cyrusrex

Producer / modular synthesist Los Angeles Active since 1995

Thirty years of synthesis out of Los Angeles: founder of Black Line, half of DJMREX with Douglas J. McCarthy, one third of Talent Show, and the sound behind an IDM record that drew remixes from Venetian Snares and cEvin Key. Stadium stages with Depeche Mode, club floors with Skinny Puppy, and a lifelong habit of building the machines as well as playing them.

SoundCloud Bandcamp Instagram Discogs
Cyrusrex portrait: a suited figure whose head is cast in rough plaster, holding a cut of raw meat
Fig. 01 — Portrait by Sarah Sitkin
01 / Selected work

Projects

Black Line album artwork: a black band across a monochrome mountain range 2016 – 2025 Founder · Production · Synthesis

Black Line LOS ANGELES

A collective that grew out of DJMREX when the list of collaborators outran the initials. Douglas J. McCarthy and Bon Harris of Nitzer Ebb, Ken "hiwatt" Marshall of Skinny Puppy, producer Zack Meyers, and a rotating cast including Paul Barker, Christian Eigner, Mark Walk, Jon Bates, Baseck, Anthony Baldino, Brad Apodaca, Michael "prophei" Dietel and Maria Lui. Most of it was written at Cyrus's studio, with modular synthesis setting the mood before vocals and arrangement were built on top. The debut album Treason, Sedition, and Subversive Activities (2017) was followed by the Sedition and Layers EPs and nine arena dates opening for Depeche Mode in 2018.

blackline.black Bandcamp SoundCloud The Quietus interview
DJMREX EP1 artwork: white geometric lattice on black, designed by Steven R. Gilmore 2013 – 2017 Duo

DJMREX

with Douglas J. McCarthy · Ken "hiwatt" Marshall

Analog modular systems for both the music and the voice. EP1 (2013, Fold Press), EP2 (2015), an official remix of Depeche Mode's "Should Be Higher" for the Delta Machine | The 12" Singles box, and the score for Hazel Hill McCarthy III's film Bight of the Twin with Genesis Breyer P-Orridge.

Bandcamp Bight of the Twin DM box set
Talent Show: three musicians in red suits with a keytar and guitar in front of a theatre curtain 2027 Three EPs In progress

Talent Show

with Julian Gray · Zack Meyers

An electronic band formed by three producers. Drum and bass, industrial, rock and dance pulled into the same room. A series of three EPs is scheduled for 2027.

talentshowband.com Julian Gray Zack Meyers
The Box Black installation: thin red light lines radiating across total darkness 2022 Installation

The Box

with Zack Meyers · Jarrett Smith · MUTEK MX, Mexico City

The Box Black is a sensorial, immersive experience staged in a space completely devoid of light. Created with Zack Meyers and Jarrett Smith; a highlight of MUTEK MX 2022 at Nocturne 360, Quarry Studios, built with Bitwig and TouchDesigner.

MUTEK
all.ofMeHyde cover: dense white handwriting on black with the title cyrusrex | all of me hyde 2004 Album · Negative3

all.ofMeHyde

Written · Produced · Engineered

The solo debut. Thirteen tracks of broken-beat IDM mastered at Bernie Grundman, with remixes from Venetian Snares, cEvin Key, Vaclav, Anon and Squigg. Design and photography by Jeff Smith.

Bandcamp SoundCloud
Annodalleb artwork: a winged figure in sepia tones 1995 → Sound design

Annodalleb

with Prophei (Michael Dietel)

Where it started: sound designer for Prophei's Annodalleb in the mid-nineties LA scene. Studio demo (1997), dAATh (2006) and Appologue (2015, Negative Gain Productions). Remixes from Otto von Schirach, Hallucinogen and others.

