Cosmic Codex XVIII

COSMIC CODEX XVIII As the midnight sun begins its quiet ascent over Reykjavík, Cosmic Codex returns to White Lotus for its eighteenth transmission. LINE UP: CATARINA HENRIQUES (Artwork Installation) Catarina Henriques is a Portuguese multidisciplinary artist whose practice explores the relationship between nature, materiality, and environmental awareness. Drawing inspiration from organic forms, natural processes, and the often unseen dimensions of the natural world, her work spans textile art, alternative photography, dyeing techniques, and experimental craft practices. Through her artistic research, Henriques investigates ways of reconnecting people with their surrounding environments, encouraging a deeper appreciation of ecological systems and local landscapes. Her projects frequently combine traditional handcraft techniques with contemporary artistic approaches, creating works that are both visually engaging and environmentally conscious. In 2026, Henriques was selected for the Þórsmörk Artist Residency in Iceland, where she focuses on exploring the color blue through cyanotype printing and natural indigo dyeing. Her residency research also incorporates embroidery and stitched shibori techniques to develop geometric textile patterns inspired by the unique landscapes of Þórsmörk. Alongside her studio practice, she is passionate about community engagement and educational initiatives, sharing her knowledge through workshops that invite participants of all ages to explore creative processes rooted in nature. instagram.com/cate_henriques/ NICO GUERRERO (Live) Nico Guerrero is a French experimental composer and guitarist whose work explores the outer edges of drone, minimalism, and sonic ritual. He first emerged in the early 90’s with Vortex, a dark shoegaze project that established his interest in dense textures and immersive atmospheres. The debut album Eksaïphnès (Les Disques du Soleil et de l’Acier, 2000) already outlined the core of his aesthetic: a frozen, cosmic, and noise-infused universe that he currently continue to expand in solo. Working with a setup centered around a single electric guitar transformed through occult electronic processes—Nico Guerrero crafts vast sonic architectures. His music unfolds as a play of overtones and resonances, where strings bloom into organ-like clusters and dissolve into swirling fields of sound. Within this dense, almost symphonic space, ghostly harmonics and shifting frequencies emerge, suggesting a form of controlled chaos shaped by both intuition and discipline. In 2015, Guerrero began a close collaboration with American composer Rhys Chatham, creating a poly-instrumental work for electric guitars, flute, and trumpet. Their partnership extended to studio recordings, live duets, and large-scale performances, including the co-conduction of Chatham’s Symphony for 100 Guitars in Le Havre in June 2018 or for Hermès in Paris in June 2025. His 2019 release Live at the Nordic House, recorded during the Iceland Airwaves festival, reflects a deep connection to Iceland’s stark landscapes and solitude. The album channels a sense of isolation and reverence, paying tribute to influences such as Coil—with a cover of “A Cold Cell”—and echoing the spectral presence of Nico (of The Velvet Underground) in pieces like “Clepsydra.” After the release of his piece “Horus Rising” for the Dark Indicator 2 – Guitar & String Drones Collection (2020) on Silent Records label, a new studio album Streams of Oblivion followed in 2021, conceived entirely in Reykjavík during the winter months and later recorded and mixed in Paris. Built from layered electric guitars, the work evokes a vast “cathedral of sound,” drawing on esoteric symbolism and Icelandic telluric forces—volcanoes, hidden entities, and mythic presences. instagram.com/nic0guerrer0/ https://nicoguerrero.com/ https://nicoguerrero.bandcamp.com/ TONIK ENSEMBLE (Live) Just as every landscape painting is ultimately a self-portrait, where every mark of the brush suggests truths hiding beneath shapes, so in every note, instrument, or sound, musicians and performers communicate with clarity that extends beyond the limits of verbal language. Music is not simply an expression but rather an extension of self. ‘ Constant’ is a new single by Tonik Ensemble; excluding remixes and light installations, the first original offering since 2015. Musician Anton Kaldal Ágústsson expands the methods developed on ‘Snapshots’ and crafts a distinctive palette of electronics at the counterpoint of sound and sight. Intricate moments that invite eyes to be rested and time and place to be relative for a while. Through synaesthesia, Anton implements theories of color, form and visual compositions into music resulting in layered soundscapes akin to Jon Hopkins, Moderat or Tim Hecker. ‘Constant’ includes ethereal voice of icelander DíSA who has contributed her talent to Trentemoller ́s recent music and tour band . The title comes from a time-traveling episode with the same name from the TV series Lost. The song is a meditation on belonging in a universe so vast that you are nothing more than a dust speck. ‘Constant’ is the first taste from ‘Music is Mass’, an album and a sonic time capsule charged into 40 minutes. Life, sense and experience crafted into a world of layered soundscapes that at times carefully wrap you in a warm blanket while later pushes you into a harsh winter storm. Seeking inspiration from Agnes Obel and Talk Talk the sounds explore the value of time and craft in an era when you can train and text prompt. https://tonik.is/ https://tonikensemble.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/tonikensemble/ https://soundcloud.com/tonikmusic https://www.instagram.com/tonikensemble/ ANDARTAK (Live) A core ritual presence within Cosmic Codex. Working with synthesisers as responsive systems, Andartak shapes sound in real time where drones expand, frequencies collide, and rhythmic structures emerge organically. Each performance unfolds as a dynamic architecture of tension and release, guided by intuition and the physicality of sound. soundcloud.com/andartak andartak.bandcamp.com EASTERN RENAISSANCE (DJ Set) Eastern Renaissance is a Polish experimental and deep techno project that has been pushing sonic boundaries since 2013. The project’s debut made a strong impression, appearing on Mike Parker's esteemed Geophone Records as part of a various artist vinyl release, alongside luminaries such as Echologist, Stanislav Tolkachev, and Parker himself. That same year, Eastern Renaissance's track "11" was featured on the Various Adepts: Volume 1 vinyl release under Sweden’s acclaimed Hypnus Records, marking a significant milestone in the project’s journey. In 2015, Eastern Renaissance ventured into new territory by collaborating with the nascent Norwegian label Gråtone, delivering a bold, broken, and noisy affair. Shortly after, the artist joined forces with the Polish record label Rezonal, releasing the celebrated RZL002 EP as a follow-up contribution to the label’s vision for cutting-edge soundscapes. Not one to limit creative horizons, Eastern Renaissance co-created OBKT with Milena Glowacka, a project that brought the hauntingly atmospheric track "Item Zero" to life. This track was included in the VA: Observations Longways the Time vinyl release on Unknown Timeline Records, further cementing the project's experimental ethos. From 2014 onwards, Eastern Renaissance became an integral part of Behind The Stage, a Warsaw-based collective known for its contributions to the underground electronic music scene. Eastern Renaissance’s live performances and DJ sets have graced some of Europe’s most iconic venues, including OHM in Berlin, Uebel & Gefährlich in Hamburg, Blå in Oslo, Szpitalna 1 in Kraków, and Projekt LAB in Poznań, among many others. Expanding beyond borders, the artist co-founded the Cosmic Codex event series with Andartak and Gringcore, bringing ambient, drone and deep techno to Reykjavik’s vibrant music scene. With a history steeped in collaboration, bold releases, and electrifying live shows, Eastern Renaissance continues to blur the lines between techno, noise, and experimental music, delivering a unique auditory experience. soundcloud.com/eastern-renaissance instagram.com/eastern_renaissance GRINGCORE (Live Visuals) The visual architect of Cosmic Codex. All visuals are generated and sculpted live, merging generative systems, cosmic geometry, fluid simulations, organic textures, and evolving digital landscapes into a responsive visual environment that breathes alongside the music. instagram.com/gringcore