Alex Smoke is a musician and composer; operating in various fields of sound including electronic production, sound installation and instrumental composition.

His main interest is in combining traditional forms of composition and musicianship with the more experimental approaches allowed by modern technology.  Initially trained in classical cello, drums and singing, then progressing to electronic production under a range of monikers.

He has increasingly focussed on sound for picture, psycho-acoustics and collaborations with visual artists and orchestral musicians. Recent work has included scoring BBC science programmes, Order & Disorder and Mechanical Marvels: Clockwork Dreams, composing a score for Scottish Ballet’s Sibilo and providing music for various other film projects. He also regularly collaborates with visual artist Florence To on installation performances under the name of CØV and Nagoya-based Vokoi on the audiovisual performance project Wraetic.

Cryptic’s artist residency programme provides professional development time and support for musicians and digital artists to focus exclusively upon their own practice, whilst engaging with other artists and receiving peer-to-peer learning. The emphasis of Cryptic’s residency programme is on research and the development of existing or new work and is not geared towards a final presentation.

This talent development opportunity is essential for both the artists and for Cryptic in nurturing the next generation of creative talent. Ultimately, the combination of international and UK artists at various stages in their career is what makes the learning experience so inspiring and for many artists it’s the ‘must go’ date in their calendar. Since 2012, Cryptic has curated this annual artist residency programme at Cove Park focusing on music, sound and multi-media, with over 78 artists benefitting.