Padmanabhan J (beatnyk.)

Sound Designer & Live-Coder

Delhi, IN.

About

I am a sound artist and designer who is based in Delhi. My work integrates sound art, design, and technology. My practice focuses on listening to sounds from nature and immediate environments, and performing synthesized interpretations live with generative algorithms.
I consider listening as a means of conservation. My goal is to get people to pay more attention to the sounds around them, both natural noises and electronic sounds.
My skills include audio engineering, making electronic music, and planning art programs/events. I have worked on many team projects, showed my art internationally, and received recognition for my sound design work.

Education

Detmold University of Music and the KreativInstitut.OWL

Düsseldorf, Germany

Nov 2025→ Nov 2025

Online Remote live-coding practices via virtual platforms.

Darmstadt Ferienkurse

Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany

Jul 2025→ Aug 2025

Residency Sonic Writings

Bhoomi Farms

Attapadi, Kerala, India

Mar 2023→ Mar 2023

Residency Music and Sound Art

Studio Clutter

Goa, Goa, India

Oct 2020→ Jan 2021

Apprenticeship Woodworking

Basement 21

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Mar 2020→ Mar 2020

Workshop Theatre and Movement Improvisation

Synthfarm

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Feb 2020→ Feb 2020

Workshop Synth Building and Modular Synthesis

ILM Academy

Delhi, Delhi, India

Jan 2018→ Dec 2018

Diploma Music Production and Audio Engineering

DJ Academy

Delhi, Delhi, India

Jan 2016→ Dec 2016

Diploma DJ Masterclass

GITAM University

Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Jan 2012→ Dec 2015

Bachelor of Technology Industrial Engineering

Awards

Best Sound Design

Jan 2023

NIDFF

Awarded for outstanding sound design, recognizing excellence in auditory storytelling and technical execution within the National Independent Documentary Film Festival.

Publications

Algorave India Compilation One

Antariksh Records

Sep 2025

Curated and contributed to a compilation of 10 algorithmic music tracks created by artists from the Algorave India community, paired with 10 generative zines by visual artists from the code.drift collective.

xxxi

Self-Released

Jan 2025

A noisy musical composition 'xxxi' released in January 2025, restarting and continuing the practice of exploring music production techniques.

A symphony found in the wilderness of noise

Serendipity Arts Foundation

Sep 2022

Authored and published an essay with Serendipity Arts Foundation, exploring the concept of finding symphonic qualities within natural and urban noise environments.

Melancholiair

Self-Released

Jan 2022

Released 'Melancholiair', an original musical composition reflecting on melancholic soundscapes and introspective themes.

Cotton Clouds

Self-Released

Jan 2021

Composed and released 'Cotton Clouds', an original musical piece focusing on ethereal and soft sound textures.

Rainy Summer

Self-Released

Sep 2020

Produced and released 'Rainy Summer', an original musical composition exploring atmospheric and seasonal themes.

Flipped Mixtape

Self-Released

Jan 2020

Curated and released 'Flipped Mixtape', demonstrating diverse sonic aesthetics and mixing capabilities.

Paper Flowers

Self-Released

Jan 2020

Released an original musical composition titled 'Paper Flowers', showcasing unique ambient soundscapes.

Skills

Career Roles

Disc Jockey, Audio Engineer, Electronic Musician, Sound Designer, Sound Artist.

Sound Art & Design

Sound Art, Sound Design, Sound Technology, Natural Soundscapes, Live Performance, Field Recording, Generative Music, Immersive Soundscapes, Audio Production, Soundscaping.

Creative Production & Curation

Curatorial Programming, Exhibition Design, Festival Curation, Event Production, Collaborative Art, Creative Direction, Art Installation.

Media Sound Design

Film Sound Design, Podcast Production, Theatre Sound Design, Audio Post-Production, Sound Mixing, Sound Mastering.

Teaching & Mentorship

Sound Design and Storytelling Workshops (Mad Art Collective), Virtual Sessions for Kids (Prayogillu), Generative Music Workshops (SACAC), Creative Music Exploration (Ashoka University).

Technical & Methodological

Live-coding, Modular Synthesis, Synth Building, Motion Capture (MOCAP).

Performance

Algorave India, Unusual London, GitHub Satellite India, Goa Music Lab, W.I.P Labs, Darmstadt Ferienkurse (Ger.), Subkontinent (Ger.).

Projects

Hypnagogos - A Sleep Concert Series

Mar 2025→ Present

Summary

An ongoing sleep concert series exploring the influence of music on sleep and dreams through live performances.

Agents of Malarkey

Jul 2023→ Present

Summary

Collaborative sound art project with Anish Cherian, exhibited at Out of Line at FICA, India.

Algorave India: Compilation One

Community Album

Mar 2025→ Nov 2025

Summary

Co-curated, organized, spearheaded and executed the collaborative community album of Algorave India and code.drift collective. Bringing together 10 sound and 10 visual coders for the project. The album was released under Antariksh Records on the 26th of September, 2025.

Where Trees Lament Over Our Malarkey

Sep 2025→ Sep 2025

Summary

An exhibition of archives and extended speculation under the on-going Agents of Malarkey world, curated as a part of the Travelling Plants exhibition by Goethe Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan at FICA, Delhi.

