Made from tape and static, and whatever light gets through.

Aaron Nicholas West is a sound artist, multi-instrumentalist and educator in Kentucky, working with musique concrète, analog textures, violin and piano.

VU 1 VU 2 0000 ERASE · RECORD · PLAY

A drone loop, played through the deck — grab a reel and turn it, or scroll fast
Move your hand through the fog

From “a time to enjoy life far removed from daily existence”, on Bandcamp. Turn the sound up gently.

from the studio

Low rhythmic tape loop.
Sparse piano loop.
Four-track piano on “The Brain Man”, by Ron Whitehead & the Storm Generation Band.
A tape-player sound installation.

sound

Focused primarily on musique concrète, where sounds are drawn from tape manipulation, analog effects and field recordings, then layered with traditional instruments like violin and piano. The results range from serene ambient soundscapes to intense, abrasive environments.

featured track

 listen on bandcamp →
All releases

latest

The sky is concrete todaytrack · listenThreads of Quiet Radiancetrack · listenResidual Stasistrack · listen
All releases on Bandcamp

on cassette

[ texture : selected ]

Four pieces collected on one tape.

Side A · the sky is concrete (28:40) · threads of quiet radiance (4:30) · development is often displaced (2:49)
Side B · a time to enjoy life far removed from daily existence (38:00)

$10.00 + postage

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collaborations

threads of quiet radiance

A cross-continental dialogue between the atmospheric compositions of Aaron Nicholas West (Kentucky) and the visual art of Bruno Decock (Belgium). A somber, static-drenched piano loop gives the piece a fragile pulse, while sliding synths drift into sharp dissonance, mirrored by a vast grey atmosphere where a lone figure stands as a quiet witness to the void.

Listen

commissions

Original soundscapes can be composed for gallery openings, installations and other artistic events.

Ask about a commission

visual

Prints are available on the artifacts page.

Images that evoke sound. Hover to bring one into focus, click to open it.

Dream Into the Grass

More on Instagram

performances

Live performance tailored to the occasion: original soundscapes for gallery openings and art events, and string ensembles for weddings and formal events.

video

Full set, live at Care Less Lounge, Louisville KY · April 24, 2019 →
Violin, live in a room.
A set in a library.
Slow motion, LBsoundbrowse, Long Beach, 2026.

