Bendik Giske^NO

Raised between Norway and Indonesia, Bendik Giske started learning the saxophone at the age of 12. In the course of his training, he discovered the various digital production tools that he then used to counter the relatively rigid structures of classical music. His fondness for collaborations led him to create original works of dance and theater and to collaborate with Norwegian artist Nils Bech on a number of albums. As a solo artist, his saxophone emulations of electronic music, free of looping or layering, offer a decidedly physical take on his musical influences, centered on breath and movement. After releasing the Adjust EP in 2018, showcasing the rich palette of saxophone sounds, Giske released a first album titled Surrender in 2019, delving deeper into the Berlin soundscape. Cracks, released in August 2021, introduced a new set of parameters that challenged the artist’s muscle memory and existing automated processes. Through his collaboration with producer André Bratten, Giske got to enjoy the latter’s new reactive studio space; if the studio process brought him closer to a fusion between human and machine, it was also a way to fill the gap–or void–between the two.

Bendik Giske wields his saxophone as a fully-fledged extension of his own body, with intense physicality and a playful yet vulnerable approach. Drawing inspiration from his queer background, he puts forth undeniably cathartic club music through euphoric rhythmic patterns and vivid performances. His new project is a celebration of corporeal states and divergent behaviors.

Presented with the support of Smalltown Supersound