• Arrow Down

EXIST AS A STORY?READ:

Serge Bulat is a Moldovan-American multidisciplinary artist and composer who approaches performance arts and media through an experimental lens.His work merges art, philosophy, science, and psychology, exploring themes of creativity, reality, technology, culture, environment, and identity.Notable works include Queuelbum (IMA Award for Best Electronic Album), the audiovisual installation Inkblot (presented in over 10 countries), and the experimental art game Wurroom. His projects have been featured at international symposiums and exhibitions, including Technarte: Art & Technology Conference (Spain), FILE (Brazil), Seeing Sound and Convergence (UK), Video Art Forum (Saudi Arabia), Simultan Festival (Romania), Bethany Arts, and Burning Man (USA).Described as “the new sound in the realm of electronic music” (Facts & Arts, France) and “an ambitious project that triggers intellectual thought” (The Deli Magazine, USA), Bulat’s artistry fuses emotional depth with cutting-edge experimentation. His works have been called “expressive extensions of his own psyche, bridges to the listeners’ emotional landscapes” (I Thought I Heard A Sound).Born and raised in Moldova during the country’s most transformative period, Bulat lived through its transition from a Soviet republic to an independent nation, enduring the social and economic upheaval that followed. Growing up in Soroca, a town bordering Ukraine, he attended E. Coca Music School before moving to Chișinău to pursue radio work and study further.In Chișinău, Bulat knocked on every studio door until securing an internship at a newly opened Romanian radio station. Within a year, he was hired by Radio 21, developing content for both Radio 21 and its sister station, Europa Plus. He quickly rose to creative director, producing shows and events that introduced global trends and amplified underrepresented local voices.Alongside his radio career, Bulat studied at the Academy of Music Theater and Fine Arts, honing his skills in performance arts. Though there was no sound design department at the time, Bulat became a go-to figure for his peers, contributing to the National Philharmonic of Moldova and the Opera and Ballet Theater.While advancing professionally, Bulat felt creatively stifled by Moldova’s constraints and relocated to the United States in 2009 in search of broader opportunities.In New York, he immersed himself in the city’s art scene while working various jobs in modeling and acting. He pursued education and radio work, but his immigration status posed limitations.Against the backdrop of New York's challenging life, Bulat's desire for music-making soared, yet he lacked the tools.This turning point catalyzed the creation of his debut album Queuelbum, an interdisciplinary concept project blending sound, video art, photography, and writing, crafted entirely on a single synthesizer gifted by a close friend. The album marked his first collaboration with visual artist Michael Rfdshir and launched his journey into genre-defying experimentation.Intentionally unbound by convention, the album blended classical, experimental, psychedelic, and ambient elements, emphasizing world-building over form. Queuelbum later evolved into Third World Walker, an audiovisual triptych presented at independent festivals across Europe. Following its release, Bulat expanded his musical universe through international collaborations that integrated original instruments and interactive presentations.His Wurmenai project followed - a two-part, multi-format endeavor featuring artists such as OYME and Miriam García, combining global sound traditions, activism, and experimental techniques. Its singles honored both the UN’s International Year of Indigenous Languages and the centennial of Leda Valladares.Framed as an “album in video game