I’m a composer & interaction designer passionate about the playful & spiritual roots of creativity
Rutger Muller
image by R. Muller from video by Michiel Gardner
Composer’s Statement
I’m fascinated by mysticism, music’s ability to sound meditative and uncanny at the same time. I aim to discover the beauty and dark energy on the bleeding edge between tranquility and friction. It has me continuously exploring types of spirituality found in avant-classical music, non-western traditions and club music.
How can we implement types of mysticism into our hectic times, and discover catharsis in it? I often start at nature: the organic intricacies of timbre, the imperfections of improvisation, and our ancient fascination for (cavernous) reverberations.
In my search for spiritual sound, I want to transcend drama and emotion, reach beyond it, towards the roots of inner consciousness and outer space. What are the roots of music, and how can we keep rediscovering them?
Exorcism at Cultura Nova (Heerlen, NL)
With dancer Nathaniel Moore (USA)
Image from video by Paul Caron
Thresholder
At Born Digital (Utrecht, NL)
Photo by Joram Wolters
Designer’s Statement
Both the origin and future of creativity are improvisational. While computers might not have intuition, they can improvise using algorithms, logics, memory (data), feedback and chance.
Soon, generative arts wil happen in real-time. These instant explorations call for new (playful) interfaces that bridge human improvisation with machine intelligence.
Game design allows us to explore the roots of creativity and culture in accessible and interdisciplinary ways. I research the field of ’emergent gameplay’, which aims to gives players the ability to evolve rules, without breaking the flow/immersion.
Hackathons and game jams are also great example of co-creativity and interdisciplinary design thinking. Let’s do this…
CV
biography EN/NL at the bottom
NAME Rutger Muller
BORN 1984, Netherlands
E-MAIL rutger@rutgermuller.nl
PHONE +31 6 50 82 45 71
VAT ID NL001833192B75
CoC / KVK 50806149
EDUCATION
MA • Digital Design: Music Technology
HKU UTRECHT UNIVERSITY OF ARTS (2012)
BA • Music/Sound for Adaptive Systems
HKU UTRECHT UNIVERSITY OF ARTS (2012)
BA • Communication & Multimedia Design
AVANS HOGESCHOOL BREDA (2008)
Minor • Cultures of the Netherlands
TILBURG UNIVERSITY (2006)
Community College (MBO4+) • IT-Admin
ARCUS COLLEGE HEERLEN (2003)
PLAYFUL INTERACTION DESIGN
MyuBio (NL, 2020-now)
Interaction/Sound Designer for
Spatial & Playful Bio-Soundsystem W/ Studio Ricky van Broekhoven
• Nomination Hybrid Future Challenge at Eindhoven Maker Faire (2021)
‘UniTie’ by Wolfsbloem (NL, 2017) Sound Design for Motion Instrument
• Presented at Dutch Design Week 2017
Thresholder (NL, 2011-now)
Composer & Co-Game-Designer of Multiplayer Sound Installation
• Nomination Young Talent SpinAward 2012
GlitchHiker (NL, 2011)
Composer & Co-Game-Designer of Ephemeral Arcade Game
• Winner Global Game Jam (NL, 2011)
• Hon. Mention IGF (SF, USA, 2012)
MUSIC GROUPS & SOLO ACTS
Rutger Muller | Rutger Muller Ensemble
Electroacoustic • Ambient • Techno • Improv Ensemble w/ Josephine Bode & Wen Chin Fu Compositions for Ensemble 88 Duo w/ Bernhard Hollinger
R-Muller
RnB • Pop
Hypnotic School
Trip-Hop • Indie R&B • Dreampop
w/ Nilipek., Can Aydinoglu, Sinqlogue
AuxPulse | DS-10 Dominator
IDM • Acid • Techno • Chiptune
w/ Sinqlogue
Diskette Deluxe
Chiptune • Synthpop • Italo
CREATIVE COMMONS SHARING
Freesound.org 600+ field recordings & other sounds
Free to download (Public Domain / CC0)
OFFICIAL PRESETS & DEMOS
New Path by The Zooo (NL, 2022) Two demo tracks for iOS app, a non-linear sequencer by Jerke vd Braak & Marcel Smit
KORG iPolysix (JP, 2012) Demo Track for iPad app
KORG iMS-20 (JP, 2010) Demo Track for iPad app
HACKATHONS / WORKSHOPS
MUTEK.JP – AI Music Lab (JP, 2019)
With Keio University and Natalia Fuchs
Supported by Creative Industry Fund NL
ICMC – Hack-n-Makerthon (KR, 2018)
At the Samsung Creative Campus in Daegu
Supported by Creative Industry Fund NL
Hypothetical Instruments (NL, 2016)
ADE Soundlab workshop by Native Instruments, STEIM, Univ. Pompeu Fabra
