Episode 12: Unmasking the “Noir Age” with Richard Vergez

Richard Vergez joins the Soundologia listeners to discuss his career as a sound artist, performer, and the founder of the ambient and drone sound label Noir Age. He reveals how he entered the realm of sound art as a professional graphic designer and how he draws inspiration from the Fluxus movement and dystopian motifs. As a prominent figure in South Florida’s underground and experimental music scene, Vergez delved into the creation of unique soundscapes for iconic silent films such as Nosferatu and Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. As a special surprise for our listeners, Richard is giving away one of the albums published on Noir Age called “Parallels,” which he created with his collaborator David Brieske.

About Richard Vergez

Richard Vergez is a Cuban-American artist specializing in mixed media collage and sound art. His work reflects his background in graphic design and audio/visual composition, with hand-made collages on paper and mixed media experiments. Vergez’s imagery combines human and technological elements, exploring the concept of an ever-evolving modern dystopian identity. He has exhibited in various cities, including Brooklyn, London, Chicago, Miami, Sydney, Los Angeles, Stekene, and Fort Lauderdale.

His collage illustrations have appeared in the New York Times, The Guardian, and the Atlantic. He founded the Noir Age label in 2017, releasing limited edition music on cassette and vinyl by artists worldwide, accompanied by mostly handmade artwork. Currently, he records and performs solo as Night Foundation, and recently collaborated with experimental vocalist Little Annie. Vergez also collaborates with Cuban choreographer Ana Mendez to score modern dance pieces.

Photo credit for the episode cover photo: Carlo Pirrongelli

Vergez’s book recommendations

Sense Sound Sound Sense – Fluxus Music, Scores & Records in the Luigi Bonotto Collection

Noise, Water, Meat: A History of Sound in the Arts by Douglas Kahn

Find more about Richard Vergez

Vergez’s website

Noir Age Bandcamp page

YouTube Channel

Soundologia Vergez Night Foundation Live Bandshell 4 With Little Annie Opening For Tangerine Dream Compressed
Night Foundation (Richard Vergez) and Little Annie perform live at Miami Beach Bandshell, Miami.
Soundologia Vergez Nosferatu Score 2 Compressed
Richard Vergez – Live scoring of Nosferatu in 2022 at the Savor Cinema.
Richard Vergez Graphic Score Compressed
Vergez’s graphic sound score for a performance by Ana Mendez presented in 2010 at the Miami Art Museum.

Get Your Free Copy of “Parallels” by David Brieske and Richard Vergez

In celebration of the 60th release on the renowned Noir Age label, Soundologia and Noir Age have a thrilling surprise for our beloved listeners and dedicated followers.

Click here to download your free album!

In celebration of the upcoming release of Noir Age, we are excited to provide you with a special promo track by Anasisana titled “Stay” (feat. Zhe Pechorin).

Click here to download the track!

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Pedja Kovačević
Pedja Kovačević

Pedja Kovačević is a Serbian-born musicologist, curator, and music producer, and the founder of Soundologia — a curatorial platform, record label, podcast, and festival dedicated to contemporary and experimental music. He moved to the United States in 2018 and holds degrees in musicology from the Faculty of Music, University of Arts in Belgrade, and in Music Management and Production from Florida International University’s School of Music.

As curator and executive producer of the Soundologia Anthology series, Pedja has commissioned, produced, and released three volumes documenting the work of South Florida’s contemporary composers and sound artists, presented in connection with the Soundologia Anthology Festival in Miami. He has taught experimental and electroacoustic music at FIU’s School of Music and has worked as a program coordinator and music administrator at music and arts schools in Miami.

As a musicologist and music writer, Pedja has published articles and presented research at international conferences and forums in the United States, Poland, Greece, and Serbia. His writing explores the relationship between music and other art forms, including painting, architecture, poetry, prose, and photography, as well as questions of listening, sound, and musical perception. His research has also examined Deep Listening, a concept introduced by American composer Pauline Oliveros, as a way of reconsidering the aesthetic dimensions of sound. Through Soundologia, Pedja promotes contemporary and experimental music and presents extended conversations with composers and sound artists about their work.

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