Susanne Brokesch

Austrian ambient/electronica composer Susanne Brokesch is one of a small but growing contingency of female producers releasing innovative experimental music in an unfortunately predominantly male field. Born in Austria and residing in Vienna, Brokesch has recorded as Sil, Sil Electronics, and under her own name for such labels as Cheap, Sahko, Tension, and Disko B. She has contributed tracks to a number of Austrian and European experimental music compilations, including Rancho Relaxo All-Stars (which also featured Cheap's Patrick Pulsinger and Erdam Tunakan).

Although she's never studied music formally, Brokesch's compositions are remarkable for their emphasis on acoustic instrumental sources such as guitars and percussion, which she then fuses with electronically generated soundscapes and minimal machine rhythms. Her debut full-length, Sharing the Sunhat, appeared on the typically more dance-oriented Disko B label in 1997, and also showcased her skills as a visual artist (the album's stunning cover and sleeve work were Brokesch's creation). The 2006 release Emerald Stars, a collection of adaptations of tunes from Austrian composer Hugo Wolf, saw her move to Chicks on Speed Records. Brokesch also DJs and has supplemented her music career by working as everything from a museum guard to a garbage dump attendant.