Ben Cantil: Remixing Reality with Art, Innovation, and Music

In this episode of A Path Unfolding, host Jesse Brede engages in a fascinating conversation with Ben Cantil, one half of the audio-visual duo Zebbler Encanti Experience (ZEE). They delve into Ben's artistic journey, including his education at Berklee College of Music, where he honed his skills in sound design and synthesizer techniques. Ben shares how his time at Berklee shaped his approach to music, ultimately leading him to explore the dance music scene after being inspired by the Burning Man community. They discuss their creative process, emphasizing the synergy between sound and visuals. Ben describes how he and Zebbler work together, with Ben focusing on music production and Zebbler crafting the visuals, often rallying around innovative concepts that inspire both their audio and visual outputs. This collaborative spirit has led to the creation of memorable projects, including their acclaimed album "Synchorswim," which was particularly meaningful during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Ben reflects on his involvement with Shpongle, detailing how he was introduced to the project through Zebbler, who created the first Shpongletron, a groundbreaking projection-mapped touring rig. This connection further illustrates their deep ties within the electronic music community and their commitment to pushing artistic boundaries. The episode captures the essence of their journey as artists dedicated to innovation and exploration in music and visual art. The discussion highlights their unique creative process, emphasizing the collaboration between Ben and Zebbler, where sound and visuals intertwine. Ben explains how their artistic relationship allows them to push boundaries, often rallying around innovative concepts that inspire both their audio and visual outputs. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI in music production. Ben discusses how AI-generated music has become a significant topic in the industry, referencing various research papers and the contributions of data bots that have gained recognition in hackathons. He notes that many of these creators, often hackers rather than academics, have made substantial strides in the field, showcasing their work on platforms like YouTube.

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Ben Cantil, aka Encanti, is an electronic music producer, software designer, educator, and scholar. Most of his music has been released as Zebbler Encanti Experience (aka "ZEE"), a brand which encompasses both audio/visual in collaboration with visual artist Zebbler. ZEE's signature style of "psy bass" music has been featured on popular EDM labels such as Monstercat, Gravitas, and Wakaan, and with performances spanning the US festival circuit such as Lightning in a Bottle, Infrasound, Wakaan Festival, and Burning Man. As an educator, Cantil helped bring modern electronic music production into the curricula of Berklee College of Music, authoring courses across multiple undergraduate and graduate programs between Valencia and NYC. He now runs his own private school, Encanti Music Academy, while pursuing a PhD at the University of Edinburgh. He also recently won four UK-based grants to fund startup company DataMind Audio, an innovative audio software company specializing in AI-driven tools for music producers and sound designers. With the release of flagship plugin Combobulator and Artist Brain marketplace, which gives artists a 50/50 split on all neural networks sold, DataMind Audio is ushering in a new era in sound design while setting an ethical gold standard for "Farm-to-Table" AI. Encanti will headline this summer at Applecross Festival in Wilseyville, California September 13-16, 2024, an independent first-year music festival organized by artists from Encanti Music Academy.