BIOGRAPHY
Hardly any other name in pop music is as synonymous with electronic sound as that of Karl Bartos. Originally a classically trained percussionist and keyboarder, he later became a composing member of the legendary German group KW.
He took part in creating some of modern music’s most influential classics like: “Radio-Activity”, “Trans Europe Express”, “The Man Machine”, “Computer World”, “Tour de France”, “Electric Cafe” and “The Mix”; thus, altering our perception of sound.
By using film and video, even before the arrival of MTV and it’s subsequent transformation of the music business, KW had a great influence on forming the language of contemporary art, especially media art.
Bartos´ contribution to the music of KW is substantiel, and he has played a significant role in the group´s success. His consitent exploration of electronic sound has, without doubt, had a major impact on the way modern music has evolved, and has distinguished him as a cultural maverick.
After having left KW, Bartos’ activities as an author and producer lead to globally successful co-operations with Electronic (Bernard Sumner / Johnny Marr), OMD (Andy McCluskey), Information Society (USA), The Mobile Homes (Sweden), and Anthony Rother (Germany), as well as making records for his own project entitled: Electric Music.
International concerts and tours ensued: Europe, Scandinavia, UK, Russia, USA, South America, and Japan.
“Communication”, the first album under his own name, was launched in 2003 at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London (ICA), and has been successful in twenty different regions, spanning the entire world.
Bartos has accepted many invitations and has lectured on topics as diverse as “The Interpositions of Media”, “Sound Design”, “Musica ex Machina” and “On Creativity”, in cities such as Rome, Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt, St. Petersburg and Moscow.
In 2004 he co-founded the master program “Sound Studies – Acoustic Communication” at the Berlin University of the Arts where he was a visiting professor teaching Auditory Media Design until 2009.
“Camera Obscura”, the first single on Karl Bartos’ label AudioVision, was released in 2005.
In 2006, he completed the soundtrack to the film “Moebius Redux - A Life in Pictures” – starring the renowned French comic illustrator Jean “Moebius” Giraud. The film was released on January 30th, 2007 in Berlin.
Together with other illustrious names, including Lalo Schifrin, Michael Stipe, Bjork, Malcolm McLaren, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Johnny Marr, Courtney Love, Yoko Ono, Kanye West, and Grace Jones, Mr. Bartos was recently invited to collaborate on an issue of the prestigious art & fashion publication Visionaire, which is dedicated to “sound”.