Our current season of CDR Sessions continues with one of Manchester’s most distinctive live electronic artists, Sarah Bates. For those new to CDR Sessions, each event includes an in-depth, production-focused interview with a guest artist, exploring their career and creative process. The talk is flanked by openCDR, where producers and artists of all levels and abilities have the opportunity to play their own music on some of the best club sound systems across the UK. All genres and styles welcomed!

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A Manchester-based producer, vocalist, DJ and video maker, Sarah Bates began her music career as a vocalist before turning fully to production around eight years ago. Entirely self-taught, her practice is rooted in a hardware-only approach — no DAW, no computer — with most releases recorded live and left intentionally unedited. Her music moves fluidly between analogue pop, balearic electronica and hi-NRG club material, guided by immersive synthesis, warped vocals and a deep trust in process and imperfection. Following a Modular Projects / Push Music residency, she began performing live hardware sets, appearing at Gottwood, Manchester International Festival, Band On The Wall and beyond. Her debut EP Fantasy Modulation was released on Banoffee Pies Records, with further releases on labels including Ruf Kutz, Stamp The Wax, 2020 Vision, Viscera, Goddezz and Paradisco. Alongside her releases, she has composed original music for film, fashion and immersive projects, bringing her sonic world into new contexts.

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Join us for an in-depth conversation with Sarah Bates, flanked by openCDR: your chance to bring along your works-in-progress and hear them played on SOUP’s renowned sound system. We keep our events as accessible as possible, but if you are able, we would appreciate your support of CDR with a £5 donation ticket. Every contribution helps us continue creating space for producers and artists to connect, learn, and grow.

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