted a position with the Graduate String Quartet at Wichita State University, where she received her master's degree in cello performance. She has since performed with various ensembles in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Peru, Italy, and Israel. In 2006, Laura was awarded a two-year fellowship with Community MusicWorks, an organization that provides free instruments and lessons to youth in the West Side of Providence, Rhode Island. Recent performance highlights include a collaboration with Pamela Z in concert with the Robin Cox Ensemble, a performance with the group OXO as part of the Sonic Boom Festival in Vancouver, and performances of Schoenberg's Verklarte Nacht with the Providence String Quartet. She is a member of the electronic music groups Mem1 (with Mark Cetilia) and Substrate (with Jen Boyd, RS-232 and Mark Cetilia) and the duo Suna No Onna (with violist Robin Streb). For the last four years Laura has co-curated the experimental music series, CTRL+ALT+REPEAT, which features performances by local and internationally-recognized performers of experimental electronics and new music. More at: laura.cetilia.org

Mark Cetilia
Mark Cetilia is a media artist who is interested in exploring control systems that are intuitive as well as experimental in nature. A large portion of his work is devoted to creating custom applications for live audio/visual performance. Exploring the possibilities of generative systems in art, design, and sound creation, Cetilia's work frequently employs such strategies as feedback loops and genetic algorithms, and is an exercise in carefully controlled chaos. Mark is a member of the experimental media art group Redux, recipients of a 2006 Creative Capital grant for their Callspace project and the electroacoustic duo Mem1, recipients of a Harvestworks artist residency in 2007. He received his MFA in Digital + Media from the Rhode Island School of Design with honors in 2008, and was selected to work as part of a collaborative group led by Camille Utterback at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in August 2008. Cetilia's work has been screened / installed at numerous venues including Laptopia (Tel-Aviv, Israel), Pixilerations (Providence, RI), the 1912 Gallery (Emory, VA) and SoundWalk (Long Beach, CA). He has performed at such venues as REDCAT (Disney Hall), the Orange County Museum of Art, the San Francisco Electronic Music Festival, and the Knitting Factory (LA). He is the co-curator of the internationally recognized CTRL+ALT+REPEAT festival, which has featured performances by the Penderecki String Quartet, Frances-Marie Uitti, Steve Roden and Damion Romero. More at: mark.cetilia.org