New GameGrounds Playful Jam (NL, 2015)
By Playful Arts Festival & Brakke Grond (NL)
Workshops at Operadagen (NL, 2015)
Rutger Muller Ensemble participated in workshops by Paul Koek, Tom Creed…
4DSOUND – Spatial Hacklab (NL, 2014)
Teamed up with cellist Rinske Bosma
By Fiber Festival at Amsterdam Dance Event
Hyper Gamejam (NL, 2012)
Teamed up with Vlambeer & Friends
At Control Gamelab in Amsterdam
GGJ (NL, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017)
Global Game Jam at location HKU
ARTISTIC RESIDENCIES
Intro in Situ (NL, 2020-2021) Arts & Culture Developer
Supported by Dioraphte Foundation
Paradise AIR – Shortstay (JP, 2016) Sound art residency in Matsudo
Supported by Creative Industry Fund NL
aXolot Versus @ STEIM (NL, 2016) Project by Sarah Jeffery in Amsterdam
Bookstore Project (NL, 2015-2017) Community arts & living in Amsterdam
SOUND / MUSIC FOR DANCE
‘Work Line‘ (NL/TR, 2022)
Music composition for contemporary dance by Korzo choreographer Rutkay Özpinar
‘Under the Skin’ (IT/NL, 2021)
Music edit for choreography by Anastasia Kostner + Tanzschmiede/Fucinadanza
‘Strive’ (IT/NL, 2018)
Music edit for choreography by Anastasia Kostner + Tanzschmiede/Fucinadanza
‘Walkie Talkie Wilderness’ (NL, 2018) Music for inclusive dance company Misiconi
‘Into Another Body’ (NL/IT, 2015) Live electronic music for interactive A/V dance performance by Anastasia Kostner and Maarten van der Glas
SOUND / MUSIC FOR PERFORMANCE ARTS
‘This Connection…Guts‘ (NL/IR, 2021)
Co-composing with theatre maker Diane Mahín at Winternights, Maastricht (NL)
‘The Worship’ at Musica Sacra (NL, 2019)
Spatial perf. on Vrijthof w/ Habitants & Arno Coenen’s ‘Stage of Luminosity’
‘Aria di Potenza’ at Nuit Blanche (BE, 2017)
Spatial sound design for opera installation directed by Krystian Lada in Brussels
‘The Water, The Soil, The Jungle’ (2015)
Audio edit for poetic work by Müge Yilmaz
‘The Young Shaman Perspective’ (2010) Installation by Rubin van Kooijk with 7 performers, at STEIM & Oude Kerk (Ams)
SOUND / MUSIC FOR FILM
‘Donkerslag‘ (NL, 2022)
Composition for audiodrama by Stories on Sound, podcast published by L1
‘Alterity’ (NL, 2022) Mastering for short film by Milan Potten
‘Zure Melk’ (NL, 2008) Sound design and soundscapes for short film by Teuta Dibrani & Aart Taminiau
SOUND / MUSIC FOR INSTALLATIONS
‘In den Beginne was het Woord’ (2022)
Composed w/ Govert Derix for MyuBio soundsystem at Dominicanen, Maastricht
‘Forest (H)eart(H)’ by UTOPIA blu (2019) Sound Design for ‘Body Armor to Save the Planet’, fashion-tech presentation
‘Breathe X Protokols’ w/ Minhong Yu (2018)
Immersive, at NEVERNEVERLAND (Ams)
‘And They Were Out’ by Müge Yilmaz (2018)
Outdoor sound objects at Vensters (Ams)
‘Breathe X Protokols’ w/ Minhong Yu (2018)
Installation at NEVERNEVERLAND (Ams)
Anouk Wipprecht x SOMFY (NL/BE, 2016) Music for ‘Art of Motion’ fashion-tech installation and show at Polyclose
‘First Friday #3’ with Janina Frye (2016)
Co-curation and composition for video installation at Corrosia, Almere (NL)
‘I Converse Silently’ (2016)
Soundscape for art film installation by Dorota Radzimirska
‘Lost Devices’ w Sander Haakman (2011)
At ‘Tik van De Molen’ (Kaag en Braassem) & ‘Corrosia: Ongehoord Geluid’ (Almere)
Rot8ion – Intership (2011)
Live A/V Surround (Eindhoven)
Live Techno at MuteSounds (2010)
Live bass-only techno set for deaf people at Paard van Troje (Den Haag)
‘i-C’R-us’ w/ Paul van Roosmalen (2010)
Interactive sculpture at Lokaal 01 (Breda)
SOUND / MUSIC FOR PROJECTIONS
‘Winter in Zutphen’ by Noralie (NL, 2017) Sound edit for projection mapping at Gast In Zutphen festival
De Tilburgse Kermis – Mapping (NL, 2016) Sound design for projection by Noralie
‘Toyota Avalon’ at Art Basel (USA, 2015) Music for video mapping by NAP Labs
‘Decode’ by VJ Sjush (NL, 2014)
Music for performance at Live Cinema Festival
Klik Animation Festival (NL, 2013)
Sound Design for opening show: lasers projection on EYE Filmmuseum (A’dam)
‘Clashlight’ by Noralie at GLOW (NL, 2013) Stadium show in honour of 100 years PSV (Philips Sport Association)