format,” Wurmenai introduced Wurroom, a surreal game platform developed with Rfdshir, allowing players to interact with the album’s soundscape. The Border Song from the project earned an AEAF nomination for Best Music Video.Part II, Similarities Between Fish and A Chair (2021), brought in collaborators including Katie Buckley, Nino Errera, and Hirokazu Ishida. The project expanded its global reach with contributions from artists across ten countries. During this time, Bulat and Rfdshir also developed their follow-up experimental game, Isolomus.In 2019, Bulat launched Inkblot, an immersive work at the intersection of creativity and mental health. Presented at festivals around the world, the project was later published in the Brazilian scientific journal Vortex. It evolved into a long-term series, regularly updated with new data and tools for psychological and artistic practices. The second audiovisual piece, Normality, premiered across multiple countries.Over the following years, Bulat traveled extensively, reaching four continents, and became an artist-in-residence in Türkiye and Andorra. There, he focused on “sound hunting”: the field recording and preservation of vanishing sonic material.Beyond his solo output, Bulat frequently contributes to collaborative and independent projects aligned with his exploratory ethos. His field recordings have been featured in Cities and Memory’s Migration Sounds and Sonic Heritage initiatives, using sound to preserve cultural identity and share human stories across borders. He has participated in ToneShift’s Sound of Solidarity mix series, released vinyl tracks on Vinyl Moon's Gaze of Cydonia and Facade Arcade compilations, and contributed sound art to the Spanish experimental label Mute.Additionally, he reimagined sonic material from Luxor and Dettifoss for two compilations: Sounds from Egypt, based on recordings from the ancient city; and Music for Sleep, a meditative work shaped by the Icelandic waterfall. In 2023, Bulat joined Sean Ellis Hussey’s project Emergent Character of Identity, resulting in a collaborative concert in Chicago and the album Identitudes.Bulat’s next studio album, Omorphita Cornershop, is a bold exploration of dance music shaped by his migrant experiences. The album fuses electronic beats with field recordings from Cyprus and the world’s last divided capital - capturing the textures of border crossings and local environments. It offers a transformative listening experience that reflects on identity, culture, and belonging.The Cornershop project has since expanded into a multi-format initiative - featuring DJ sets, radio specials, and curated mixes. It explores global electronica, traditional fusion, and immersive field recordings, celebrating the world’s diverse soundscapes through live performances and collective engagement.Bulat’s most recent initiative, Phonomundi, brings his artistic vision into the realm of sonic anthropology. Spanning 12 countries, the project documents a wide spectrum of vanishing soundscapes - from UNESCO-listed landmarks to overlooked cultural rituals and fragile ecosystems.Recorded between 2017 and 2024, the album functions both as an auditory archive and a meditation on sound as cultural memory, preserving what is often ignored or at risk of vanishing.From the ritual music of Native America and Pyrenean folklore and the endangered bell-ringing traditions of Andorra and Malta to the expansive soundscapes of the Sahara and Cyprus, the album invites deep listening, drawing attention to what may soon be lost, while raising questions about preservation and responsibility.Whether tracing bus rides to the Romani Hill in Moldova or the lively crafts and food markets of Türkiye and Poland, the album amplifies Bulat’s commitment to safeguarding and reintroducing the world’s living sound history.

