In vitro

With a very eventful April in the rear-view mirror, we look back on our trip to NYC with early nostalgia. Though current politics made crossing into the heart of darkness feel slightly surreal, these informal gatherings/community-based initiatives seem more important than ever. We feel very grateful that this can continue to be part of our practice, and hope to extend it further in the future in one way or another. Of course, this project wouldn’t have been possible without a number of people: our wonderful partner and dear friends @montezpressradio , one of New York’s greatest record shops @ergotrecords and big man @adrianrew , Belgium's finest designer @randevos , and the incredible artists who shared their work: @auguste.vic , @hielehiele , @cats_florence (in spirit), and @edicoescn . Thank you! ❤️ 1. NYC from the D train on our way to Flatbush 2. Sky-high pool session 3. Arrival at JFK (with an almost complete crew) Yey! 4–6. Gig at Montez 7. Curing the ol’ hangover with Dawson 8. Jef meets Jeff at the park 9–11. Books, books, books (Kostelanetz, Jon, and Josiah) 12. 100 years Morton Feldman at Roulette Intermedium – Vicky Chow & Mivos Quartet perform ‘Piano and String’ 13. Tourism and Neuhaus with Augustė 14. Roman plays Ergot Records 15. Talking money with Jack Callahan 16. Asmus’ bedtime stories 17. Lieven in Kempisch dreamland 18. Big city bike ride 19. “I’m not hungry at all” – Roman, before ordering the most expensive thing on the menu (a complete stir-fried eel) 20. Real music at Striped Light — This project wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance of Tamizdat, VI.BE, and the support of Flanders State of the Art.

Reads-In _أحمد Ahmed: Writing_ (EXV01) From our very own @rchmudge “Another engaging dispatch from the أحمد Ahmed universe. The quartet of Pat Thomas (piano), Joel Grip (double bass), Antonin Gerbal (drums) and Seymour Wright (alto saxophone) have spent the last decade plus paying homage and creating expansive and adventurous renderings of Ahmed Abdul-Malik’s compositions.  This initial publication from the Brussells based In vitro project space, in collaboration with KASK School of Arts & Conservatory, compiles ten years of texts from Ahmed including liner notes, writing by the band members, album cover art, etc. The book begins with a compelling etymological investigation of the word jazz which frame the texts that follow around understanding the past as a means to move around and forward. Along the same thematic lines, the press writeup leans on etymology too: ‘These texts are woven together (the etymology of text is from to weave) through (and into) a rich fabric of enquiry. A collaborative weaving together of difference(s) to make a whole (thing).’ Seymour Wright).”   To which we might add, the etymology of the word “album” comes from (albo) “souvenir book,” from the Latin “album,” which in the ancient world involved a board chalked or painted white, upon which public notices were written.   From roots to outer limits…a beautiful book and addition to the أحمد catalog. CC: @ivprojectspace @schoolofartsgent @jazbah45 @gripjoel @xcrswx

We couldn’t be more excited to present the very first In vitro publication, a collaboration with @schoolofartsgent : أحمد [Ahmed] - Writing (EXV01) [Ahmed] is the quartet of Pat Thomas (piano), Joel Grip (double bass), Antonin Gerbal (drums) and Seymour Wright (alto saxophone). Since 2014, [Ahmed] have excavated and re-imagined the music of Ahmed Abdul-Malik, in an ever ongoing search for future music. [Ahmed] - Writing gathers together the أحمد [Ahmed] ‘paper’ texts from the last decade: liner-notes; covers of the releases; and writing by the band members – Antonin and Joel have written two fresh ones for this book, Seymour’s have appeared alongside the records, and some of Pat’s come from a time (long) before [Ahmed]. “Together, the ideas-energy in these things gives a sense of what we have done, do, think together (and apart) in living music, how our different ways come together, and how, together, we learn through be-doing [Ahmed]... These texts are woven together (the etymology of text is from weave) through (and into) a rich fabric of enquiry. A collaborative weaving together of difference(s) to make a whole (thing).” (Seymour Wright) Contributions by Pat Thomas, Seymour Wright, Antonin Gerbal, Joel Grip, Robert Levin, James G. Spady, John Chantler, Edward George, Fred Moten Edited by أحمد [Ahmed] Series Editors: Stoffel Debuysere, Jef Lambrechts, Will Holder Produced and designed by Will Holder [lps’ original design: Maja Larsson] — Published by In vitro and KASK School of Arts & Conservatory, with the support of Flanders State of the Art. — Releases May 9, 2026 with an accompanying live presentation by the quartet @cafeotodalston

Introducing: Ryu Hankil Ryu Hankil is a computer musician, improviser, and writer based in Seoul. He has long explored the possibility of generating another kind of music through non-musical objects. His questions and practice regarding how an object’s inherent vibrations can constitute a musical context led him to realize that the speculative power of sonic thinking creates fiction in diverse ways. To put this understanding into practice, he actively utilizes the feedback between physical modeling synthesis and sonic thinking writing. He has now shifted his primary focus from non-musical objects to the speculative power of sonic thinking, exploring how sonic thinking can generate different music, function as a new cognitive system, and fundamentally and comprehensively reconfigure today’s reality. — More information via link in bio

