Colin Benders

Tenene

Ashburn

Colin Benders is a master of live improvisation, transforming modular techno into a visceral, full-body  experience. He channels in-the-moment energy into modular synths, where every kick, bassline and groove is made on the fly. Expect hypnotic rhythms, raw energy and unrepeatable performances that exist only while the synths are switched on. 

Over the years, Benders has taken his instinct-driven approach to clubs, orchestral halls, museums and festival stages across Europe, earning a reputation for visceral performances that emanate pure, primal energy. Now firmly rooted in techno, he continues to push boundaries - creating tension, release and flow that leave audiences physically exhilarated, mesmerised and wanting more.

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Sole but far-from-lonely emperor of a monster 243-module rack, genre-unbound sound explorer, modular mad scientist to the bone, call him whatever you like it’s a fact: Dutch wave-tumbler Colin Benders defies the conventions of so easily tag-slapped electronics as much as his music confronts gravity itself. Untamed and unshackled from today’s main line of tepid production behaviourism, striving in an artistic lane truly his own, Benders has completely veered off the grand street's accepted modus operandi to operate his gear and imagination in utterly innovative fashion.

Having garnered a more than solid experience of the first-hand musician-to-listener experience, Benders keeps on cutting new trails for live electronics, away from drowsy standards and mimetic attitudes. Instead, the Dutch performer pledges to rethink our whole consumption and digestive process of music through lengthy, free-jazz-like momentums to lose your mind and body to.


I’ve been listening to this for years. I’m convinced this is the single finest Eurorack session in history.

Just a 10 year request to release this track &lt;3 It&#39;s amazing!

Just a 10 year request to release this track <3 It's amazing!

this video is what inspired me to get into modular synthesis, im financially crippled now but Im happy and broke, absolutely amazing what you did here

Yoou have changed my understanding of what electronic music is

This is expensive and technical, but also artistic and passionate... mental and timeless, eurphoric and stateless. Its the cross section of art and love peaking out. As someone who lives in this sonic world and just met eurorack a few months ago: kudos to you sir. you come from where I want to go.

I played this video for my 80 yr old parent so they could finally understand this music. Thank you

That&#39;s not only a Jamsession. It&#39;s a passion and a totaly masterpiece of Art...  Maybe one of the most epic Modular Soundtracks i&#39;ve ever heard. &lt;3

That's not only a Jamsession. It's a passion and a totaly masterpiece of Art... Maybe one of the most epic Modular Soundtracks i've ever heard. <3

Thanks for the inspiration. I have six modules, and growing. Wonderful performance.

I honestly believe this is one of the best videos on whole YouTube. My brain&#39;s exploding every time I hear it.

I honestly believe this is one of the best videos on whole YouTube. My brain's exploding every time I hear it.

I&#39;m a rock/metalhead and I was blown away by this! And the best part is, you can&#39;t save the patch! It&#39;s a beautiful one-time event! Glad you shared it with us, thanks!

I'm a rock/metalhead and I was blown away by this! And the best part is, you can't save the patch! It's a beautiful one-time event! Glad you shared it with us, thanks!

I&#39;m going to open a cable shop next to where this man lives

I'm going to open a cable shop next to where this man lives

Worked backwards in time through videos and sound bites to this. Surreal, complex, layered, textured.. adjectives. This is a masterpiece.

Worked backwards in time through videos and sound bites to this. Surreal, complex, layered, textured.. adjectives. 
This is a masterpiece.

This is the most spellbinding and fascinating live performance I&#39;ve come across in years. What an absolute triumph of both man and machine.

This is the most spellbinding and fascinating live performance I've come across in years. What an absolute triumph of both man and machine.

Maybe the most precise modular synth Intro I have heard this far

The fact that he can do all this in darkness is amazing to me!

just by the usage of words by the people commenting on this video I can tell most of them are interested in/related to music production! I would say those in the front of the stage are synthfreaks producers too, not dancing but listening  hahahah

just by the usage of words by the people commenting on this video I can tell most of them are interested in/related to music production! I would say those in the front of the stage are synthfreaks producers too, not dancing but listening
 hahahah

This is amazing how you keep the gig together like that, I know hard hard modulars can be to tame in live environment. This is only possible if you truly know your rig 100%. Well done!

An hour and change... stopped me from watching this for so long.   I totally dig Colin but rarely have time for long vids.  So I thought I&#39;ll just listen to it in segments.  Nah, nothing doing... everytime I thought it would be a good time to pause the transition would kick in and I was sucked back in.  Then somewhere around the 37 min mark all hell breaks loose...just sublime.  Just so inspiring.   I can&#39;t wait to get through this freaking pandemic and set up some gigs like this locally.  Thank you Colin, you are a big part of my continuing to explore and share the never ceasing sounds in my soul.