7th Orbit: Generative Generation

May 2025→ May 2025

Summary

Curated '7th Orbit: Generative Generation' for Algorave India's Seven Year Anniversary with W.I.P Labs.

W.I.P alt.FEST 2024

Dec 2024→ Dec 2024

Summary

Spearheaded festival curation and production of music, techart, and dance performances in Bangalore and Delhi.

This Is Not Improvised Portals Curation

Nov 2024→ Nov 2024

Summary

Led the curation of 'This Is Not Improvised' portals in collaboration with W.I.P Labs at Goethe Institut Delhi.

Computational Arts Portals Curation

Sep 2024→ Sep 2024

Summary

Co-curated computational arts portals in collaboration with W.I.P Labs at Goethe Institut Delhi.

I am going to the sea, clear the path

Sound Art/Design

Sep 2024→ Sep 2024

Summary

Collaborative sound art project with Ravi Agarwal, exhibited at the Lahore Biennale Foundation, focusing on environmental themes.

Live-coding Soundscapes for Theatre

Talk / Presentation

Jan 2024→ Jan 2024

Summary

Presented on live-coding soundscapes for theatre with ORCA at Audio DevCon x India 2024.

Thinking on Thinking (Podcast)

Dec 2023→ Dec 2023

Summary

Provided comprehensive sound design for the 'Thinking on Thinking' podcast.

Dawn Chorus of Delhi

Sound Art/Design

Sep 2023→ Sep 2023

Summary

Collaborative sound art project with Surbhi Mittal for Norient City Sounds, Germany, focusing on urban soundscapes.

Mau: The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw (Film)

Aug 2023→ Aug 2023

Summary

Led sound design for the film 'Mau: The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw', contributing to its immersive narrative.

Khabar Lahariya (Film/Podcast)

Aug 2023→ Aug 2023

Summary

Created compelling soundscapes and audio elements for 'Khabar Lahariya' production.

%:Podcast-The Care Of Podcast with Computational Mama

Aug 2023→ Aug 2023

Summary

Designed and mixed audio for the podcast, collaborating with Computational Mama.

LOHACA II

Jun 2023→ Jun 2023

Summary

Collaborative sound art project with Anish Cherian and Sujit Mallick for the Institute for Art in Public Space Styria, Austria.

Biroho (Film/Theatre)

Feb 2023→ Feb 2023

Summary

Provided comprehensive sound design for 'Biroho', enhancing its theatrical/film impact.

Whales for Climate

Sep 2021→ Jan 2023

Summary

Collaborative project as part of the BeFantastic Fellowship, presented at Goethe Institut, India, raising climate awareness.

Prowl (Film)

Nov 2022→ Nov 2022

Summary

Executed full sound design for the film 'Prowl', creating a distinctive auditory experience.

Water Nodes

Sound Design / Performance

Nov 2022→ Nov 2022

Summary

Collaborative project with Joaquina Salgado, Sumedha Bhattacharya & Aabshaar Wakhloo for Goldsmith's MOCAP, Global.

Internet Public Radio: Monthly Curated Show

Oct 2021→ Sep 2022

Summary

Produced and curated a monthly radio show for Internet Public Radio.

Dastaan Live: Documentation of Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein

Nov 2021→ Dec 2021

Summary

Documented 'Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein' for Dastaan Live in Delhi.

The Palanquin of Yatu Dhani (Theatre/Film)

Mar 2021→ Mar 2021

Summary

Delivered bespoke sound design for 'The Palanquin of Yatu Dhani', enhancing its artistic presentation.

Coming Out Party for the Androgynous Trees

Nov 2020→ Nov 2020

Summary

Collaborative project with Anish Cherian for FMI, India.

LOHACA

Nov 2020→ Nov 2020

Summary

Collaborative sound art project with Sujit Mallick & Anish Cherian for FMI, India.

Languages

English

Fluent

Tamil

Native

Telugu

Fluent

Hindi

Conversational

Work

Independent / Freelance

Sound Designer / Audio Engineer

India

Dec 2018→ Present

Summary

Working and collaborating with artists, filmmakers and pod-casters for sound design projects.

W.I.P Labs

Programming Co-ordinator / Designer / Production Head

New Delhi, New Delhi, India

Sep 2023→ Sep 2025

Summary

Was programming multiple monthly and weekly workshops, performances, screenings and talks at independent spaces in the city. Led the collaborative monthly curation at Goethe Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan in 2023 for W.I.P Portals. Taking care of programming, curation and production for W.I.P alt.FEST 2024 in Bangalore and Delhi across multiple venues in both the cities. Worked closely with artists, collectives and organizations of different media and disciplines.

Jethro Events

Audio Engineer & DJ

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Jun 2018→ Mar 2020

Summary

Live sound and audio production for wedding, corporate and sports events.

Tritan Leather Works

Production Line Industrial Engineer

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Aug 2015→ Aug 2016

Summary

Applying and evaluation methods engineering and production line optimization for leather bags manufacturing MNC unit.

References

Available on Request