In vitro #31 Last-minute announcement following our 30th anniversary and stint in NYC: This Saturday, April 18, It’s our absolute pleasure to present a unique performance by Korean computer musician, writer and improviser Ryu Hankil. As a central figure in Seoul’s underground, Hankil has long explored the possibility of generating another kind of music through non-musical objects. His practice revolves around the question: how can sonic thinking affect world-building? A different kind of reflection that creates fiction in diverse ways; an attempt at reconfiguring today’s reality, something that feels more necessary than ever. He’ll be joined by sound artist Florence Cats, another kind of world-builder, exploring the theremin as a socio-political instrument, assisted by these same “objects.” Her work blends music, visual art and poetry, and reflects on their relation from perception to notation. Tickets are available now via link in bio. — This event is made possible with the support of Flanders State of the Art. — Entrance: €10 Doors: 20h00 MILL (Needcompany) Rue Gabrielle Petit 4 1080 Brussels — Graphic design by @randevos

MONTEZ TONIGHT 8PM (EDT) PULL UP, BRING YOUR FRIENDS 🚗🚗 TIMETABLE 20:00 Doors 20:30 Florence Cats (*fixed media piece) 21:00 Lieven Martens *break 22:00 Augustė Vickunaitė 22:30 Roman Hiele — Thanks to High-Tech Electronic Service Center, NY

Tomorrow, Thursday, April 9th at 8 PM, live from 46 Canal: IV project space presents live performances by Belgium-based sound artists, a continuation of previous projects that started between friends in 2024. We’ll be joined by Florence Cats, Roman Hiele, Lieven Martens, and Augustė Vickunaitė: four radical musicians, each using different methods/thought processes to fabricate their sonic language.

Introducing: Roman Hiele Roman Hiele is a Brussels-based musician and composer whose work explores the boundaries between improvisation and electronic composition. His music unfolds as a living system of shifting harmonies, fractured rhythms, and unexpected turns. At the core of Hiele’s practice lies a deep fascination for contrast, where his soundscapes act as both anchor and disruption, sharpening the emotional depth of images and spaces, a sensibility that extends into his collaborations with filmmakers, visual artists, and designers. Over the past decade, Hiele has released albums on labels such as Ekster and Ultra Eczema, as well as through his own imprint Universal Exports. His work has been supported by residencies at EMS Stockholm, Willem II, Worm, the Red Bull Music Academy Paris, DeSingel Antwerp, and Kunstencentrum VIERNULVIER — More information via link in bio

Introducing: Augustė Vickunaitė Augustė Vickunaitė is a sound experimentalist exclusively employing vintage reel-to-reel tape recorders to play articulating diverse layers of recordings including found material, field recordings, voice, music instruments, objects, and the whole spectrum of malfunctions of decaying technology. Auguste specializes in tape music, noise, and collage music, known for her theatrical and darkly humorous approach, often exploiting errors of analog audio equipment. Since 2016, Auguste has been active in Europe and beyond, primarily as a solo performer. Her notable performances include appearances at venues such as Cafe Oto in London, Km28 in Berlin, Volksbuehne (Psychic Liberation series at Roter Salon) in Berlin, Fylkingen in Stockholm, Labor Sonor series at Ballhaus Ost in Berlin and many others. — More information via link in bio

Introducing: Lieven Martens Lieven Martens works with sound as both composer and recorder. For him, sound, or music, functions first and foremost as a conceptual framework rather than a fixed medium. His practice explores ideas, methods of thinking, and ways of questioning perception, moving fluidly across field recording, ambient composition, and musique concrète. His works appear on recordlabels such as EM Records (JP), RVNG (USA), Not Not Fun (USA), Fonal (FI), Ultra Eczema (BE), and Kraak (BE). He also curates the imprint Edições CN, known for its carefully assembled catalogue of adventurous international artists shaped by strong conceptual identities. — More information via link in bio

Introducing: Florence Cats Florence Cats is an experimental artist and acupuncturist, known for her unique approach to the theremin. Her practice fuses music, visual art, and poetry. She plays a “prepared” theremin, interacting with water, radio, voice, and small objects. Her research concerns air, water, light, and the elusive, in relation to perception and notation. — More information via link in bio

In vitro #30 Heading back to the Big Apple from April 7 to 13 for another go-around at @montezpressradio ! A continuation of previous projects that started between friends in 2024, presenting live performances by Belgian-based sound artists. We’ll be joined by four radical musicians, each using different methods/thought processes to fabricate their sonic language. Florence Cats’ practice fuses music, visual art, and poetry. She is known for playing a prepared theremin using radio, voice, and small objects. @edicoescn founder Lieven Martens creates conceptual music that challenges expectation and interpretation. His work explores field recordings and the sociological dimension of the soundscape through chance and experimentation. Augustė Vickunaitė uses a different approach altogether, employing field recordings as a medium continuously manipulated through vintage reel-to-reel tape recorders, weaving together found material, voice, and the full spectrum of decaying technology. Closing the event is @stroom.tv ’s enfant terrible Roman Hiele: hard-to-define electronica mixed with synthetic sounds and a background in jazz composition, creating a no-nonsense idiom, as he puts it. More information via link in bio. — This event and tour is a collaboration with Montez Press Radio, supported by Flanders State of the Art. — Entrance: Free Doors: 20h00 Montez Press Radio 46 Canal St, New York NY 10002, US — Graphic design by @randevos