Elan
Vytal [ee-lahN vi-tahl] French origin: elan vital. –noun
- The creative force within an organism that is responsible for
growth, change, and necessary or desirable adaptations; may be
activated by electricity.
Producer, laptopist and DJ, Elan
Vytal, aka DJ Scientific, combines precisely engineered hip-hop
beats and scratched rhythms with classical and world music sounds,
both live and sampled, creating a uniquely contemporary, yet accessible
urban sonic experience. From dance clubs to concert halls, his
crossbreed of musical genres and traditions is earning him critical
acclaim and audiences worldwide.
Elan Vytal began his musical career as an MC
in Oakland, CA with politically charged hip-hop group Rizing Sun
Productions. Upon his arrival in New York in 2002, he began spinning
regularly at clubs and high-end social events, including private
parties for Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs, Demi Moore and
Ashton Kutcher, and working as a resident DJ at Diesel Stylelab
in SoHo, all while attending School of Audio Engineering. His
recent solo credits include Brooklyn Museum First Saturdays,
Studio Museum of Harlem Pro Dreams sound installation, New Jersey
Performing Arts Center (opening up for Doug E. Fresh), New York
Philharmonic’s Kidszone Live (educational outreach
featuring an electronic music workshop at Avery Fisher Hall),
and the production of Bach Meets Hip-Hop for Hewlett
Packard’s special event in Las Vegas, NV. He is also the
Creative Music Director for international shoe brand Sketchers.
In late 2003, Eylan Vytal met composer/violinist
Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) and the duo began collaborating extensively,
creating and premiering a series of new works, including Call
Them All, a laptop concerto written by DBR with sound design
by Elan Vytal, commissioned by American Composers Orchestra, which
premiered at Carnegie’s Zankel Hall in 2006, and Sonata
for Violin and Turntables, an hour-long touring program co-written
by Elan Vytal and DBR that was recently highlighted at the Melbourne
International Arts Festival, The PuSh Arts Festival in Vancouver,
BC, and UCLA’s Royce Hall. In addition to performing one-on-one
with DBR, he is also a member of DBR’s nationally touring,
nine-piece ensemble, DBR & THE MISSION.
In 2007 Elan Vytal self-released My Reason,
his debut solo album representing a myriad of collaborations.
The first single off the album “Doin’ My Thing”
features Brooklyn native MC Mopeshi. Other guest artists include
Oakland based hip-hop outfit Boogieshack and NYC-based virtuoso
violinist Earl Maneein. Selections from this album are also performed
as part of Kompasshun, a live music and dance party hosted by
Elan Vytal at The Whitney Museum in July 2007 with hip-hop producer,
cellist and trombonist, Dana Leong. |