An hour and change... stopped me from watching this for so long.   I totally dig Colin but rarely have time for long vids.  So I thought I'll just listen to it in segments.  Nah, nothing doing... everytime I thought it would be a good time to pause the transition would kick in and I was sucked back in.  Then somewhere around the 37 min mark all hell breaks loose...just sublime.  Just so inspiring.   I can't wait to get through this freaking pandemic and set up some gigs like this locally.  Thank you Colin, you are a big part of my continuing to explore and share the never ceasing sounds in my soul.

Anyone else here in 2020 missing hanging out in close proximity with strangers in dark venues.

this music takes my mind elsewhere. so good.

Consistent, yet chaotic... Repetitive, yet progressive... Calming, yet exciting... This is electronic music at its finest right here.

Consistent, yet chaotic...
Repetitive, yet progressive...
Calming, yet exciting...
This is electronic music at its finest right here.

8 years after. Im still listening to this frequently... god tier

Colin you have been the inspiration for my journey into modular, my sound and the start my youtube channel and for that I want to say thank you...

Colin! My soul for many years nothing could not so much relax. I like merging with your sounds. The whole day I tirelessly listen to everything you wrote. I am under tremendous impression and from your professionalism (I know what I&#39;m talking about, as I myself wrote when). If you abandon your work, I&#39;ll just die).

Colin! My soul for many years nothing could not so much relax. I like merging with your sounds. The whole day I tirelessly listen to everything you wrote. I am under tremendous impression and from your professionalism (I know what I'm talking about, as I myself wrote when). If you abandon your work, I'll just die).

Hey Collin, this is still one of the most poignant sessions of yours. Apart from thriving beats this really hits through emotionally. Big fan of yours!

The best invention of a human beeing was a VCO.  Analog music is so unique 😃

respect. motivation to keep pushing our modular sound.

Hey Colin, cheers from never-sleeping Moscow! - guess all folks start &quot;dancing on the chair&quot; after minute 4 of your Masterpiece - after minute 5 all goes right from Heart to Soul. Bravo to your great talent of being unique and ppl would need your creations to go on and on. Wishing all the best Captain!

Hey Colin, cheers from never-sleeping Moscow! - guess all folks start "dancing on the chair" after minute 4 of your Masterpiece - after minute 5 all goes right from Heart to Soul. Bravo to your great talent of being unique and ppl would need your creations to go on and on. Wishing all the best Captain!

I can code and listen to this on repeat for hours...the delusion and productivity. priceless. Colin thank you.

Modular Mayhem - Season 4

Modular Mayhem - Season 3

Redesigning my 3600HP eurorack modular synth!

ALL THE STREAMS WITHOUT FILTERING OR PLAN OR ANY IDEA WHATSOEVER WHAT IT ALL MEANS BUT TO BE KEPT SAFE IN CASE THE HAMSTERS ON MY HARDDRIVE RUN OFF OK

These tracks were all recorded during the lockdown of march 2020. you can find the mixed/mastered versions on my release, Floaty Things.

Floaty Things

Streampunks!

Modular Lockdown!

The Kyteman Orchestra

Let's Patch

Modular Mayhem

Eurorack Jamsessions

Ever since I came back home I've been pushing out tracks non stop. finally got something of a workflow going it seems. Not looking forward to editing it all later but thats another story. 

-
2020 Edit:
Still haven't released this track lol. I have been plenty active since I have recorded this track though! check out my channel for more modular shenanigans!

Oh also,
Join the community at https://www.discord.gg/modularmayhem !!

Colin Benders - Reunion - #Eurorack Jamsession

I did a livestream of my entire Amsterdam Dance Event performance at de melkweg in Amsterdam. I had been sick as a dog for a week so I took it a bit slow. eventually I couldnt help myself so I brought some chaos in the mix. was fun. lets do it again sometime!
Join the community at https://www.discord.gg/modularmayhem !!

Colin Benders Live at Amsterdam Dance Event 2016

I had just installed the Orthogonal Devices ER301 and was having loads of fun with it. kinda zoned out on that gliding melody and built a slow building climatic track around it. Enjoy! -- Join the community at https://www.discord.gg/modularmayhem !!

