Experimental Sound Studio

Experimental Sound Studio ESS is a non-profit, artist-run organization focused on sound in all its exploratory cultural manifes November is Membership Month!

Join at https://ess.org/donate. Experimental Sound Studio is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization dedicated to artistic evolution and the creative exploration of sound. As an international hub for sonic experimentation, ESS nurtures artists, heralds new works, and builds a broad, supportive community of makers, enthusiasts, and creative partners through preservation, production, presentation, and education.

See you Friday Dec 5 from 6-9pm for the opening reception of “Sonic Pavilion Redux.”Experimental Sound Studio5925 N Rave...
12/03/2025

See you Friday Dec 5 from 6-9pm for the opening reception of “Sonic Pavilion Redux.”

Experimental Sound Studio
5925 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60660
Free and open to the public. No RSVP required.

Joins us at ESS’s Audible gallery for this unique opportunity to experience 8 multichannel sound compositions from a stellar cohort of artists. Originally created for the 24-channel trellised speaker system at Jay Pritzker Pavilion, their works have been reimagined for ESS’s 8-channel system.

Chicago’s Paige Alice Naylor will present live intervention of their work supported by a choir featuring Allison Shackelford, Andrew Tham, Corey Smith, Deidre Huckabay, Dora Hewitt, and led by Chris Wood.

📢 Sonic Pavilion Redux Artist 📢
Angel Bat Dawid & Eyeisha Sistrunk
Anna Friz & Jeff Kolar
David Bird
Glenn Kotche
Myles Emmons
Paige Alice Naylor
Saapato
Zouning Anne Liao

Sonic Pavilion Festival was developed by Experimental Sound Studio. It was originally presented by the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). The initial event was supported by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.



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Join us Thursday, Dec 4th from 6-10pm at .Our very own James Wetzel (), ESS’s Archive Director, will be DJing music sele...
12/02/2025

Join us Thursday, Dec 4th from 6-10pm at .

Our very own James Wetzel (), ESS’s Archive Director, will be DJing music selected from the Creative Audio Archive.

The set will feature a special selection of rare Sun Ra vinyl gifted to ESS/CAA by Irwin Chusid, the steward of the catalog of the late Sun Ra.

James will be spinning material from several CAA collections; Sun Ra / El Saturn, Malachai Ritscher, Studio Henry, and more.

Join us next Friday, Dec 5 from 6-9 PM for the opening of Sonic Pavilion Redux at ESS’s Audible Gallery.Free and open to...
12/02/2025

Join us next Friday, Dec 5 from 6-9 PM for the opening of Sonic Pavilion Redux at ESS’s Audible Gallery.

Free and open to the public. No RSVP required.

Experimental Sound Studio
5925 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60660

Sonic Pavilion Redux is an iterative expansion of this summer’s Sonic Pavilion Festival, this time around staged for Experimental Sound Studio’s Audible gallery. Eight multichannel sound compositions originally created for the 24-channel trellised speaker system at Jay Pritzker Pavilion are reimagined here for ESS’s immersive 8-channel system and dedicated listening space.

Sonic Pavilion Redux artists:
Angel Bat Dawid & Eyeisha Sistrunk
Anna Friz & Jeff Kolar
David Bird
Glenn Kotche
Myles Emmons
Paige Alice Naylor
Saapato
Zouning Anne Liao

Sonic Pavilion Festival is developed by Experimental Sound Studio. It was originally presented by the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). The initial event was supported by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.



lida



radius

Join us next Friday, Dec 5 from 6-9 PM for the opening of Sonic Pavilion Redux at ESS’s Audible Gallery.Experimental Sou...
11/26/2025

Join us next Friday, Dec 5 from 6-9 PM for the opening of Sonic Pavilion Redux at ESS’s Audible Gallery.

Experimental Sound Studio
5925 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60660

Sonic Pavilion Redux is an iterative expansion of this summer’s Sonic Pavilion Festival, this time around staged for Experimental Sound Studio’s Audible gallery. Eight multichannel sound compositions originally created for the 24-channel trellised speaker system at Jay Pritzker Pavilion are reimagined here for ESS’s immersive 8-channel system and dedicated listening space.

