Isabella Koen

Isabella Koen is an Assistant Professor in the Electronic Production and Design (EPD) department at Berklee College of Music, where she teaches music technology and electronic production. She holds a BA in Art from Massachusetts College of Art and Design and is deeply embedded in the underground electronic music scene as a sound artist, DJ, and producer.

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, 2019

Her research and artistic practice focus on experimental electronic music, particularly hard techno, trance, drum 'n' bass, and rave, using all-hardware setups. She explores themes of psychedelia, psychoacoustics, self-reflective writing, and nature through sound. Her work bridges artistic performance and academic pedagogy, emphasizing creative risk-taking and real-world application.

The trends in her recent musical output—from Whistle (2018) to Melody Depleted (2023) and TIP (2023)—show a consistent engagement with high-energy, hardware-based techno, often combining pummeling rhythms with ethereal textures and conceptual depth. Her music spans ambient abstraction and intense club-focused tracks, reflecting a dual interest in emotional resonance and physical impact.

She has no listed scientific awards, but her contributions are recognized through international label releases and performances at major festivals such as Tresor, Draaimolen, and Strom Fest.

Koen mentors students through real-world connections in the techno and experimental music fields, drawing from her extensive touring and collaborative experience. She has curated for the Museum of Fine Arts’ first 24-hour event and delivered a keynote at Carnegie Mellon University on live hardware performance. She co-founded Sound Affects and runs a monthly collective listening group in Providence, Rhode Island, fostering community and critical listening.

She is actively involved in both performance and education, integrating her artistic practice into her teaching to create a bridge from the studio to the stage.