EXIST AS A MOVING IMAGE?WATCH:

EXIST AS A TRAVELLER?Watch behind the scenes clips from recent travels:

• YouTube

HYBRID/PORTFOLIO

BIO:Serge Bulat is a Moldovan-American multidisciplinary artist working at the intersection of sound, performance, and perception. Bridging continents and cultures, his work spans electronic music, psychological installations, video games, radio, theater, and visual storytelling - each piece is a device for disrupting perception and reimagining the boundaries of experience. Not just art, but controlled detours through sensory, psychological, and cultural terrain.Known for boundary-blurring projects like the IMA-winning Queuelbum, the immersive psychological installation Inkblot, and surreal game scores Wurroom and Isolomus, Bulat treats each medium as a space for experimentation and meaning-making. His albums Wurmenai, Similarities Between Fish And A Chair, and Omorphita Cornershop explore everything from ethnography and identity to displacement, dance, and environmental soundscapes.Whether DJing global rhythms, staging electro-acoustic performances, or documenting endangered sonic practices across 12 countries for his archival project Phonomundi, Bulat crafts experiences that defy genre and invite deep listening. Rooted in philosophy, science, and cross-cultural dialogue, his work celebrates creative freedom while challenging the way we hear - and see - the world.

PRESS:"The new sound in the realm of electronic music" (Facts & Arts)"An existentialist work" (Ibero 90.9)"Invites listeners into an imagined space of music and experiences that flow across cultural boundaries...As enjoyable as it is thought-provoking and groundbreaking" (Plastic Magazine)"An ambitious project that can trigger intellectual thought" (The Deli Magazine)"A true artist’s statement. A masterpiece of electronic dance music. Thoughtful. Innovative. Deeply human" (Groove Cartel)"Pulls the listener into a deeply uncanny and darkly beautiful valley" (Vinyl Moon)"Bulat is careful to present a balance, even if reality is koyaanisqatsi" (A Closer Listen)"An immersive and transformative auditory experience" (Parkett)"The weird and wonderful world of Moldovan producer Serge Bulat" (The New LoFi)"An expressive extension of his own psyche, and a bridge to your grey-matter palace" (I Thought I Heard A Sound)"A unique and imaginative project from start to finish" (Staccatofy)

FESTIVALS/CONFERENCES:FILE (Electronic Language International Festival 2023), BrazilBurning Man (UNPOP), USAVideo Art Forum, Saudi ArabiaINT-ACT 2022: New Act, Vocality and Transmutation Festival, ThailandTechnarte (Art & Technology International Conference), SpainBethany Arts: IMPACT 2022 (Art that Bears Witness) USAConvergence (International Conference of Music, Technology & Ideas), UKNew Music Gathering, USAInternational Forum of Performance Art, GreeceSimultan Festival: The Changing and The Indeterminate, RomaniaSeeing Sound, UKJambo Festival, AndorraNew York City Electroacoustic Music Festival (NYCEMF), USASoundbox 5 Interstitial Spaces: Collaborations & Creative Catalysts, USANew Mimesis: simulation, models, metaphors, and data in music, Belgium/UKConstellation Chicago (Frequency Series), USA

MEDIA COVERAGE/AIRPLAY:SERGE BULAT APPEARED IN THE FOLLOWING AMERICAN AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIABBC, COLORS, Ibero 90.9, The Moderns, KEXP, Cities And Memory, Delete TV, The Deli Magazine, Threads Radio, The Groove Cartel, Rhythm Passport, The Burning Ear, Parkett, The Hibernation Project, Novorama, RTM.fm, Visual Atelier 8, Eventide, Bandcamp, Radioaktiv, A Closer Listen, Radiophrenia, Toneshift's Sound + Solidarity, c89.5 Café Chill, Joe Sumner's Show on Amazing Radio, Plastic Magazine, RTVE Radio 3, Electric Sense, Facts & Arts, Acoustic Frontiers, Son Of Marketing, Culture Remixed, Radio Reverb, and CAMP Radio.

CURRENT PROJECTS & RELEASES:

PHONOMUNDI'Phonomundi' is a sonic expedition into the heart of cultural memory, capturing the voices of landscapes, traditions, and everyday life across 12 countries. Conceived as an auditory archive, the project documents the ritual music of Native America, the folklore of the Pyrenees, endangered bell-ringing practices in Andorra and Malta, the vast soundscapes of the Sahara, and the intricate rhythms of crafts and food markets in Türkiye and Poland.These recordings serve both as a preservation effort and a meditation on sound as an evolving, living heritage, reflecting the fragile balance between tradition and transformation.The project’s mission is to document, preserve, and reintroduce the world’s heritage by capturing living soundscapes from diverse cultures, environments, and traditions. By focusing on locations and customs that are increasingly threatened by over-tourism, environmental degradation, and cultural shifts, 'Phonomundi' highlights the fragility of heritage while celebrating the resilience of traditions that continue to shape collective memory.Through deeply engaging recordings, it draws the listener into environments at risk of vanishing and serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding this shared legacy for future generations. 'Phonomundi' embodies the motto: "Listening is remembering. Sound is heritage."

• Music

CORNERSHOP SERIES
Cornershop Series is an evolving project by Serge Bulat, dedicated to discovering the unique sounds of locations worldwide. Inspired by his Cornershop concept, it explores the intersection of sound, culture, and environment through field recordings, collaboration with local artists, and community involvement. Each destination/residency transforms into a 'Cultural Cornershop', yielding an archive of audio that captures the region’s identity and character.The project has delivered a multifaceted collection of work, including an album inspired by the sounds of Cyprus, curated DJ mixes, and radio shows that feature the music and soundscapes encountered throughout these expeditions. By blending elements of ethnomusicology and anthropological research, the series reveal how sound shapes identity and connects people to their environment. Through public workshops and events, the project invites listeners to experience the unique resonances of each place, creating a bridge across cultures and generations while preserving these sonic environments for future audiences.

