Ki:Theory

Ki:Theory is the alias of Virginia-bred artist and producer Joel Burleson. Burleson began his electronic experiment in the early 00’s by remixing his own recordings as well as the work of his friends’ bands. His reputation for energetic electronic remixes with an indie/alternative edge led to commissioned remixes for artists like Queens of the Stone Age, Cypress Hill, Rusko, Rob Zombie, Sasha, UNKLE, Ladytron, Kings of Leon and Brazilian Girl. His remix of Daft Punk for the Tron: R3C0NF1GUR3D soundtrack landed him a spot remixing Hans Zimmer/Rodrigo y Gabriela on the Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides soundtrack in 2011. A classically trained singer, Burleson approaches electronic music as a songwriter first, working out riffs and chord progressions on acoustic guitar and piano before taking them into his studio for digital renderings. The result is a transcendent mix of low-res electronics and arena-ready hooks that sounds deceptively effortless. Recreating these multi-limbed songs in a live setting is what sets Ki:Theory apart from most electronic artists. Not content to just stand behind a computer and hit “play,” Burleson puts on a show. He moves from sampler to keyboard to guitar to just grabbing the mic and stepping out front to engage the audience like a possessed shaman. Along with an impressive orchestration of lights, visuals and a live drummer, Ki:Theory combines the raw energy of a rock concert with the multi-sensory experience of an electronic set. Burleson’s upcoming release KITTY HAWK, comes out at a time when knob-twiddling is just as relevant as guitar riffs. On this record he brings rock to the forefront, further entangling indie and electronic modes. From the massive, lurching hooks of the title track to the swaggering chorus of “HowVeryDare,” listeners are treated to a fusion of magnetic electronic music and beating-heart indie rock. There are quieter moments, too. For the hypnotic “I Wanna Run” and “Needles,” Burleson recruited his friend Maura Davis of Denali to bring a dreamy, feminine quality to the recordings. Ki:Theory fans will get a chance to hear KITTY HAWK in its entirety when the album drops on [DATE], followed by a summer tour TBA.