Skist

Skist is the experimental song unit of Samm Bennett and Haruna Ito. Their first release (Ellipsis) featured mostly programmed beats, but more recent live shows as well as their latest release have seen a shift toward more live playing of electronic percussion (notably the WaveDrum) as well as an increasing use of acoustic percussion (such as Talking Drum and Frame Drum) combined with their trademark translucent sonic textures and Haruna's airy vocals.

Bennett lays down an intricate, percolating rhythmic bed, as well as harmonic drones, to which Ito adds strangely organic digital feedback-based textures that crackle, whistle, buzz and hum. Through this rich fabric, Haruna's clear voice and nebulous poetry weaves as another thread, balancing against rhythm and texture rather than presenting itself as the music's focal point. These four elements, rhythm, texture, vocal melody and word, are the key components of Skist's sound: their goal is to continually rework and reconfigure them in ways that will be refreshing and challenging to themselves and to their listeners.