Serge Bulat is a Moldovan-American multidisciplinary artist and composer, who experiments in performance arts and media.
His most notable works to date are 'Queuelbum' (IMA award for Best Electronic Album); the audiovisual installation 'Inkblot' (presented in more than 10 countries); and the experimental art game 'Wurroom'.
Bulat's artistic approach is often perceived as a meditation on arts, philosophy, science, psychology; and explores such diverse subjects as creativity, the nature of reality, technology, culture, environment, and identity.
His projects were included in symposiums and exhibitions such as Technarte: Art & Technology Conference (Spain); FILE (Brazil), Seeing Sound and Convergence (UK); Video Art Forum (Saudi Arabia); Simultan Festival (Romania); Bethany Arts and Soundbox 5 (USA).
Bulat's artistry is described as "the new sound in the realm of electronic music" (Facts & Arts, France), "existentialist work" (Ibero 90.9, Mexico), "an ambitious project that can trigger intellectual thought" (The Deli Magazine, USA), and "an expressive extension of his own psyche, and a bridge to your grey-matter palace" (I Thought I Heard A Sound).
Born and raised in Moldova, during the country's most challenging times, Bulat lived through its transformation from Soviet republic to independence and the crisis that followed.
In Soroca, the town bordering Ukraine, Bulat attended E. Coca music school and from an eventual lack of opportunities relocated to the capital to seek work in radio and study.
In Chisinau, he knocked on every studio's door until got an internship at the soon-to-be-launched new radio station from Romania. Within a year he was permanently hired by Radio 21.
Hosting, DJing, and producing content for both Radio 21 and its sister Europa Plus, led to promotion: Bulat became Radio 21's creative director, while also juggling the production of various shows and events in the country.
Over this period, Bulat focused on music and art from all corners of the world, introducing trends and acts unknown in Moldova, and equally supporting underrepresented local creators from various disciplines.
Simultaneously Bulat studied at the Academy of Music Theater and Fine Arts, where he honed skills in performance arts.
Due to the absence of a sound design department, Bulat became a person to go to, helping peers and contributing to the National Philharmonic of Moldova and Opera and Ballet Theater.
Although being at the peak of his productivity, Bulat felt that he hadn't explored his full potential due to various limitations and challenges met in the country.
Thus, the artist set his mind on the next frontier.
In 2009 Bulat immigrated to the United States to pursue his career and dreams further.
Starting afresh, Bulat tested New York's art scene, while making a living from sporadic modeling and acting gigs. He sought education and radio employment, however, wasn't qualified for any program due to his immigration status.
Against the backdrop of New York's challenging life, Bulat desire for music-making soared, yet he lacked tools.
In NYC, Bulat developed what would've become his debut album - a concept project to involve sound, video art, photography, and writing.
The record, in essence, was produced on just a synthesizer, given as a gift by a close friend.
'Queuelbum' marked the first collaboration with visual artist Michael Rfdshir, and launched his interdisciplinary experimentation. Intentionally unbound by a genre, the album fused elements of classical, experimental, psychedelic, and ambient aesthetics, focusing on world-building rather than form.
'Queuelbum' consequently evolved into the 'Third World Walker' audiovisual triptych, which was included in various independent festivals around Europe.
Post-release, Bulat showed interest in expanding his music universe, planning international collaborations, inclusion of original instruments, and a more interactive presentation.
'Wurmenai', the two-part multi-format project, was preceded by two works: 'Yehy Vaya' - a collaboration with Mordovian folk band OYME sung in the language of Erzya; and 'Kalah Folklore' - a song in Argentinian Spanish, featuring vocalist Miriam García, based on the traditional Andean coplas.
The first single honored the UN-proclaimed International Year Of Indigenous Languages; the second one marked 100 years since the birth of Leda Valladares.
The project's collaboration list also included Rumbo Tumba, Nino Errera, Pavel Vit and featured a fusion of genres, cultures, and creative techniques.
'Wurmenai' became another concept project for Bulat, billed as an album in the video game format. Developed in partnership with Michael Rfdshir and exclusively designed to interact with sound, 'Wurroom' has entirely consisted of songs from the record. 'The Border Song', featured in the game and released as a video single has received an AEAF nomination in the Best Music Video category.
Part II, titled 'Similarities Between Fish And A Chair' was released in the spring of 2021, and offered more experimentation.
The release featured new collaborators such as Katie Buckley, Dai Sekiguchi, and Hirokazu Ishida, along with Nino Errera, Pavel Vit, and OYME, who returned to the project. Artists from ten countries in total have participated in both albums.
The release was supported by the singles 'Sanity Mantra' and 'Digital Guillermo', the latter featured in the video game 'Isolomus' to which Bulat contributed the soundtrack.
Besides solo releases, the artist participated in a few independent projects including ToneShift's mix 'Sound of Solidarity', an LP release via Vinyl Moon compilation 'Gaze of Cydonia', and a sound art piece for the experimental Spanish label Mute.
Since 2019, his ongoing immersive project 'Inkblot' has been presented at selected festivals across the world and by the end of 2021 published in the scientific journal Vortex, Brazil.
The work explored the connection between creativity and mental health, in hopes of developing new tools for psychological and artistic practices.
'Inkblot' was expanded into a series of presentations with frequently updated findings on the subjects and was supported by the second audiovisual piece 'Normality' premiered in the USA, Andorra, and Saudi Arabia.
In the following year, Bulat extensively traveled overseas, set foot on four continents, and became an artist-in-residence in Turkey and Andorra.
There he focused on sound hunting: field recording and collection of disappearing material.
Upon return to the US, Bulat joined Sean Ellis Hussey's project 'Emergent Character of Identity' which led to the joint concert in Chicago and the release of the album 'Identitudes'.
Sonic experimentation with the cause hasn't stopped either; in 2023 Bulat contributed to the Cities And Memory project, a global initiative to capture and archive the sounds of the world.
The first work featuring field recordings from Luxor has been included in the album 'Sounds from Egypt' and the second one with the Icelandic material in the Music for Sleep project, specifically designed to induce, aid, and boost sleep.
In 2024, Bulat released 'CO-PI-I', 'Hoipolloi', and 'Vrzka' with Theodosii Spassov, the singles leading up to his forthcoming album 'Omorphita Cornershop'. The new record delves into the realms of dance music and offers an auditory escapade, reflecting Bulat’s migrant experiences. Drawing on influences from global conflicts and the cultural duality of Nicosia, the album features authentic field recordings from Cyprus, merging the sounds of border crossings with local environments. 'Omorphita Cornershop' underscores resilience, creativity, and unity themes, presenting a transformative journey through sound.