about this book

This publication reflects on the role that creative uses and appropriations of new technologies play in the evolution of musical and sound practices. It explores how tools designed for specific purposes can be repurposed to open up new possibilities, particularly for artists who have been marginalised or excluded from established musical traditions. As technologies have changed not only how music sounds but also who gets to make it, they have created new ways of working, sharing, and relating to audiences.

Bringing together contributions from a four-year research project, the book examines the materiality of tools, their ecological impact, and the emergence of artificial intelligence. It also explores vernacular craft, hacking, open-source cultures, and the role of spaces in fostering inclusive creative practices. At its core is the idea that understanding and demystifying technology allows us to use it more freely and in alternative ways.

Tekhnē is a collaborative project involving six European organisations exploring the creative potential of technology in music and sound art: Q-O2 werkplaats Brussels (BE), DISK/CTM Berlin (DE), GMEA Albi (FR), OUT.RA/OUT.FEST Barreiro (PT), Skanu Mezs Riga (LV), and TRAFO Szczecin (PL).

This book was selected by Tique for Objects & Sounds.