• Play

• Music

• Play

INKBLOT'Inkblot' is a multi-format presentation and workshop, designed as the psychological Inkblot test, but expanded by the addition of another sense: hearing. The project consists of core introduction and audiovisual work, fresh sound pieces added on frequent basis and an engaging video game.'Inkblot' explores the connection between creativity and mental health, in hopes of developing new tools for psychological and artistic practices.
Currently presented at selected venues in various formats, including AV installations, talks, and listening events.

• Information

• PDF Document

• ORCID

SOUNDHUNTINGThe project aims to preserve unique and vanishing sounds from around the world, reflecting the diversity of cultures and natural environments. Each installation draws from field recordings across four continents, including Andorra, Egypt, Turkey, Iceland, and the USA, highlighting the rich ethnomusicological and environmental characteristics of these regions. From these sonic expeditions, Bulat creates immersive sound installations, albums, and episodes that engage listeners on multiple levels.Bulat also contributes to initiatives like Cities and Memory, particularly Sonic Heritage and the Migration Sounds project in collaboration with the Centre on Migration, Policy, and Society (COMPAS) at the University of Oxford. This groundbreaking project is the first global collection of human migration sounds, using audio to reframe discussions on this vital topic. Bulat’s contributions include original music, field recordings, the first-ever recordings from Moldova, and impactful protest audio from Nicosia.In 2024, Bulat participated in the 'Red Deer Season' residency in the French Pyrenees, led by Chris Watson. This immersive experience focused on advanced environmental sound recording techniques, enabling Bulat to capture the sounds of red deer, bats, and underwater environments using hydrophones. These recordings enrich his installations and compositions, offering listeners a deeper connection to the natural world.

• Music

• Play

WURMENAI/WURROOM
'Wurmenai' and 'Similarities Between Fish And A Chair' are two volumes of a genre-bending concept project that explores a fusion of music genres, cultures, and collaborations. This hybrid creation intertwines cultural convergence, indigenous art and sound preservation, and an identity quest.Featuring a diverse group of artists, including Miriam Garcia, Rumbo Tumba, Nino Errera, Pavel Vit, OYME, Michael Rfdshir, Katie Buckley, Dai Seikiguchi, and Hirokazu Ishida, the project redefines the boundaries of traditional music experiences.Significantly, 'Wurroom' is an album in game format, created to experience music in a new and interactive way. This experimental video game serves as an innovative extension of the album, offering listeners an immersive, hands-on engagement with the music.Across both volumes, the project acts as a vibrant cross-cultural dialogue, deepening the exploration of identity, collaboration, and the preservation of indigenous sounds and art forms. This project exemplifies the power of music as a universal language, bridging cultural divides and creating a shared artistic experience.

• Music

• Music

RFDSHIR GAMES
'Visceratum' is the latest project by the collaborative duo Michael Rfdshir and Serge Bulat. This art game, currently in the late stages of development, features an original soundtrack and continues their tradition of merging interactivity with art.Building on their previous collaborations, including 'Wurroom' and 'Isolomus', 'Visceratum' pushes the boundaries of music and gaming. This new project delves into psychological themes, blending creativity and imagination to craft a compelling quest. It aims to create an immersive experience that explores the intersection of art and the psyche, offering a unique journey that engages players on both an emotional and intellectual level.

• Steam

• Nintendo Switch

• Play

IDENTITUDES'Identitudes' was composed for the 'Emerging Character of Identity (ECI)' project by Sean Ellis Hussey and premiered in Chicago on May 7th, 2023.'ECI' is a collaborative venture featuring performers and contributors such as Lise Kroner, Emily Boone, George Teague, and playwright/dramaturg Jamie Olah, alongside Serge Bulat and Sean Ellis Hussey.
The concert series delves into the exploration of identity and the concept of 'becoming' through sound and performance experimentation, offering a deeply cathartic experience.‘Identitudes’ was also released as a standalone album, featuring Bulat’s compositions for the project along with additional material.

• Music

• Play

Copyright © 2025 Serge Bulat - All Rights Reserved.