13x is a transgender musician who has been making music since the early age of 9, starting at first on drums and percussion, then when 13, the bass and guitar, playing in various bands from 14, gigging from 15, going on to study at Leeds College of Music, worked in various studios and through the years has always loved all kinds of music, from LEADBELLY to WHITE RING.

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Early influences were her FATHER, who loved a wide range of music, from psychedelic rock to reggae, KURT COBAIN, STEVE ALBINI, IAN PAICE, MITCH MITCHELL, CHAD CHANNING, TRENT REZNOR, and the approaching grunge and dance scenes.

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In 2002, she began experimenting with electronica, starting with basic programmes, such as eJay and Music 2000, some of which she has fond memories of making with her occasional collaborator and friend HOME TAPER, which lead to an interest in circuit bending and "proper" music production, leading to the birth of 13x proper in 2010.

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Her sound is *antiscene*, an ethos that stems from her last EP of the same name, but also something in her "punk rock sensibilities", which is something she's always had, since being a child. Neither one thing or the other. Belonging to no particular group but appreciating all. A wish to stay out of "elistist politics and practises within social groups, the  whole "I'm better than you because...", the bullying and the lack of wanting to enjoy things from different counter cultures and genres that's often ridiculed by the local vanguards of the scene".

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She flits between haunting, almost film score-like strings and pads in some songs, to complete industrial, noise, to glitchy, broken beats, to sheer walls of ominous soundwaves and bitcrusher. She's an experimentalist, who isn't afraid to try new things, or test the limits of what music can do. Most of her inspiration comes from sounds, her love of goth, grunge, industrial, minimalism, electronica and brutal noise, as well as machinery and found sounds, but a lot of it stems from a very dark childhood, a very unstable adulthood, being in situations that most people would crumble under, world events, especially recently BLM and fighting transphobia and racism, and a healthy nihilism that keeps her going.

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She has gigged with some amazing local bands and artists, taking part in EMOM events, helping local artists with their tunes, and is also one half of kon:strukt, an art collective, set up with friend and fellow artist BZZZTT in Leeds, which opens the floor to local artists and musicians to perform and exhibit their work, raising money for charity whilst doing it.

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She loves her studio (her laptop and bed) the Tomb Of Doom III, where she lives with her beautiful and long suffering studio cat Toastie, loves a smoke, enjoys a joke, and wouldn't get a bit upset if she was really broke.

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So that's what a 13x is.... stay tuned for more...

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Katja Zero

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