sonic bio

Emilio Portal, an award-winning experimental musician, percussionist, producer, and sound engineer of Peruvian, French, and Irish descent, was born in New Westminster, British Columbia, in 1982, eventually settling in Sudbury, Ontario, where his mother was born. His musical journey began at the age of 13 when he started playing drums, and he has been on a experimental sonic path since 2000.

Born to a Peruvian father and a franco-ontarian mother, Emilio's rich early exposure to Peruvian, Caribbean, franco, folk, r&b, funk, psychedelic, as well as his father and grandfather’s singing all left an indelible mark on his musical sensibilities. Rooted in Indigenous Andean and West African cultures, the intoxicating rhythms of instruments like the cajon and castanets became foundational. Emilio's music reflects a syncretic approach, blending analog and digital, rhythmic and chaotic, composed and improvised, mirroring his mixed identity and a willingness to embrace vulnerability.

As a lifelong student of colonization history and philosophy, Emilio's work delves into pensive, ambient, and gritty soundscapes. His musical practice weaves together influences from the 70s funk, jazz, fusion, and 90s hip-hop. Emilio often creates custom instruments from everyday sounds, inspired by electroacoustic methods, and explores indeterminacy, chance operations, and improvisation.

Beyond his solo work, Emilio contributes to the music community by producing, mixing, and mastering soundtracks, albums, and singles for various artists and filmmakers. Notably, in 2021, he co-produced the sound art album "you feel me" with artist Jessica Karuhanga. His collaborative efforts with Max Moon resulted in the release of their EP "Spiritual Dispatchers" in June 2023, offering a dark fusion of underground hip-hop, esoteric sampling, and synthesis. Currently, Emilio is collaborating with Dog Dad Posse, Polly Kultur, and Lindsay Delaronde on new projects.

A highlight in his portfolio is the OAC-supported release "eau b​é​nite", a monumental production featuring 27 performances with a runtime exceeding 6 hours, released on his Bandcamp page in June 2023.

services

I specialize in delivering bespoke, professional services encompassing composition, music production, beat creation, loop design, mixing, mastering, and distribution. My strength lies in fostering close collaborations with artists and musicians, creating an environment that nurtures creativity, exploration, and the true essence of their projects. Through personalized mentorship, I guide individuals towards achieving their artistic vision while ensuring the highest quality in every aspect of the musical journey.

sonic skills & interests

sound design & composition

production for music, film & art

mixing & mastering

studio & field recordings

percussion & drum set performance

indeterminacy, chance, randomness, improvisation, free-form

rhythm

microtonal

tape loops

ecology