Based in Montreal, Pete Philips is part of a new wave of live electronic artists redefining how dance music is performed on stage. Blending modular synthesis, guitar, and vocals into a hybrid performance format, his work sits somewhere between electronic live act, indie songwriting, and melodic club music.
Originally emerging under the moniker Poe (CA), Pete Philips evolved his project into a more personal live identity, where machines and traditional instruments coexist in real time. His music merges elements of electronica, indie dance, synth-pop, and melodic house, often characterized by lush synthesizers, warm harmonies, and introspective songwriting layered with his own voice and guitar.
At the heart of his artistic approach is the idea that electronic performance can feel as expressive as a band. His live shows weave modular synth sequences with live guitar textures and vocal melodies, turning what could be a purely technical setup into something emotional and cinematic. The result is a format that bridges the worlds of club culture and live concert performance, more narrative than a DJ set, yet still rooted in dancefloor energy.
Philips has already brought this evolving live concept to respected stages within the electronic scene, such as MUTEK and Piknic Électronik, amongst others.
His recent work also explores a concept called Machine Born, an audiovisual narrative reflecting his fascination with technology, nature, and the relationship between organic and synthetic forms. Through this project, Philips creates music that feels both futuristic and nostalgic; an intersection where analog warmth meets digital imagination.
With releases on labels like You Plus One and a growing presence across Canada’s live electronic circuit, Pete Philips represents a generation of artists pushing beyond traditional DJ culture. By integrating modular synthesis with guitar and voice, he is crafting a new kind of live electronic performance, one where machines don’t replace musicianship, but amplify it.
Make sure to follow Pete Philips on Instagram Spotify, Soundcloud & Youtube.
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