Archive
Kill Your Friends cover: black unicursal hexagram on red 2012 Album · Pylon

Kill Your Friends

Douglas J. McCarthy · with Mark Bell

The Nitzer Ebb frontman's first solo record. Douglas was two songs in when he and Mark Bell moved the sessions to Cyrus's studio, where Cyrus started new songs, polished, replaced and supported parts across every track, helped take it live and brought in the remixers, all friends of his. Remixes from Alessandro Cortini and Big Black Delta. The partnership became DJMREX, and later Black Line.

Interview Review
Still from Bight of the Twin: two figures in front of a turquoise door in Ouidah, Benin 2016 Film score

Bight of the Twin

DJM/REX · dir. Hazel Hill McCarthy III

Score for the documentary following Genesis Breyer P-Orridge to the Vodoun twin festivals of Ouidah, Benin. Written with Douglas: Cyrus did the synths and sound design while Douglas guided on taste, and it was credited to DJM/REX to build the name. Ken "hiwatt" Marshall mixed; Hazel edited and chose much of what was used. Seventeen cues, including Golgotha, released as a soundtrack album; one of Cyrus's modular pieces later became a DJMREX release.

Film Soundtrack
02 / Chronology

Timeline

1995

Sound designer for Annodalleb

Enters the Los Angeles electronic scene with Prophei; quickly recognised by the local community and starts promoting IDM and experimental electronics in Southern California, which grows into his label, Negative3, and its Santa Monica club night, Negative Space.

1998

Kevorkian Death Cycle — Dark Skies

Production work with KDC. Followed by Inure's Seemless (2001).

2004

all.ofMeHyde and Skinny Puppy's "Goneja"

Solo album on his own label, Negative3, with remixes from Venetian Snares and cEvin Key. Same year: synthesis and programming on "Goneja" from Skinny Puppy's The Greater Wrong of the Right, and opening slots on the reunion tour, and remixes for Sergeant Sawtooth and The Last Dance.

2006

Snog — "Queen of Hate" (Anon + Cyrusrex Remix)

On The Kings of Hate, Psy-Harmonics. Further remixes for Modwheelmood (Alessandro Cortini, 2007) and Stray (2008).

2008

ohGr — Devils In My Details

Additional beats and sounds for Nivek Ogre and Mark Walk's ohGr.

2010

DarkPlace Manufacturing, Portland

Takes ownership of an SMT electronics plant focused on synthesizer design and manufacturing.

2012

Douglas J. McCarthy — Kill Your Friends

The Nitzer Ebb singer finishes his solo debut in Los Angeles with Cyrusrex and Mark Bell. A neighbour and a mutual friend who forced the two to talk lead to a partnership.

2013

DJMREX — EP1; Depeche Mode stadiums; "Should Be Higher" remix

Opens for Depeche Mode at Leipzig, Copenhagen, Stade de France and Hamburg in June, then thirteen US club dates with Cold Cave in September. EP1 arrives in December on Fold Press, and Depeche Mode commission a DJMREX remix of "Should Be Higher".

2014

Skinny Puppy tour; Muffwiggler LLC

DJMREX supports Skinny Puppy across North America on the Live Shapes for Arms tour. Partners with forum founder Mike McGrath to form Muffwiggler, LLC and open the Muffwiggler Store. CDM profiles the modular rig.

2015

EP2; Bon Harris at Modular On The Spot

DJM/REX EP2 in June. Bon Harris bumps into Cyrus at an outdoor modular event in LA; the next day he is at Cyrus's apartment with Douglas, talking synths and the beginnings of a bigger band. Annodalleb's Appologue is released.

2016

LA Modular 2016; Black Line forms; Bight of the Twin

In February the Muffwiggler modular showcase fills the Teragram Ballroom: Daniel Miller lectures, DJMREX, Cyrusrex, Bon Harris, Richard Devine and Baseck play. Christian Eigner records live drums at Sonikwire, "Sedition" is born, and the project takes a new name. Also appears on clipping.'s Splendor & Misery (Sub Pop). DJM/REX scores the Genesis Breyer P-Orridge documentary.

