© 2025 Matthew Ryals. All rights reserved.
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Long Bio
Matthew Ryals (he/him) is a New York City-based synthesist and composer-improviser whose music explores improvisation, generative systems, cybernetics, chance operations, and experimental archiving. His work spans a diverse range of experimental music labels, including Oxtail Recordings, SØVN, and Sound As Language. In 2025, Matthew will release three new projects: the final installment of his Generative Etudes series on 3OP, a live album debuting in summer 2025 on Infrequent Seams, and a collaborative album with composer Jacob Sachs-Mishalanie on Oxtail Recordings.
In concert, Matthew takes a highly tactile approach to the modular synthesizer, with touch, intuition, and real-time responsiveness at the core of his performance. 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.
Recent accolades include a 2025 Foundation of Contemporary Arts Grant, a 2022-23 New Music USA Award, and a 2021 IEA Electronic Media Residency. His 2023-24 concert schedule took him to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Europe, and across the U.S. in both solo and collaborative projects. He has performed with artists such as Madison Greenstone, Nat Baldwin, Jonah Parzen-Johnson, Kirin McElwain, Stephan Haluska, and Leni Kreienberg.
Matthew has held composer residencies with various dance and theater organizations, including two years as the Kulas Foundation Composer Fellow at Cleveland Public Theatre. His sound design has been featured by prestigious clients like 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. He also co-curates the Brooklyn-based experimental music series, Artifact, which has featured renowned 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.
Short Bio
Matthew Ryals is an award-winning synthesist and composer-improviser based in New York. Working primarily with modular synthesizer, his music explores improvisation, generative composition, cybernetics, and experimental archiving. Recognized for his tactile approach to synthesis and innovative use of esoteric techniques, Ryals’ recent accolades include a ’25 Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant, a ’22 -’23 New Music USA Award, and a ’21 IEA Electronic Media Residency. He has released music on Oxtail Recordings, sound as language, SØVN, and other labels. He co-curates the Brooklyn experimental music series Artifact. In 2025, Matthew will release three new projects: the final installment of his Generative Etudes series on 3OP, a live album debuting in summer 2025 on Infrequent Seams, and a collaborative album with composer Jacob Sachs-Mishalanie on Oxtail Recordings.Press Quotes
“impromptus in isolation is a bold, joyous tear through visceral free jazz, bucolic ambience, head-scratching sound design, and more.” - Mike Nigro, Oxtail Recordings.
“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.
“On impromptus in isolation, he tackles the concept of diminishing realities and the differentiation between organic and inorganic connections.” - Joshua Pickard, Beats Per Minute.
“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
“He’s fast becoming a leading name in the sphere of generative composition using a modular synth.” - Damo Howard, Plastic Mag.