Colin Benders - Orbit - #Eurorack Jamsession

This modular techno set was recorded at Warehouse Elementstraat for #Mysteryland 2020. 
All my music is improvised on my eurorack modular synthesizer. While I explore many different ways of playing with modular synthesizers, I have developed a deep rooted love for techno and everything related to techno. Eventhough it’s weird to play in a club without an audience, this set felt like a rush to work on. It had been a while since Inhad last heard techno on a proper soundsystem so I was in my element right away. 
If you’re into eurorack or modular synths and want to hear more, subscribe for a healthy dosis of modular techno sets!

Join the community at https://www.discord.gg/modularmayhem !!

Recorded in 4k video
AV installation by https://www.lumus-instruments.com/

#Modular #Techno

Mysteryland 2020 | Colin Benders Live Modular Techno Set | Modular Mayhem

Original Track can be found here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q04ILDXe3QE

This track has been haunting me for a while now so I decided to see if I could reverse engineer a few of the sounds on my system. initially I only wanted to do the bassline but I got a bit carried away and ended up doing the entire thing.  It might not be an exact clone but I definitely learned a lot in the process of trying to recreate those sounds.

Open Eye Signal (Jon Hopkins) on a Modular Synthesizer

Its done!!!
The synth is up and running! after 3 weeks of chaos and many more of evading the task, I finally have the layout I always wanted... time for a quick recap! I'll take you through the steps of how I approached the eurorack design of my monstersynth in this final vlog entry of my build series.

if you're interested in the layout and have a look at the guts of this gargantuan thing, follow these links!

https://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/1578931

https://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/1579048

IT’S ALIVE!!! My monstersynth is done! #eurorack #design #vlog part 7!

Join the community! www.discord.com/modularmayhem

You can find the making of this tune here -
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn2yy7YJlFw

Colin Benders - Monster // Modular Electronic Music

I felt like building something instead of just noodling away. this vibe kinda gripped me so took my time to get it right. here goes! -- Watch live at https://www.twitch.tv/colinbenders

Colin Benders - Locked In - #Eurorack Jamsession

what started as a clean setup escalated into this song. I was so busy trying to figure out the rhythms in this patch that I did not notice the 120 man spike in my channel. it was glorious, we had partytimes and good feels were shared. THE END  -- Watch live at https://www.twitch.tv/colinbenders

Colin Benders - FeelsGoodMan - #Eurorack Jamsession

A few days ago, Roo pinged me on discord saying that I really needed to check out this last jam of the day and that she wouldn't mind seeing this one being released sometime. After listening to it I must say that I couldn't agree more. this is a big one. 

Soooo the world is being awkward again and the creepy crawlies are flying about all over the place. You know what that means...! Bunker up everyone, it's time for some modular synth deepdives again! I'll be jamming on my eurorack modular synth for a while, not entirely sure how long all this is gonna last this time but I am ready for it. lets have some fun with this lockdown, not like we have anything better to do ;)
Enjoy the eurorack jam sessions!

#eurorack #techno #modular #Schranz

Roo's Request |150 BPM Techno | Schranz | Colin Benders Eurorack Jam Sessions

Join The Community! https://www.discord.com/modularmayhem

After a month of truly bizarre events I finally found myself in one room with my modular again. Really needed to clear my mind so I went straight into track building mode.  1 hour in, this was the first result of the day.

Colin Benders - Steam Vent - #Eurorack Modular Jam Sessions

I had roughly 10 minutes left before I had to head back home, so I decided to make the most of it. I think we need a new time unit after this one.

Soooo the world is being awkward again and the creepy crawlies are flying about all over the place. You know what that means...! Bunker up everyone, it's time for some modular synth deepdives again! I'll be jamming on my eurorack modular synth for a while, not entirely sure how long all this is gonna last this time but I am ready for it. lets have some fun with this lockdown, not like we have anything better to do ;)
Enjoy the eurorack jam sessions!

#eurorack #techno #modular

The Last Timebender (roughly 10 minutes of joy) | Colin Benders Eurorack Jam Sessions

This track was made live on stream. sidechain is a bit heavy and needs fixing but the tune feels solid. -- Watch live at https://www.twitch.tv/colinbenders

Colin Benders - Jackhammer - Eurorack Jamsession

This jam happened right after a moment in a #jam which kinda bored me. I decided to flip the tempo and spice things up a bit, resulting in a complete overkill of bloopy noises. Very gumball #techno, listening back it kinda reminds me of a sugar rush so thats what we will go with for the title. Oh and Modular Lockdown season 2 has begun! tune in just about every night for more modular jams!

Colin benders #modular lockdown

Sugar Rush!! | Colin Benders | Techno jam | Best Of Modular Lockdown S1

This track was recorded while I was recording for a week at the Wisseloord studios with my modular synth. This track was kind of an in between jam and ended up being a House track. well, I think it is. I never really listened to house music, I've always been more of a techno guy. that said, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy making a house track for a change! The word Footloose popped into my mind while thinking of a name. will go with it.
gonna record more tracks like this one in the future.