Sonic Pavilion Redux artists:
Angel Bat Dawid & Eyeisha Sistrunk
Anna Friz & Jeff Kolar
David Bird
Glenn Kotche
Myles Emmons
Paige Alice Naylor
Saapato
Zouning Anne Liao

Sonic Pavilion Festival is developed by Experimental Sound Studio. It was originally presented by the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). The initial event was supported by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.



lida



radius

Our Creative Audio Archive interview series shines a light on the extensive collection.On October 24th, 2025, Tatsu Aoki...
11/25/2025

Our Creative Audio Archive interview series shines a light on the extensive collection.

On October 24th, 2025, Tatsu Aoki and Jeff Parker got together to discuss their time playing with Fred Anderson in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, a timespan covered by both the Tatsu Aoki and Fred Anderson CAA Collections.

Tatsu’s more than 50 DAT tapes not only capture the Fred Anderson Trio’s music, but a revolving cast of many younger musicians who cut their teeth at the legendary Velvet Lounge during this time. In this conversation, Jeff and Tatsu reminisce on this incredibly fertile period and the impact that Fred had on their musical pathways.

Explore the interview and more at link in bio.


We did it! You did it! We made the match and reached our 2026 year end funding goal.This campaign started out as a commu...
11/22/2025

We did it! You did it! We made the match and reached our 2026 year end funding goal.

This campaign started out as a community effort, thanks to the ESS Community Pool, who agreed to bring their resources together to create an additional match to the one put forth by the Reva and David Logan Foundation.

And the community continued to show up. You’re incredible. You are ESS and we’re so glad to be in partnership with you. Here’s to entering a beautiful, community-supported and community-driven 40th year in 2026.

The latest iteration of Florasonic, Sarah Belle Reed’s “Semblance of Fern,” closes on Sunday.The work has been getting a...
11/21/2025

The latest iteration of Florasonic, Sarah Belle Reed’s “Semblance of Fern,” closes on Sunday.

The work has been getting a lot of attention lately. NewCity called the sound installation a “confluence of the natural and technological, shattering the artificial and human divide.”

Reid herself recently released a fantastic long-form video documenting the creative process from conceptualization to ex*****on. Developed in collaboration with instrument builder and composer, Ryan Gaston, the work buzzes, swells, and pops with life.

Don’t miss your chance to catch this captivating work IRL.

Florasonic is free and open to the public, more info at link in bio.
Full NewCity review at link in bio.



It takes more than just providing space or putting on shows - we deserve intentional spaces that are increasing access. ...
11/19/2025

It takes more than just providing space or putting on shows - we deserve intentional spaces that are increasing access. Help us continue the work in 2026!

Over the past year, ESS organized 11 artist-led events for women, trans, and non-binary folks working and experimenting in audio, attended by nearly 100 people. We continue this work, as well as expanded efforts in learning, connecting, and sharing, in 2026. The impact of these programs is exponential.

Let’s make sure it’s well resourced!

Ten $50 donations fund a workshop and skill-share event. Over 2k people will see this post. Let’s do this. Donate link in bio.

We’re excited to announce Sonic Pavilion Redux, an immersive audio exhibition opening Dec 5, 6-9 PM at ESS’s Audible Gal...
11/18/2025

We’re excited to announce Sonic Pavilion Redux, an immersive audio exhibition opening Dec 5, 6-9 PM at ESS’s Audible Gallery.

Experimental Sound Studio
5925 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60660

Sonic Pavilion Redux is an iterative expansion of this summer’s Sonic Pavilion Festival, staged for Experimental Sound Studio’s Audible gallery. Eight multichannel sound compositions originally created for the 24-channel trellised speaker system at Jay Pritzker Pavilion are reimagined here for ESS’s immersive 8-channel system. This presentation offers a second chance to experience the work after the festival’s final outdoor performance was cut short by severe weather. Featuring work by ten artists from the 2025 Sonic Pavilion Festival, Sonic Pavilion Redux invites audiences to encounter the same dynamic sound worlds within the focused acoustics of ESS’s gallery space.

Sonic Pavilion Redux artists:
Angel Bat Dawid & Eyeisha Sistrunk
Anna Friz & Jeff Kolar
David Bird
Glenn Kotche
Myles Emmons
Paige Alice Naylor
Saapato
Zouning Anne Liao

Sonic Pavilion Festival is developed by Experimental Sound Studio. It was originally presented by the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and was supported by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.



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5925 N Ravenswood Avenue
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60660

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