SLD is a growing collective of artists, musicians, technologists, designers, organizers, and researchers. What began as a thesis has become a village effort spanning instrument design, code, sound, storytelling, education, documentation, cooperative strategy, and cultural work.
This summer, we’re introducing the people behind SLD one by one — through filmed interviews and process spotlights premiering on YouTube and Instagram.
Collaborator spotlight
Music Wizard
New York, NY
Mason makes music. Mason makes musical instruments. Mason shares his knowledge when he can. Mason has a generally pessimistic view of technology but engages with it frequently.
“Keep on rocking!”
Collaborator spotlight
The Core of Our Strategy
Bronx, New York
“Inspire others to inspire themselves”
Collaborator spotlight
Engineer, Musician & Software Developer
Brooklyn, NY
Karlala is an engineer, musician, and software developer living in Brooklyn. He built and runs Karlala Soundsystem which powers many street festivals, block parties, and raves in NYC and beyond. Karl writes music software for a living and is the lead developer for PlantWave - a popular biodata sonification device.
“My biggest advice is to start. You don’t have to do things the ‘right’ way, you don’t need to know everything already, you don’t need approval from the people around you. Just get something happening and reiterate on it — so much of the real learning and growth happens in the process.”
Collaborator spotlight
Artist, DJ & Instrument Builder
New York
Evilo (Olive Yu, they/them) is an artist, DJ, and instrument builder based in New York. Their practice moves between club sound systems, experimental electronics, and live performance. Rooted in hardcore and techno, Evilo’s sound has since moved in fluid and unexpected directions, an evolving practice rooted in learning, experimentation, and collaboration.
Alongside DJing, Evilo designs and performs with custom-built instruments, including Serenity Synth, a sculptural ensemble of synthesizers, MIDI controllers, and preamps built for improvisation and deep listening, inviting playful and embodied relationships with sound-making technology. Influenced by ecological patterns and the ephemerality of the natural world, their work creates openings for presence, co-creation, and care.
They have performed at venues including Nowadays and Bossa Nova Civic Club, appeared on TheLot Radio, and hold residencies on Beloved Radio and Moonglow Radio. Across radio, performance, and installation, Evilo explores how humans relate to machines, materials, and invisible systems—using sound as a site for experimentation, ritual, and presence.
“The music of people must always come from instruments.. but the music of the earth is the sound of the wind.. wind is breathing of the earth. when the wind begins to blow every opening there is responds with sounds Can you think of what a big wind is like? the wind blows and the openings in the huge mountain trees respond — some are like nostrils, some like mouths, some like ears, some are like circles or mortars and others like deep pools or shallow gullies”
Collaborator spotlight
Industrial Designer & 3D Artist
Brooklyn, NY
Shayn D Jackson is a 3D artist and industrial designer based in Brooklyn, NY. Born in St. Louis, MO, he experienced first hand the results of systemic racism and the necessity of context and compassion as acts of resistance against it. With a focus on craft and the African diaspora, Shayn interrogates the landscape of modern design and digital art by reaching back to the methods, rituals and materials of antiquity. His work aims to re-contextualize art and design for Black peoples, with hopes that future generations will enjoy a rich and equitable art community healed of the wounds left by erasure and imperialism.
“Love the problem not the solution. Remember that design has a deeper history and context than what is taught, so don’t be afraid to break the mold with your creativity. And lastly, industrial design has been one of the most damaging trades in human history, it’s up to us to address this by centering people, progeny, and the planet.”
This page grows as the series does. Follow along for the next spotlight, or sign up for the newsletter to get each one as it premieres.