SOUND / MUSIC FOR THEATRE
‘Gewoon Held’ – Het Laagland (NL, 2018)
Sound design for show directed by Lennart Monaster with music by Kaveh Vares
Valentine Berning ‘Get Connected’ (2014) Music for theatre performance
The Warp at Kunstkapel (NL, 2016)
• Live mix for ‘Taciturn Receiver’
• Live mix for ‘Todo Modo’ (Ams)
JINGLES
‘Van Droom naar Daad’ (NL, 2018)
Jingle for podcast by Delft University of Technology – Studium Generale
Topcon Europe (NL, 2017) Leader sounds for videos by Filmding
SOUND DESIGN / MUSIC FOR GAMES AND INTERACTION
‘Makro – Pingelweken’ (2014) Sound Design for Web Game by Brandspanking + Doom & Dickson
‘Shoebox Diorama: Blocked In’ (2013) Sound Design for interactive VR experience by Daniël Ernst
‘Kids Vs. Goblins’ by Stolen Couch (2012) Sound Design for iPhone / iPad game
‘La Vache Qui Rit – Spetter’ (2012) Music for game by De Monsters & IN10
‘Babybell – Megajumper’ (2012) Music SFX for mobile game by De Monsters & IN10 agencies
DPI Agency for Port of Rotterdam (2012)
Sound Design for interactive quiz
DPI for OTIB / Wij Techniek (2012)
Sound Design for educational game
‘Chime Multiplayer’ by Zoë Mode (2010) Adaptive Composition for proof-of-concept puzzle game /w Stolen Couch
‘Multitouch Table’ by DPI agency (2010)
Sound Design for interactive table of Rotterdam University of Applied Science
MUSIC EVENT ORGANISING
The Instrument Room (NL, 2015-2017) Progressive & Diverse Concert Series
Supported by The Bookstore Foundation
SOUND / MUSIC FOR VIDEO
Airopack (NL, 2017)
Sound design for corporate video made by Rethinking Group
Sagawa Art Museum (JP, 2016) Arrangement and Sound Design for ‘Museum Cardboard Art Amusement Park’
‘Serge Pils – De Insteek’ (NL, 2014) Video and Audio for Book Trailer
‘Herman Miller – 108 Years…’ (2013) Audio Editing for video by Brandspanking
‘Bijenkorf – Eye on Fashion’ (2012) Audio Editing for video by Brandspanking and Solar Initiative
Max Havelaar – Fair Trade (NL, 2012)
Composition for animation by Ineke Goes
Project with Business Models Inc. (2012)
Composition for undisclosed client
TEACHING / LECTURING
Kaboom Animation Festival (NL, 2023)
On the panel of ‘AI and the Future of Animation’
Ode to Dignity (NL, 2019)
Music workshops for children
Project by composer Merlijn Twaalfhoven
Design4MusicXperiences (NL, 2017)
Student Mentor for Fontys University ICT and Effenaar Smart Venue, Eindhoven
Musashino Art University (JP, 2016)
Portfolio presentation for students
Supported by Creative Industry Fund NL
HKU Art University (NL, 2014/’15/’16)
Lecturer on various music topics, such as the uncanny valley of timbral emulations
ART COACHING
‘Oscillator’ by Florian Slangen (NL, 2022)
Poetic Performance
‘U’ by Wieke van Rosmalen (NL, 2021)
Playful/Interactive Music Theatre
(Muzieklab by VIA ZUID + Intro in Situ)
‘…Be Like You’ by NKK NXT (NL, 2019)
Music Theatre Project by Netherlands Chamber Choir & Patrick Housen
WRITINGS & JOURNALISM
Emergent Gameplay Research Expressive/Emergent/Improvised Interaction for Music Games and Interactive Installations
DJ Broadcast (NL, 2016) “Klassiek Contrast” article
‘Murcof’ on Wikipedia (2012) One of the main contributors
Bachtrack (UK, 2011-2013) Modern classical concert reviews
WEB, GRAPHICS, IT
Espace Midi flyer layout (2021)
For cultural venue of Residence Midi
JosephineBode.com (2018)
For musician and theatre maker Josephine Bode
Glitch Art on CRT Exhib. (2017)
At “A Lab – BROED – Grootlab WKNDR”
NinaFunk.com (2017)
For dancer/choreographer Nina Funk
Design by Mirka Laura Severa
HTML by Rutger Muller
For clients of Kosmonauts.nl (2015)
Content editing in WordPress
L1 Radio & TV – Internship (2007)
Marketing Design (Maastricht)
Headland – Internship (2006)
Web Design
Graaf Huyn College (2002)
Internship IT Admin (Geleen)
QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR DIGITAL DESIGN AGENCIES
Random Studio (NL, 2014-2019)
QA testing (web) projects for Raf Simons, NPO, KLM, Tommy Hilfiger, Triodos Bank, Rémy Martin
Your Majesty (NL, 2017)
QA testing a Samsung project
Resn (NL, 2016)
QA testing projects for Milka, Dove, Verizon, Panera, Converse
TRANSLATION ETC.