Footloose | Colin Benders | House | Modular Jam

Following up last year's invites event; I'll be hosting a new event during Amsterdam Dance Event: Hiss & Hertz at Levenslang, Amsterdam

Super excited to announce that I'll be accompanied by some legends on this evening:
Megan Leber
Pariah
Salome b2b Cem

Tickets: https://eventix.shop/4fjkavv9

artwork by Chris Kore

#techno #ade

Hiss & Hertz // 17-10 // ADE - Levenslang

I got invited to the UpToDate Festival in Białystok for a few hrs of modular techno. we brought along a VHS camera and made a little wordless travel report of event. 

enjoy!

Colin Benders // VHS Diary - Up To Date Festival Białystok, Poland

Had to fix my sequencer during my show at New Era in Oslo🫠 #modularsynth #techno #eurorack  #hotfix

Sandpaper is out now! Made this track 3 years ago during a livestream. Its gritty as hell, embrace the distortion 🦖 

Enjoy 💣

Visual by Daan Rietbergen

'Sandpaper' is out now! Enjoy 💣

‘Sandpaper’ is finally here! Made this track 2 years ago at Wisseloord Studio's during a livestream. Enjoy!

Motion artwork by Daan Rietbergen
Music by Colin Benders
_________________________________
Sole but far-from-lonely emperor of a monster 243-module rack, genre-unbound sound explorer, modular mad scientist to the bone, call him whatever you like it’s a fact: Dutch wave-tumbler Colin Benders defies the conventions of so easily tag-slapped electronics as much as his music confronts gravity itself. Untamed and unshackled from today’s main line of tepid production behaviourism, striving in an artistic lane truly his own, Benders has completely veered off the grand street's accepted modus operandi to operate his gear and imagination in utterly innovative fashion.

Having garnered a more than solid experience of the first-hand musician-to-listener experience, Benders keeps on cutting new trails for live electronics, away from drowsy standards and mimetic attitudes. Instead, the Dutch performer pledges to rethink our whole consumption and digestive process of music through lengthy, free-jazz-like momentums to lose your mind and body to. The knowledge and time spent perfecting his craft both apart and before his online audience shines through these patched-up symphonies of boisterous sine-waves, all-engulfing lo-end swells and hair-raising crescendos that have already conquered the likes of Dekmantel, Awakenings, ADE and Berghain.
#modularsynth #colinbenders

Colin Benders - Sandpaper

Had a blast at my last show in Groningen, with some of the most earth shattering distortion kicks I've played with in a long time. but it got me thinking, I feel like theres more to gain from my drum sound in particular. so today I want to try some things with my drum sounds and grooves.... lets see what we find, shall we?

07-10 Elysia Basel
19-10 Colin Benders Invites - Melkweg Amsterdam

Go ahead and have some fun with the 'Prignalia' stems: https://linktr.ee/colinbenders
You can upload version over there if you want to!
_________________________________
Sole but far-from-lonely emperor of a monster 243-module rack, genre-unbound sound explorer, modular mad scientist to the bone, call him whatever you like it’s a fact: Dutch wave-tumbler Colin Benders defies the conventions of so easily tag-slapped electronics as much as his music confronts gravity itself. Untamed and unshackled from today’s main line of tepid production behaviourism, striving in an artistic lane truly his own, Benders has completely veered off the grand street's accepted modus operandi to operate his gear and imagination in utterly innovative fashion.

Having garnered a more than solid experience of the first-hand musician-to-listener experience, Benders keeps on cutting new trails for live electronics, away from drowsy standards and mimetic attitudes. Instead, the Dutch performer pledges to rethink our whole consumption and digestive process of music through lengthy, free-jazz-like momentums to lose your mind and body to. The knowledge and time spent perfecting his craft both apart and before his online audience shines through these patched-up symphonies of boisterous sine-waves, all-engulfing lo-end swells and hair-raising crescendos that have already conquered the likes of Dekmantel, Awakenings, ADE and Berghain.
#modularsynth #colinbenders

Hammer time! tweaking grooves | Modular Mayhem with Colin Benders

I have some shows coming up and I want to take some time finetuning my approach. so today I'll be digging into my patch, exploring some new tricks and jam out as much as I can to make sure I'm ready for it all!

