We are The Present Elders, an electronic duo that specializes in unforgettable performances where all the music you hear is composed and manipulated live through synthesizers, samplers, sequencers, drum machines and FX.  We take a craftsman approach to electronic music where we use hardware instruments instead of computers.  We're made up of Brother El and Radius ETC, two veterans of the Chicago electronic and hip hop scenes.  Our focus has been to create incomparable music that represents a new sound and style while sending only positive, warm, healing vibes wherever we play.

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My name is  Brother El, I am a spontaneous composer and multidisciplinary creative who uses music and visual arts to express ideas while connecting people to a higher plane of consciousness. Raised in the hip hop ascetic and DIY movement, I constantly look to push the boundaries of music as an expert in the Live PA field. Formally trained as an Audio Engineer and Graphic Designer, I have acquired many different skills running The Beat Bank, an independent record label.  My sets often include using sequencers, synthesizers, drum  machines and samplers with doing fully improvised and live beat-making.  My unique style has been described as Chicago’s pulse, the breath of hip hop, the heartbeat of club respiration and the clashing fusion of South Side meeting ancestral roots.

My name is Radius, I'm from Chicago and I started crafting beats in 2001 with a focus on multi-dimensional "post-genre" based compositions. After producing tracks for local rappers, I began to further hone skills as a producer/live performance artist, by winning Chicago area beat battles and later performing in various hiphop and electronic showcases with the Moment Sound Crew (Garo, Lokua & Slava). I'm known for my improv live PA/beat sets with hardware. The music exhibits a wide variety of tempos & sounds. I'm highly inspired by hiphop, jazz, dub & house music roots; due to my Chicago upbringing.  I am also head of Etc Records (Ear To Chicago) and curate showcases to help bridge the live electronic music community.

Together, we make The Present Elders, a genre bending spontaneous composition duo focused on spreading positive vibes and creating hard hitting electronic music.