behind the scenes

upcoming

5

days until

house show

2026-10-16 · 1054 E 2nd St, Long Beach, CA · with Jonny Sands and others

past performances — festivals, tours, radio and live sets since 2011 (60)
dateplacevenuewith
2026-10-10Long Beach, CALBsoundbrowse, Belmont Shore“The Sonic Palimpsest” · Random Lengths
2026-08-25Grey Clay Radiomotif #30 — THRESHOLDtrack “Open your rooms, open your door, open your eyes” · motif
2026-07-28Grey Clay Radiomotif #29 — SCARtrack “Micro-Friction” · motif
2026-07-07Grey Clay Radiomotif #28 — BRINEtrack “Muration” · motif
2026-06-06San Pedro, CAAngels Gate Cultural Centersoundpedro2026 · festival page
2023-06-16Louisville, KYSt. Philip NeriConnie Mae Kissel, The Corrupting Sea and Bret Berry · live album
2022-08-26Louisville, KYCamp Social ClubJAS2, Emery Miles and Bret Berry
2022-07-29Louisville, KYSt. Philip NeriBret Berry, Noeliberal Eye Cancer and Nick Keeling
2022-06-12Louisville, KYThe Wiggle Room40th-anniversary screening of Koyaanisqatsi · with Jackie Royce, Brian Manley, hairbrushing and Nmesh
2022-06-09Louisville, KYFlamingo LoungePop Saw and Ylem
2022-04-22Louisville, KYSurface Noise RecordsMisha Feigin and Jon Silpayamanant
2022-03-27Louisville, KYThe Whirling TigerDane Waters and Misha Feigin · collaboration with Ben Traughber, “Super Freak”
2022-02-25Owensboro, KYDaviess County Public LibraryBret Berry
2022-02-25Owensboro, KYThe Spot CoffeeBret Berry
2021-11-11Louisville, KYSt. Philip NeriD.A. Meeks and Ben Traughber
2021-10-14Louisville, KYFlamingo Loungeperformed as Ashochious · with Team of 3 Plus One and Lost Ridge (electronic band)
2021-08-21Louisville, KYWingerfest
2020-08-28Louisville, KYArt Sanctuary“Late for Dinner” livestream (COVID-era) · with Ben Traughber and Charles Rivera
2020-03-26Louisville, KYKaijuShutaro Noguchi
2019-09-13Deventer, NLHuiskamerconcertJohanneke, Robin Bleeker and Dirk Overbeek
2019-09-07Broekland, NLBroekfrock Festival
2019-07-09Louisville, KYSt. Philip NeriTender Mercy and Keenan Lawler
2019-07-09Louisville, KYSurface NoiseStrings & Things
2019-07-03Louisville, KYLaLa LandPoorcastle Festival kick-off
2019-05-20Louisville, KYHighland TaproomWooden Leg Named Smith
2019-04-26Louisville, KYButchertown SocialMisha Feigin
2019-04-24Louisville, KYCare Less LoungeSheri Streeter · full set · video
2019-03-27Louisville, KYKaijuBent Paw and Ninnie Noises
2019-02-04Louisville, KYSt. Philip NeriKeenan Lawler, Tim Barnes and Bird Dog and His Coyote Gospel Choir
2018-10-13Louisville, KYSurface NoiseMisha Feigin
2018-07-28Louisville, KYZanzabarShutaro Noguchi
2018-05-13Paducah, KYLower Town Arts and Music Festival
2018-05-06Deventer, NLSunday MatineeJohanneke and Robin Bleeker
2018-05-04Deventer, NLPenninckshuisLanghorne Slim
2017-06-09Louisville, KYWFPK Live LunchRon Whitehead and Harry Pickens · “Prayer” release celebration · WFPK
2016-10-07Louisville, KYDreamlandGhost Trees
2014-02-13Louisville, KYAstro Black RecordsDream Eye Color Wheel
2013-11-29Louisville Fluxus FestRudyard Kiplingsolo and with Douglas Lucas and Yoko Molotov
2013-10-05New Albany, INThe Art Storesolo
2013-09-04Louisville, KYHaymarket Whiskey Barsolo
2013-08-05Chicago, ILMyopic Booksimprov with Michael Zerang and Douglas Lucas
2013-08-04Dayton, OHThe Pungent Dungeonsolo
2013-07-10Louisville, KYSubterranean PhrasesAdam Henzbo, Danny Kiley and Shayne Ave I Grec
2013-07-09Louisville, KYLisa's Oak Street LoungeAtticus Coleman
2013-07-07ARTxFMIndeterminate Transmissionssolo and with Douglas Lucas
2013-06-26Louisville Experimental FestivalLisa's Oak Street LoungeAshochious · LEO listing
2013-05-11Louisville, KYMonkey WrenchDouglas Lucas
2012-10-05Louisville, KYARTxFM RadioDouglas Lucas
2012-06-29Louisville Experimental FestivalHaymarket Whiskey BarAshochious
2012-05-17Louisville, KYMonkey WrenchAshochious and Douglas Lucas
2012-05-16Cincinnati, OHRake's EndAshochious
2012-05-15Columbus, OHFuse FactoryAshochious
2012-05-14Pittsburgh, PAGarfield ArtworksAshochious
2012-05-13Brooklyn, NYBrooklyn FireproofAshochious
2012-05-08Huntington, WVFunky TowneAshochious
2012-05-07Lexington, KYAl's SidecarAshochious
2012-04-13Nashville, TNNoa NoaAshochious
2011-09-24Louisville, KYDerby City EspressoAshochious
2011-06-24Louisville Experimental FestivalDerby City EspressoRon Whitehead and Eye of the Fuking Storm
2011-06-08Louisville, KYGroucho's BarAshochious · LEO listing

booking

Tell me about the event, the space and the date.

Email about a booking

artifacts

everything is made in small runs

Drag things around the table, or into the cart to start an order. Drawn to scale with each other, not to actual size.

Record cover, frontRecord cover, back with track list
Round button with an ink drawing of a bearded violinist
Portrait sticker: a stylized print of a bearded man with glasses
Tape cartridge sticker in yellow on black with aaronnicholaswest.com
Black sticker with white text: At the end of the night we are all art. Aaron Nicholas West
Cassette cover for [ texture : selected ]
Square sticker: a black field with a thin gray band drifting across it

Pick something up.

prints

Photographs, printed and shipped on demand. Sizes and prices are set in the print shop. Each print is made when you order and sent straight to you.

Browse the print shop on Etsy →

to order

Email me with what you’d like.

aaronnwest@gmail.com