30-09 Paradigm X Soenda Groningen
07-10 Elysia Basel
19-10 Colin Benders Invites - Melkweg Amsterdam

Go ahead and have some fun with the 'Prignalia' stems: https://linktr.ee/colinbenders
You can upload version over there if you want to!
_________________________________
Sole but far-from-lonely emperor of a monster 243-module rack, genre-unbound sound explorer, modular mad scientist to the bone, call him whatever you like it’s a fact: Dutch wave-tumbler Colin Benders defies the conventions of so easily tag-slapped electronics as much as his music confronts gravity itself. Untamed and unshackled from today’s main line of tepid production behaviourism, striving in an artistic lane truly his own, Benders has completely veered off the grand street's accepted modus operandi to operate his gear and imagination in utterly innovative fashion.

Having garnered a more than solid experience of the first-hand musician-to-listener experience, Benders keeps on cutting new trails for live electronics, away from drowsy standards and mimetic attitudes. Instead, the Dutch performer pledges to rethink our whole consumption and digestive process of music through lengthy, free-jazz-like momentums to lose your mind and body to. The knowledge and time spent perfecting his craft both apart and before his online audience shines through these patched-up symphonies of boisterous sine-waves, all-engulfing lo-end swells and hair-raising crescendos that have already conquered the likes of Dekmantel, Awakenings, ADE and Berghain.
#modularsynth #colinbenders

Techno Practice - Preparing for my Upcoming Live Shows | Modular Mayhem with Colin Benders

Last weekend I was asked to do a full ambient show with no drums, so I got creative with some patch ideas and stumbled upon a feature I had never used before... let's see how deep we can go with this! expect lots of polyphony and wild sequences, things can get crazy today...!

Go ahead and have some fun with the 'Prignalia' stems: https://linktr.ee/colinbenders
You can upload version over there if you want to!
_________________________________
Sole but far-from-lonely emperor of a monster 243-module rack, genre-unbound sound explorer, modular mad scientist to the bone, call him whatever you like it’s a fact: Dutch wave-tumbler Colin Benders defies the conventions of so easily tag-slapped electronics as much as his music confronts gravity itself. Untamed and unshackled from today’s main line of tepid production behaviourism, striving in an artistic lane truly his own, Benders has completely veered off the grand street's accepted modus operandi to operate his gear and imagination in utterly innovative fashion.

Having garnered a more than solid experience of the first-hand musician-to-listener experience, Benders keeps on cutting new trails for live electronics, away from drowsy standards and mimetic attitudes. Instead, the Dutch performer pledges to rethink our whole consumption and digestive process of music through lengthy, free-jazz-like momentums to lose your mind and body to. The knowledge and time spent perfecting his craft both apart and before his online audience shines through these patched-up symphonies of boisterous sine-waves, all-engulfing lo-end swells and hair-raising crescendos that have already conquered the likes of Dekmantel, Awakenings, ADE and Berghain.
#modularsynth #colinbenders

ER101 & 102 Microtonal Experiment | Modular Mayhem with Colin Benders

ER101 STILL surprises me after 10 years! | Modular Mayhem with Colin Benders

Managed to free up my evening so lets hunt some beats :)

Go ahead and have some fun with the 'Prignalia' stems: https://linktr.ee/colinbenders
You can upload version over there if you want to!
_________________________________
Sole but far-from-lonely emperor of a monster 243-module rack, genre-unbound sound explorer, modular mad scientist to the bone, call him whatever you like it’s a fact: Dutch wave-tumbler Colin Benders defies the conventions of so easily tag-slapped electronics as much as his music confronts gravity itself. Untamed and unshackled from today’s main line of tepid production behaviourism, striving in an artistic lane truly his own, Benders has completely veered off the grand street's accepted modus operandi to operate his gear and imagination in utterly innovative fashion.

Having garnered a more than solid experience of the first-hand musician-to-listener experience, Benders keeps on cutting new trails for live electronics, away from drowsy standards and mimetic attitudes. Instead, the Dutch performer pledges to rethink our whole consumption and digestive process of music through lengthy, free-jazz-like momentums to lose your mind and body to. The knowledge and time spent perfecting his craft both apart and before his online audience shines through these patched-up symphonies of boisterous sine-waves, all-engulfing lo-end swells and hair-raising crescendos that have already conquered the likes of Dekmantel, Awakenings, ADE and Berghain.
#modularsynth #colinbenders

Colin Benders

Rigmarole

Tenene

Vanitas (Remix)

Sandpaper

Prignalia

Stone Techno Series - Tetragonal EP

I Can’t Feel My Legs

Jan Douwe Kroeske presents: 2 Meter Sessions #1747 - Colin Benders

Far Away

Federation of Rytm III

Clutter, Vol. 1

Six Bardos

Conatus