Todd Sines

More known in deeper circles of techno, the Columbus-based ele_mental group of artists and musicians are well respected and identified. As a founder of that group, Todd Sines' artwork and music was given a forum to grow and become better known. He has recorded for labels such as Peacefrog, Planet E, and Seventh City under various aliases and has traveled the world performing live and DJing.

Sines came to Columbus in 1991 from Eyria, OH, to go to Ohio State University. Prior to his college years, he had been involved in several experimental rock bands in high school. Their influences included the likes of My Bloody Valentine and the Cocteau Twins. Tying together his interest in graphic art and music, Sines published a small zine called Visual Razor Blade, which highlighted experimental electronic musicians. He also became more interested in the various elements of Zoviet France and Meat Beat Manifesto and the cleaner, British sounds of LFO and B12. In 1991, he also joined with Mike Szebczek, Titonton Duvante, and Charles Noel to start the electronic band, Body Release. Through working with Duvante and Noel, Sines was introduced to the sound manipulation of Aphex Twin and the label, Reinforced. In May of 1993, Sines co-founded the art-influenced techno event called ele_mental. A year earlier, Noel had started the 21/22 corporation, which released a lot of Body Release's material. Paralleling with ele_mental's belief of progressive music and art, the well-respected label released music ranging from jungle to ambient. In 1994, Sines continued his solo career under the name Enhanced for a track on a Planet E compilation. Going one step further, through a friendship with Dan Bell, Sines released works on the U.K. label Peace Frog, this time, working under the guise X Trak.

In the late '90s, Sines continued working with ele_mental and 21/22, releasing music with various labels, and traveling the world performing live and DJing. He also co-founded Scale Studios, a multi-media studio that has done work for Saturday Night Live and Trimark Pictures as well as independently founded projects.