Rival Consoles

London-based producer Ryan Lee West better known under the name Rival Consoles, is notable for making synthesisers sound human and atmospheric.

Over the course of a critically acclaimed fifteen-year career, Rival Consoles’ music has diversified from the challenging electronic output of his early EPs to gradually become more conceptual and metamorphic, such as Articulation (2020) which used drawings and sketches to imagine and develop each track, to Overflow (2021), which explored themes of the human and emotional consequences of life surrounded by advancing technologies including social media.

Rival Consoles’ 2020 studio album Articulation was followed by a sold out UK Tour and the release of Overflow — a resonant and explorative soundscape of original music, composed for renowned choreographer Alexander Whitley’s contemporary dance production of the same name.

His consistent desire to create a more organic, humanised sound sees West often draft early ideas on traditional, acoustic instruments like the guitar or the piano; forming pieces that capture a sense of songwriting behind the electronics. Considered one of the UK’s most influential creators of electronic music, lee West is marking a new chapter in an ongoing quest for refinement and evolution. More playful and melodic in nature and style to previous years, his latest album draws on outside influences including music, art and film alongside colours, shapes and human emotions.

Across multiple projects he has gained praise at Pitchfork, The Guardian, CRACK Magazine, Vice, Resident Advisor, Loud and Quiet, Electronic Sound, The Line of Best Fit, Spin, Tape Op, XLR8R, Music OMH, Clash, FACT, The Ransom Note, Stamp The Wax, Truants, Louder Than War.

Rival Consoles has performed bespoke performances at the Tate and for Boiler Room at the V&A Museum featuring self-programmed visuals in Max/MSP, has propelled him to play around the world including appearances at music festivals such as Sónar, Moogfest, FORM, Mutek, Big Ears, Lovebox and Roskilde.

2016 marked the release of his mini album Night Melody — born out of and shaped by long hours working into the night — followed by his acclaimed 2018’s full length Persona whose title was inspired by Ingmar Bergman’s film of the same name.

Having previously remixed the likes of Jon Hopkins, Nico Muhly and label peers Ólafur Arnalds & Nils Frahm, further commissions followed from Max Cooper, Noisia, Sasha and UNKLE band Toydrum.

Since the release of Persona, Ryan has taken his captivating live A/V set to all corners of the world. Last seen live on stage with 17 players of the London Contemporary Orchestra for a sold-out orchestral performance at Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in January 2020.

After contributing an exclusive track Them Is Us to Adult Swim’s coveted Singles series, Ryan recently shared the beautifully textured solo piano piece Winter’s Lament on this year’s Piano Day. He has also been in high demand as a composer, scoring Charlie Brooker’s much talked about Black Mirror episode Striking Vipers as well as composing original music for Secret Cinema presents Stranger Things.