2017

Treason, Sedition, and Subversive Activities; Teragram Ballroom

Black Line's debut album and live debut on July 7 with nine people on stage.

2018

Depeche Mode Global Spirit Tour

Nine arena shows from Kraków to Moscow, February 7 to 25.

2019

Sedition EP and Layers EP

Remixes from Annie Hall, Silent Servant, and Bon Harris with Ken "hiwatt" Marshall.

2022

The Box at MUTEK MX

Immersive installation in total darkness with Zack Meyers and Jarrett Smith. Nocturne 360, Quarry Studios, Mexico City, 26 November.

2023

Onyx Record Press opens

A musician-owned vinyl plant in Los Angeles County, founded with Moe Espinosa (Drumcell) and Surachai.

2025

Douglas J. McCarthy, 1966–2025

Douglas passes away on June 11. The music he and Cyrus made together, from Kill Your Friends to Black Line, stands as he left it.

2026

New material with Nick Filth and Baseck

Nick Filth was on Negative3 as Milk and Honey; decades later, the three of them are working on material together.

In progress

2027

Talent Show — three EPs

New material with Julian Gray and Zack Meyers.

Upcoming

03 / Discography

Credits & Remixes

YearArtistReleaseRoleRef
1998Kevorkian Death CycleDark SkiesProducer, performerDiscogs
2001InureSeemlessProducer, performerDiscogs
2004Cyrusrexall.ofMeHyde — Negative3Artist, producer, engineerBandcamp
2004Skinny PuppyThe Greater Wrong of the Right — "Goneja"Synthesis, programmingWiki
2004Sergeant SawtoothMescaline — Negative3RemixDiscogs
2004The Last Dance…Reflections of Rage…RemixDiscogs
2005Skinny PuppyThe Greater Wrong of the Right LiveAppearanceDiscogs
2006SnogThe Kings of Hate — "Queen of Hate"Remix (Anon + Cyrusrex)Bandcamp
2007Modwheelmood (Alessandro Cortini)Things Will ChangeRemixDiscogs
2008ohGrDevils In My DetailsAdditional beats and soundsDiscogs
2008StrayAbuse By ProxyRemixDiscogs
2012Douglas J. McCarthyKill Your FriendsProduction, writing, live set-upInterview
2013DJMREXEP1 — Fold PressArtist, producerBandcamp
2013Depeche Mode"Should Be Higher" (DJMREX Remix)RemixDM Archives
2013VariousCold Waves II SamplerAppearanceDiscogs
2015DJM/REXEP2Artist, producerBandcamp
2015AnnodallebAppologue — Negative GainProducer, sound assemblyArchive
2016DJM/REXBight of the Twin — original score, "Golgotha"ComposerFilm
2016clipping.Splendor & Misery — Sub Pop / Deathbomb ArcAppearanceDiscogs
2017Black LineTreason, Sedition, and Subversive ActivitiesProduction, synthesis, engineeringBandcamp
2019Black LineSedition EP · Layers EPArtist, producerBandcamp
Selected. Full list on Discogs ↗ Also remixed: eightFM · TLD · Sgt. Sawtooth
04 / Live

Stages

Depeche Mode — Global Spirit Tour

Black Line · Opening act · February 2018

Nine arenas across Poland, Belarus, Russia, Finland and the Baltics. "The DM fans really took the time to get to know who we are and they knew the tracks," McCarthy said afterwards. "It was a bit parky, but that didn't matter with how well the shows went."

  • 07.02Tauron Arena, Kraków
  • 09.02Atlas Arena, Łódź
  • 11.02Ergo Arena, Gdańsk
  • 13.02Minsk Arena, Minsk
  • 16.02SKK, Saint Petersburg
  • 18.02Hartwall Arena, Helsinki
  • 20.02Arena Riga, Riga
  • 22.02Siemens Arena, Vilnius
  • 25.02Olimpiyskiy, Moscow

Black Line — live debut

The Teragram Ballroom, Los Angeles · 07.07.2017

Every player on the album was invited, plus Nitzer Ebb's Jason Payne. Nine people on stage, once.

