Represented Worldwide
Celestial Trax (Joni Judén) is a composer, sound artist and producer. Currently based in Helsinki, Finland (via London and New York), the multi-instrumentalist has crafted an unparalleled voice within the experimental electronic music landscape. The artist’s sound–a mixture of minimalism, mind-bending psychedelia, drone and ambient–is traceable across his myriad of productions, as well as in his performances, where using all live instrumentation Judén creates intoxicating worlds within worlds of dense ambiance, penetrated by sonics from his musical history.
After a string of club ready extended plays between 2013-16, Judén’s first LP–the critically acclaimed Nothing Is Real [PTP2006] was an arresting evolution from his previous work; released on PTP in the fall of 2017, the album moves into a surreal realm of psychedelia, live instrumentation and electro-acoustic composition. In 2018, Judén set up his own imprint, True Aether, a record label dedicated to sound experiments from across the globe. On his second album Serpent Power [TRAE005] (2019) Judén further explores lyricism and stillness in music, as well as the meditative qualities of sound. Always setting out to obscure the form, the third Celestial Trax full-length Listen, Hear, Know, Become, Be [TRAE008] (2019) sees Judén at his most monolithic yet, delving deeper into sustained tone, and the expressive qualities of close harmonies and frequency structures.
Judén’s other active projects, the earthy drone experiments of Sisilisko and the free improvisation duo Linnuissa (with Karri Luhtala) are further evidence of an artist with an increasingly singular sound.
Celestial Trax has toured extensively in Europe and the U.S., including appearances at Berghain, MoMA PS1, Boiler Room, CTM, Mirage Festival, Ombre Lunghe, and SXSW. In 2016, he designed the soundscape for The Bug: a LACTIC Incorporated fashion performance, wrote and performed a live electronic score to Jan Švankmajer’s Alice (1988) for Loveless Records, and contributed original music to the feature film Killer Unicorn (USA 2018). In November 2019, Judén completed a week-long studio residency program at WORM–an alternative cultural center focused on experimental, new media art, avant-garde and underground art in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
RELEASES:
2019 – Serpent Power [TRUE AETHER]
2019 – Listen, Hear, Know, Become, Be [TRUE AETHER]
2018 – Ashwagandha/Saariaho [TRUE AETHER]
2017 – Nothing Is Real [PTP]
2016 – From The Womb EP [Purple Tape Pedigree]
2016 – New Flesh EP w/ Rozay Labeija [self release]
2016 – Thru Our Eyes w/ Orlando Volcano, Dai Burger, Quay Dash, Jay Boogie + Rozay Labeija [EFN]
2016 – Roaches EP w/ Rozay Labeija [Materia]
2015 – Ride Or Die [Purple Tape Pedigree]
2015 – Stargate EP [RINSE]
2015 – Tonicity EP [self release]
2015 – Vaxxilate [RINSE]
2014 – Paroxysm [RINSE040D]
2013 – INNER GODS, FALSE ICONS [self release]
2013 – HIGHER FREEDOM [self release]
2013 – SOLVE + COGUALA [self release]
PRESS:
Get Centered Essay
Self Titled: Serpent Power Track by Track
Clubbing Spain: Serpent Power Feature
groove.de: Serpent Power Review
Pitchfork: Serpent Power Review
Hype Machine: Celestial Trax – Underwater Garden
RA: Celestial Trax – Underwater Garden
FACT: Celestial Trax Returns with new album Serpent Power
Xlr8r Announces: Celestial Trax debuts Sophomore Album ‘Serpent Power’
Clubbing Spain: Segundo álbum de Celestial Trax
The Wire Announce New Music on True Aether
Inverted Audio Interview + Mix
Vinyl Me Please Reviews Nothing Is Real
CT Shares His Influences With The Ransom Note
Self Titled Premieres “Manifest of Delusion”
Boomkat Reviews Nothing Is Real
FACT Mag Shares “Crushhh” From Nothing Is Real LP
Resident Advisor Announces Nothing Is Real LP For PTP
Thump Cover Roaches EP with Rozay Labeija
FACT Mag Pens Rozay Collab “I Can Do That Too” Top Club Track of 2016
The FADER Premieres Roaches EP w/ Rozay Labeija
Hyponik First Listen “Got The Body Out” Feat. Rozay Labeija + Dai Burger
Fact Premieres “Thru Our Eyes” EP
Tiny Mixtapes Premieres “From The Womb” EP
Mixmag Premieres “Together” off the “From The Womb” EP
Hyponik Reviews “From The Womb” EP
Dummy Mag Premieres “Bleed Wiv Me”
Fact Mag Premiers New EP “From The Womb” on PTP
FACT Mag Debuts “I Can Do That” ft. Roosevelt
The FADER Premieres Celestial Trax’s video for “KDH”
RA Reviews Celestial Trax’s “Vaxillate” EP for Rinse
FADER Reviews Celestial Trax’s “Stargate”
RBMA Radio Culls Celestial Trax For A Special Mix
Interview with Creator’s Connect
Celestial Trax FACT Mix
Rinse Debuts “Paroxysm” EP
FACT Mag 10 Artists You Need To Know 2014
Mixmag Guide: Fresh Bass Mutations
FACT Playlist 10 Picks of the Week
Celestial Trax & Geng Grizzly Stay Fresh Out The Box
Passion of the Weiss July Grime Wrap Up
Celestial Trax Mix for Do The Astral Plane