The TEFL Academy (2018)
TEFL certification (Level 5, 120h) for Teaching English as a Foreign Language
MA Thesis – E.M. Ferf Jentink (2015) [NL-EN] Eindhoven University of Technology – ‘To increase the acceptance of renovations: Kolenkit as case study’
Languagewire (2017-2021)
[EN-NL] 50+ jobs for international agency (technical, financial, PR…)
Monsterkamer – Roger Willems (2017) [EN>NL] artist biography for event at paper showroom
‘The Weathers They Live In’ (2017)
[EN>NL] leaflet for exhibition at puntWG
initiated by Nicola Arthen
‘AliceD: There Is No Time For This’ (2017)
[DE>EN] description of audio-walk by Bruno Pilz
Fluister (2017) [EN>NL] eight artist bios for classical-electronic booking agency
Biography (English)
Rutger Muller is a contemporary / electroacoustic composer and interaction designer with a strong interest in mystic sound and culture. He often starts his work process by zooming in on the intricate, organic details of sound (design): timbre, acoustics and spatiality. This leads to “soundspaces”, spatial drones abstracted from ancient / classical music, ambient, techno, free improvisation and architectonics. By shaping slowly morphing (non-lineair) sound worlds, Rutger aims to transcend the drama of emotion – towards patterns and noises that reveal something of our natural and cosmic origins; the micro and macro cosmos.
After dabbling in hacker culture and playing drums in hardcore punk bands, Rutger gained a BA and MA of Music Technology at the HKU. Thereafter, he performed extensively with his contemporary classical ensemble and in interdisciplinary collaborations, for example at Amsterdam’s contemporary concert hall Muziekgebouw with visuals by NAP Labs – and in Seoul with Korean Traditional multi-instrumentalist Scarlett Choi. As an interaction / game designer, Muller collaborates on spacious interactive installations for groups of players, and publishes research on his blog.
Through electro-acoustic sound design and collaborations with avant-garde instrumentalists / designers / developers, Muller sheds a contemporary light on on the spiritual essence of culture(s). His outcomes are are often more mystic than abstract, on the edge between tranquil and uncanny. What is lightness and what is darkness, Muller questions, as he uses improvisation and playfulness to seek out the freedom of uncertainty.
Photo by Paul Caron
BIOGRAFIE (DUTCH)
Rutger Muller is een hedendaagse/ elektroakoestische componist en interactie-ontwerper met een sterke interesse in mystieke en spirituele klank. Zijn werk ontspringt vaak uit de fijne details van klankkleur (timbre) en akoestiek (ruimtelijkheid). Daaruit ontstaan “soundspaces”, opgebouwd uit elementen van oude / klassieke muziek, ambient, techno, vrije improvisatie en architectuur. Door het creëren van continu transformerende (niet-lineaire) geluidswerelden wil Rutger het drama van emotie en narratief overstijgen – richting patronen en geluiden die iets onthullen van onze natuurlijke en kosmische oorsprong (de micro- en macrokosmos).
Na amateuristische experimenten in de hackercultuur en het spelen van drums in hardcore punkbands, behaalde Rutger een BA en MA in muziektechnologie aan de HKU. Hij trad vervolgens veelvuldig op met zijn hedendaagse klassieke ensemble en in interdisciplinaire samenwerkingen, bijvoorbeeld in het Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ met visuals van NAP Labs – en in Seoul met de Koreaanse traditionele multi-instrumentalist Scarlett Choi. Als interactie / game designer werkt Muller mee aan ruime interactieve installaties voor groepen spelers (onderzoek beschikbaar op zijn blog).
Via elektro-akoestisch geluidsontwerp en samenwerkingen met avant-gardistische instrumentalisten / ontwerpers werpt Mullers een hedendaags licht op de spirituele essentie van cultuur. Zijn uitkomsten zijn vaak meer mystiek dan abstract; op de grens tussen meditatief en unheimisch. Wat is lichtheid en wat is duisternis, vraagt Muller zich af, terwijl hij met improvisatie en speelsheid op zoek gaat naar de vrijheid van onzekerheid.