© 2025 Matthew Ryals. All rights reserved.
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Tour Flyers (will be updated closer to next tour)
Long Bio
Matthew Ryals (he/him) is a New York City-based synthesist and composer-improviser whose music delves into improvisation, real-time sound generation, cybernetics, chance operations, and archival experimentation. Described as “a sonic explorer on the frontier of experimental music” whose work is “a fascinating foray to the edges of generative music production” (Plastic Mag), Matthew’s music has been praised for its “full-blown cybernetic synth shocks and mirrors” that are “unabashedly confident” (Tabs Out) and for treating sounds “as if they were alive, breathing” to create something “truly immersive and unforgettable” (Beats Per Minute).
Matthew has released music on a wide range of experimental labels, including three studio albums: Impromptus in Isolation on Sound as Language (2022), Voltage Scores on Oxtail Recordings (2021), as well as a series of EPs called Generative Etudes which have been released in installments on several labels including 3OP (2025), SØVN (2023), and dingn\dents (2023). Upcoming releases include Exalge on Infrequent Seams (Fall 2025), and Finding Shape, a collaborative album with composer Jacob Sachs-Mishalanie which will be released on Oxtail Recordings (early 2026).
An active performer as both a soloist and in group configurations, Matthew takes a highly tactile live approach to the modular synthesizer—much like an acoustic musician shaping sound, he manipulates electricity by constantly adjusting dials, switches, and patch points, allowing each performance to unfold spontaneously in the moment. He has performed his music internationally, including concerts in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Europe, and across North America, and has notably been presented by Associazione Culturale Origami and Fonoroma in Mondovì, Italy; Diffusion Festival in Baltimore, MD; Exit Points in Toronto, ON; and 2220 Arts & Archives in Los Angeles, CA. Upcoming performance highlights include High Zero Festival in Baltimore, MD; Ex Nihilo Festival in Omaha, NE; Indexical in Santa Cruz, CA; West Oakland Sound Series in Oakland, CA; Vekks and Celeste in Vienna, Austria; and more. Matthew has collaborated with artists such as Madison Greenstone, Nava Dunkelman, Stephan Haluska, Nat Baldwin, Mehdi Rostami, Lina Alemano, Chuck Roth, Jonah Parzen-Johnson, Kirin McElwain, Leni Kreienberg, and more.
Matthew’s accolades include a 2025 Art Omi: Music Residency, 2025 Foundation of Contemporary Arts Grant, a 2022-23 New Music USA Award, and a 2021 IEA Electronic Media Residency. In addition, he has been commissioned by numerous dance and theater organizations, including two years as the Kulas Foundation Composer Fellow at Cleveland Public Theatre. His sound design has been featured by clients such as Triennale di Milano, Prada, Adidas, Kinema, and Riot Games.
A dedicated educator, Matthew teaches modular synthesis, electronic music composition, music production, and guitar to students worldwide, including workshops for Art Science Connect at THE GRADUATE CENTER CUNY and an upcoming workshop at Indexical in Santa Cruz. He also co-curates Artifact, a Brooklyn-based experimental music series that was awarded a Brooklyn Arts Fund grant by Brooklyn Arts Council to support its 2025 season and has presented artists such as Lea Bertucci, Keith Fullerton Whitman, Cecilia Lopez, Brandon Lopez, Laura Cocks, and Joanna Mattrey.
Originally from rural Arkansas, Matthew holds an MM in classical guitar from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a BM from Arkansas State University.
Medium Bio
Matthew Ryals (he/him) is a NYC-based synthesist and composer-improviser. Described as “a sonic explorer on the frontier of experimental music” (Plastic Mag), Matthew has been praised for treating sounds “as if they were alive, breathing” to create something “truly immersive and unforgettable” (Beats Per Minute).
Matthew has released three studio albums and a series of EPs on 3OP, SØVN, and dingn\dents, and will release a solo record on Infrequent Seams in Fall 2025 and a collaborative album with Jacob Sachs-Mishalanie on Oxtail Recordings in 2026.
An active performer as both a soloist and in group configurations, Matthew has performed internationally across Europe, Asia, and North America, and will be featured on High Zero Festival in Baltimore and Ex Nihilo Festival in Omaha in Fall 2025. He has collaborated with such artists as Madison Greenstone, Nava Dunkelman, and Stephan Haluska. Matthew received a 2025 Art Omi: Music Residency, 2025 Foundation of Contemporary Arts Grant, a 2022-23 New Music USA Award, and a 2021 IEA Electronic Media Residency.
A dedicated educator, Matthew teaches worldwide, including workshops for Art Science Connect at THE GRADUATE CENTER CUNY and an upcoming workshop at Indexical in Santa Cruz, CA. He also co-curates Artifact, a Brooklyn-based experimental music series that was awarded a 2025 Brooklyn Arts Council grant.
Short Bio
Matthew Ryals is a NYC-based synthesist and composer-improviser. He has released three studio albums and a series of EPs on 3OP, SØVN and dingn\dents, and will release records on Infrequent Seams in Fall 2025 and Oxtail Recordings in 2026.
Matthew performs internationally and will be featured on High Zero Festival and Ex Nihilo Festival. He has collaborated with Madison Greenstone, Nava Dunkelman, and Stephan Haluska. Matthew received a 2025 Art Omi: Music Residency, 2025 Foundation of Contemporary Arts Grant, a 2022-23 New Music USA Award, and a 2021 IEA Electronic Media Residency. He also co-curates Artifact, a Brooklyn-based experimental music series that was awarded a 2025 Brooklyn Arts Council grant.
Press Quotes
“A sonic explorer on the frontier of experimental music” - Damo Howard, Plastic Mag.
“He approaches these sounds as if they were alive, breathing, and he works in concert with each one to create something truly immersive and unforgettable.” - Joshua Pickard, Beats Per Minute
“Voltage Scores is full-blown cybernetic synth shocks and mirrors, unabashedly confident in the pleeping and plonking that it swaggers through.” - Matty McPherson, Tabs Out.
“He’s fast becoming a leading name in the sphere of generative composition using a modular synth.” - Damo Howard, Plastic Mag.
“impromptus in isolation is a bold, joyous tear through visceral free jazz, bucolic ambience, head-scratching sound design, and more.” - Mike Nigro, Oxtail Recordings.
“On impromptus in isolation, he tackles the concept of diminishing realities and the differentiation between organic and inorganic connections.” - Joshua Pickard, Beats Per Minute.