Spectres of Desire w. Ben Houge, Ait Ait

Spectres of Desire is a solo electronic project from Minneapolis that explores the sonic margins of synthpop with a DIY punk spirit. The project seethes with despair yet offers listeners a beacon of earnestness in a world filled with snake oil salesmen. Themes of loss, abandonment, yearning, and reclamation of the self permeate the work. The live set presents music as a dialectic, where a base of repurposed hardware colors and conditions the ephemeral superstructure of software synthesizers. Spectres of Desire offers a glimmer of hope amidst a collapsing world. Stream their latest single, Entanglement, starting Oct 16, 2026. Ben Houge’s eclectic music making encompasses synth-pop, video game soundtracks, and multimedia experiments that defy categorization. He’s performed around the US, Europe, and China, sharing the stage with artists including Owl City, Nosaj Thing, Elliott Sharp, and Torturing Nurse. His current project is Shanghai Travelogue, an album of songs he wrote and performed during his six years living in Shanghai, set for release in mid-2027. Áit Ait (Irish for “strange place” or “uncanny valley”) are an experimental folk duo focused on reinterpretations of traditional songs – dark and deep, bright and sparkling; full of noise and life. Based in Minnesota, Áit Ait (pronounced “ahh-tch eye-tch”) is Aja McCullough (song) and Patrick Maun (sound). The two set out to explore the living tradition that is Irish folk music – ever evolving and always changing, a solid footing set in the past but looking towards the future. Our new single On Yonder Hill was released on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms on October 2nd, 2026!