Stephen Seto has been composing, recording and performing in the underground music scene since the late 1980s. First as a member (bass guitar, guitar, synths and programming) of the experimental, dark electro-pop project ‘Parade’ from 1988-2000 and later as a solo electronic artist in the ambient, noise project ‘S:cage’.
Seto’s S:cage project first appeared as ‘Splintercage’ in 1996 with the release of ‘Still Movement Bliss’, a 4 song ep on the Plan Eleven label. With the disbanding of Parade in 2000, he re-conceptualized the Splintercage project, taking it on a new and always evolving journey. With experience comes growth, time for change and transformation, Splintercage becomes S:cage, a delicate balance of ambient soundscapes, moody and layered textures and deep rhythmic explorations. Incorporating found sounds borrowed from nature and urban environments, this work merges beauty with anger, harshness with light, and dreams with nightmares, creating an atmosphere of electronic sound that draws from a variety of genres. Add to this a strong visual element created through original video compositions, and it becomes clear how this project has drawn from its roots in the experimental to offer us a vision.
In 2003, S:cage signed to German electronic/noise label Ant-Zen and in May 2004, the debut S:cage album titled ‘Remote’, was released. The album, a distant observation of human fragility, was supported by well received live performances at major electro/noise festivals in Europe (Maschinenfest), Quebec (COMA) and the USA (Indoctrination) as well as performances in Japan and Ontario.