P004 → About
Venus Ex Machina is the composition and production alias of Nontokozo F. Sihwa. She has contributed sounds and music to a range of projects spanning releases on labels such as AD93, NON Worldwide and Optimo Music in addition to installations for Hyperdub’s lauded ‘Ø’ series and the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) London. In 2021, she won the PRS Foundation Oram Award for innovation in music and sound technologies. Trained as a mathematician, she brings both a boundless curiosity and exacting precision to her work, and developed a “Pirate AI Opera” for CTM Festival in Berlin, and a workshop on radio transmitter building for Moogfest.
She has performed at numerous festivals and events across Europe including Berin Atonal (Berlin), Minimal Music Festival (Amsterdam), Rewire (The Hague), CTM Festival (Berlin) and Les Nuits Botanique (Brussels). She has lectured and given workshops at various institutions including Berklee College of Music, Slade School of Fine Art, Somerset House Studios, Tate Britain, The V&A Museum and for Creative Europe's SHAPE Platform. Clients for sync projects and commissions include notable entities such as Burberry, Star Alliance and the Royal Docks. She was also featured in ‘Sonic Futures’ - a documentary by FACT Magazine and the British Council.
She is currently studying at the National Film and Television School.