Depeche Mode — Delta Machine Tour

Douglas J. McCarthy / DJMREX · Opening act · June 2013

Four stadium dates: no laptop, an Octatrack for the fundamentals, Cyrus on a suitcase-sized Eurorack system. The night before Parken, a full set and a synth talk at Copenhagen's old Main Library, filmed by Danish TV.

  • 11.06Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
  • 12.06Hovedbiblioteket, Copenhagen
  • 13.06Parken, Copenhagen
  • 15.06Stade de France, Paris
  • 17.06Imtech Arena, Hamburg
Watch: Copenhagen, full set Watch: synth talk + concert

Cold Cave — USA Tour

Douglas J. McCarthy / DJMREX · Support · September 2013

Thirteen club dates from Brooklyn to Los Angeles with Wesley Eisold's Cold Cave: Glasslands, the Ottobar, The Earl, Red 7 and home at the Echoplex on 20.09.

Cold Cave archive

Skinny Puppy — Live Shapes for Arms

DJMREX · Support · North America · 2014

A coast-to-coast run with the band Cyrus had contributed to a few records earlier.

Skinny Puppy — The Greater Wrong of the Right

Cyrusrex · Opening act · Reunion tour · 2004

Opened for Skinny Puppy on the reunion tour the same year he programmed synthesis on "Goneja" for the album.

Knitting Factory, Hollywood — with Alessandro Cortini

One-off live collaboration · Los Angeles

A single night on stage with Alessandro Cortini (Modwheelmood, Nine Inch Nails), whose "Things Will Change" Cyrus had remixed.

MOCA, Los Angeles — with Genesis Breyer P-Orridge

MOCA Grand Avenue, Los Angeles · 17.07.2014

A one-time performance at the Museum of Contemporary Art: Genesis and Douglas sharing vocals over Cyrus's live modular set, around the Bight of the Twin collaboration.

MUTEK MX — The Box

Nocturne 360, Quarry Studios, Mexico City · 26.11.2022

Installation and performance in complete darkness, created with Zack Meyers and Jarrett Smith.

LA Modular 2016 — Muffwiggler modular showcase

The Teragram Ballroom, Los Angeles · 20.02.2016

A night of manufacturer demos, a lecture by Mute founder Daniel Miller and live sets from DJMREX, Cyrusrex, Bon Harris, Richard Devine, Baseck, Rodent 516 and Anthony Baldino. Miller DJed the Monty Bar afterwards.

Northern Transmissions

Cyrusrex + Baseck

Live collaborations · Los Angeles

Friend, neighbour and frequent collaborator Derrick "Baseck" Estrada. Years of shared gear, a run of two-man live shows on Tempest, 303s and modular, a Muffwiggler session on film, and Baseck's percussion and synthesis across Black Line.

Baseck LA Weekly, 2016

Negative3 and Negative Space

Founder · Promoter · Resident · early 2000s

Negative3 (N3) was the label Cyrus started, releasing Sgt. Sawtooth, Cyrusrex, Annodalleb and Milk and Honey (Nick Filth) among other artists. It went on to start Negative Space, the Santa Monica club night that helped get the Los Angeles IDM scene off its feet: one of the first and only rooms in Southern California built around IDM, it booked Venetian Snares, Otto von Schirach, 8FM, Machinedrum, Snog, Hrvatski and many others before they had properly played Los Angeles, and shared bills with Skinny Puppy.

05 / Field notes

Stories

Realistically I acted more as the conductor and bartender on a lot of it.

On Black Line's density: "I wish I could take credit to the complexity added, but that really came down to having a lot of talented people putting in a ton of hard work." Most of the collaborators lived within a few blocks of the studio; the ones who didn't, Paul Barker in Portland and Michael Dietel in San Francisco, were sent the tracks they would enjoy.

