Haptic Synapses is a trio of musicians/DJs based in the heart of Silicon Valley who get together and improvise long sets of Techno-centric music. Preparation for their performances is minimal, so what you hear is a realtime expression of their collective aesthetic. They pick a specific tempo to play at before they start, but the rest is made up as they go. Utilizing various types of instruments, each member in the trio creates patterns and sounds to complement what each other is doing sonically. Their sound is very Techno-cetnric, but elements of House, Electro and other electronic music styles are often prevelant.

Derek (aka The Rhythmist, Number 8, Boxbanga) has been making electronic music since 1987. His deep and shuffled grooves layered with abstract textures and funky, disjointed melodies have a futuristic quality that gets your body moving.

Inspired by groups like Art Of Noise, Kraftwerk, and Mantronix he started an all-synth band in high school with some friends. The band broke up shortly after graduating, so he started working on music solo. His first official release on a label was in 1994 on Flask (a subdivision of the now defunkt Silent Records) under the alias ‘Number 8. He teamed up with local veteran producer Mattski and Solid Trax label manager Lucas Rodenbush to launch the Trax Cafe project in 1997. Their EP helped Derek to land apperances on two compilations and to get his own EP on Resource Records in 2000. Since then he has also done releases for labels such as Jump, Random Access Recordings, SIXONESIX, Friction, Diggarama, and Audio Abuse. From 2003 to 2012, Derek ran the DoBox Recordings netlabel to help promote his sound and other like-minded producers from around the world.

Lately you can find Derek doing live PAs around the SF Bay Area with the live improvisational Techno band, Haptic Synapses (along with DoBox label mates Steve Cooley and Qorser). He is also been in the lab doing various remixes and preparing to launch his new label, dbl (pronounced "double").

Hi, I used to make stuff, now I grease cloud gears and make weird music.

I'm also in a band! 

Haptic Synapses : We’re a group of electronic musicians and artists based in the heart of Silicon Valley who get together and improvise long sets of music and visuals. http://hapticsynapses.com

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