Erin Demastes is an experimental composer, performer, and instrument maker. She uses everyday, household objects and hacked electronics for her installations and performances and subverts their use and perception with play and experimentation. By placing items in theatrical settings, Erin brings out the character of things we normally may not think twice about. In addition to her interest in physical materials, Erin works with instruction and interaction design in her scores, performances, and installations by balancing structured composition and predetermined actions with improvisation and exploration.
Erin has presented her work at many venues including Coaxial Arts Foundation, Human Resources LA, Betalevel, Soundpedro at Angeles Gate Cultural Center, Center for New Music SF, Navel LA, Good Children Gallery New Orleans, Mills College, UC Santa Cruz, Rice University, and University of South Carolina and has performed at MoCA, Automata, The Women’s Center for Creative Work, Santa Monica Public Library, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and more. In addition to performing and building installations, Erin teaches composition lessons and electronics workshops and has taught at Louisiana State University, CalArts, Pasadena City College, Coaxial Arts, and the Hackaday Superconference. She often works with organizations such as Indexical and the wulf. and serves on the board of the Dog Star Orchestra.
Erin received an M.F.A. in Experimental Sound Practices and Integrated Media from California Institute of the Arts, a B.M. in jazz studies and piano performance from Loyola University New Orleans, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in experimental music and digital media at Louisiana State University. She worked as an audio technician, artist, and educator for five years in Los Angeles and as a jazz and classical pianist, composer, and arranger for ten years in the New Orleans area.
