* En anglais uniquement
Patrick Higgins is a New York City-based experimental music composer and multi-instrumentalist. Inspired equally by downtown N.Y.C. minimalism as well as the cassette underground, his solo guitar works make extended use of repetition, phasing, and other experimental techniques. He has also composed numerous works for string quartets and chamber ensembles.
Higgins first became known as the guitarist for math rock group Animal, who formed in 2004 and released a full-length titled LP on Unfun Records in 2006. In 2007,
Higgins composed the score for a video game called Monkey Mountain, which was later released on ELE Records. As Animal was winding down in 2011,
Higgins began playing solo concerts in Brooklyn, including performances of
Bachanalia, his electronic-enhanced guitar interpretations of
Bach compositions.
Higgins premiered his
String Quartet No. 2, performed by
Mivos Quartet, in early 2012. He joined acclaimed avant-rock group
Zs in 2012, along with drummer
Greg Fox and tenor saxophone player
Sam Hillmer. In November of 2012,
Higgins released Stereo, a double cassette intended to be played simultaneously in order to create a quadraphonic experience, on the Words+Dreams label.
Higgins spent much of 2012 and 2013 touring with
Zs in addition to presenting concerts of his solo guitar work and string quartet compositions.
String Quartet No. 2 + Glacia was released by Ex Cathedra Records/Words+Dreams in 2013.
Higgins co-wrote and played guitar on
Zs' 2013 album
Grain, as well as their album
Xe, which appeared in early 2015 (both on
Northern Spy). Vermont-based label NNA Tapes released
Social Death Mixtape, a cassette of
Higgins' chamber works, in August of 2015. Later in the year, Telegraph Harp issued a recording of
Higgins'
Bachanalia. ~ Paul Simpson