Cyrusrex — Elektrospank

I originally met Douglas thru a mutual friend who noticed we lived down the street from one another, and forced us to talk. After flaking for about a year or two we finally met up.

They started working together the first day they met. Kill Your Friends came first, then DJMREX, then everyone else.

Cyrusrex — Elektrospank

I encountered Cyrus at a modular synth event in LA in 2015.

The event was Modular On The Spot, the outdoor series started by Eric "Rodent" Cheslak. The next day Bon Harris was at Cyrus's apartment; Douglas came over, and the conversation about synths turned into Black Line.

Bon Harris — The Quietus

Sonically, Cyrus would set a mood for the most part using an extensive array of modular synthesis that would be the basis of a lot of the tracks that eventually made it to the album.

McCarthy would bounce lyrics and melody off those moods, and Zack Meyers would hone the result into a song. The band name is a typographic legal term, like red line, meaning every previous draft is kept in the document.

Douglas J. McCarthy — Side-Line

A complete modular synth nerd by his own admission.

On the Kill Your Friends live set-up: a small Eurorack system, "almost suitcase style", no laptop, an Elektron Octatrack for percussion and bass, and McCarthy "up front pointing and shouting". He compared it to D.A.F. going out with an EMS synth, "but more complicated".

Douglas J. McCarthy — I Die: You Die

A musician who connects massive arrays of gear, like some post-apocalyptic robot dream, and then makes it sound like it.

"Rapid-fire machine reveries set in motion amidst nests of cables… an IDM orgy of synthesizers, each sound precise and exquisite amidst the raging terror of noise."

Create Digital Music, 2014 — CDM

Hazel had been assembling soundtracks cut from the field recordings… it was down to Cyrus and myself to interpret or add to her vision.

On scoring Bight of the Twin, Hazel Hill McCarthy III's documentary following Genesis Breyer P-Orridge into Vodoun culture in Benin. DJM/REX composed the film's music, including "Golgotha".

Douglas J. McCarthy — Depeche Mode HOME

06 / Hardware

Machines

The music has always run alongside the hardware. Building, selling and manufacturing the instruments, and now pressing the records they end up on.

  • Muffwiggler, LLCPartnered with forum founder Mike McGrath in 2014 to form the company and open the Muffwiggler Store, keeping the modular community's forum free of banner ads and corporate sponsorship. In 2016 the company staged LA Modular, a modular showcase at the Teragram Ballroom with Daniel Miller. At NAMM 2015 the modular makers exhibited together for the first time: "We are here to personally educate people that are interested in modular synthesizers, so that it's not too intimidating." Sonicstate · audioXpress
  • DarkPlace Mfg.Surface-mount electronics manufacturing in Portland, Oregon, owned and operated since 2010 with oversight of instrument design. A production floor for the Eurorack world, with Malekko Heavy Industry among the brands built there.
  • Onyx Record PressMusician-owned vinyl pressing plant in Los Angeles County, opened 2023 with Moe Espinosa (Drumcell) and Surachai. "Given the need for a manufacturing alternative, we have an opportunity to really democratize the industry by giving independent artists access to making their own vinyl." onyxrecordpress.com
  • ToolsBitwig Studio and TouchDesigner for sound and image; Eurorack for everything else. Clock from Innerclock Sync-Gen since 2012, the same box that kept the modular, the delays and the Devil Fish in step on the Depeche Mode dates.
A wall of Eurorack modular synthesizer cases, fully patched, lit against a dark room
The modular wall.
The Cyrusrex studio rig: stacked cases of Eurorack modules with a Devil Fish TB-303 and a TR-606 on the floor in front, lit in blue, with patch cables everywhere
The studio rig, 2014.
  • Eurorack modular
  • Devil Fish TB-303
  • TR-606
  • Vostok
  • Cwejman S1
Close-up of a Malekko Voltage Block Eurorack module
Malekko Voltage Block
A vinyl record on a pressing machine at Onyx Record Press
Onyx Record Press
08 / Upcoming

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