Sonia Killmann is a Glasgow-based international composer and multi-media artist. As a saxophone player, electronic musician, and audiovisual artist, she has performed across the UK and Europe and was nominated for best electronic 2022 in the Scottish Alternative Music Awards. In addition, Sonia is also currently working closely with Cryptic
Glasgow as a Cryptic Artist. Her works are largely inspired
by composers such as Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith and
Alvin Lucier, and explore the relationship between sound
and environment through audiovisual soundscapes. Sonia frequently collaborates with dancers and visual artists,
such as Constant Vigier, with whom she worked on One Dance UK and BBC Dance Passion 2022 with, and created the Fringe Show "Bamboozled" (August 2022). She also created the electronic soundtrack to Jamiel Laurence's
most recent ballet "Read Only Memory", which premiered
in Newport in 2022.
In Sonia's ambient duo Failed System Test, she uses coded visuals and Ableton Live to create an immersive experience through melodic saxophone playing and live digital processing of multiple mediums. Failed System Test have played in various venues across Glasgow, including
Tramway where they were part of the SONICA Next-Gen audiovisual artists schemes, supported by PRS and PPL
in association with Youth Music. The duo also supported Canadian Saxophone player Jason Sharp this year at the Glad Cafe. Sonia also programs concerts and volunteers with the festival organisation Sound Thought who help promote the work of local and emerging artists. Sonia also teaches electronic music techniques and live visual coding with the aim to make electronic and audiovisual music more accessible.
Photo by Andy Catlin