Structured improvisation for amplified log drum with electronics. 

Performed, recorded, and edited by Aditya Ryan Bhat (November/December 2021)

This composition reflects on fungi in all its mystery, and the elusive underground worlds they connect and shape through their hidden mycelial networks. Featuring the log drum (an instrument used across a variety of musical cultures in Mesoamerica, Central Africa, and Polynesia) with several electronic effects applied to it, this music responds to ecological concepts of entanglement and interconnectedness that challenge the way many of us have been acculturated to see the world.

The title is borrowed from a chapter in the book 'Entangled Life', by Merlin Sheldrake.

Artwork © Wendy Lin, October 2021

Before Roots

Todd J. Bennett (narration/laptop) and Aditya Ryan Bhat (percussion) give the world premiere performance of their collaborative piece, '...at war with oneself', on 14th November 2022.

Consisting of three layers—electroacoustic tracks, spoken word, and amplified percussive improvisations—, ‘…at war with oneself’ explores the effects of colonialism and Western cultural hegemony. It also reflects upon themes of ancestry, identity, and the interconnection of humans and environment—the latter symbolised by the use of manipulated hydrophone recordings taken in the rivers Kaiela/Goulburn and Birrarung/Yarra.

Recording/sound by Nathan Ellul, Nick Ashwood, and Nick Mierisch, on lands of the peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation, Narrm/Melbourne.

In the original performance, the fixed electronic part was diffused in surround sound, with a speak in each corner of the room; this recording has been modified to be heard in stereo. Headphones are highly recommended.

The development of the work has been supported by the City of Yarra through their Small Projects Grants programme.

'...at war with oneself'

'...at war with oneself' (2022)

Improvisations on Language Music and selected works from Anthony Braxton's catalogue.

Creative Orchestra Music 19th March 2024

with field recordings, radio waves, contact mics, granular delay & a comb.

الفاظ/alfaaz I

الفاظ/alfaaz II

With percussion instruments, Ijathibe Wapta (the Bow River), radio waves, objects, ring modulation, looping & digital sampling.

Created and recorded at Minhrpa/Banff, January 2025.

Invasive species

A new version of my composition "fixed/fleeting" (2023), for viola, swarmandal (w. processing) & electroacoustic sounds. Recorded on 29th August 2025 with Yona Su on viola and myself on swarmandal and electronics.

It's a live recording and the sound was distributed through four loudspeakers surrounding the audience, so the spatialisation doesn't really come across but it preserves a bit of the sense of motion.

The original version with saxophone and an explanation of the piece are available at this link: https://syrphe.bandcamp.com/album/fixed-fleeting 

fixed/fleeting (revised version for viola)

Musique concrète for household objects and pre-recorded speech. 

Recorded and realised at Shepparton, Australia (April 2020)

This composition explores one of the other issues that has arisen in parallel to the current worldwide situation: namely, the often disturbing discriminatory behaviour and abuse against some groups of people―such as East Asians, and healthcare workers―in several parts of the world. 

Artwork © Wendy Lin, April 2020

Go Back?

Musique concrète for broken ceramic teacups.

Recorded and realised at Shepparton, Australia (May/June 2020)

This piece was produced only using the fragments of two clay cups, which fortuitously (for me, anyway) fell off the pantry shelf one day and smashed. Throughout India on the roadsides they serve tea in this kind of cup, people drink, and they are discarded. For the last few months, millions in India have suffered a similar fate—migrant labourers in the cities, stranded far from home, starving and spurned by those in power, have experienced dehumanisation; and, as this happens, so arises the eternal question of what distinguishes humans from other animals?

Artwork © Wendy Lin, May 2020

Rationality

Music from the film 'the Last Emperor' (1987), by Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Arranged for percussion instruments, recorded, and mixed by Aditya Ryan Bhat at Shepparton, Australia, August 2020.

Image: seal of the House of Aisin Gioro (public domain).

Aditya Ryan Bhat

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