Serpentine Transmission is an improvised music quartet of Nicki Chen (electro-acoustic viola), Nicholas Deyoe (guitar), M.A. Harms (drums/percussion), and Micaela Tobin (voice and electronics). In performance, they slither their way through delicate melodies and atmospheric textures into extreme sound walls of doom, drone, and noise. In July 2024 the released Wad of Clay, a live recording of their first performance as a band. Their first studio album of mud and gold will be released on Desert Drone in June of 2026.

photo by Christopher Wormald from performance at Oracle Egg, Los Angeles, 3/16/24

stills from Wad of Clay video shot by Eli Klauser and edited by Nicholas Deyoe

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wad of clay

recorded live at Oracle Egg, Los Angeles, 3/16/24

cover photograph by Christopher Wormald

audio mixed by Nicholas Deyoe

audio mastered by Daniel Eaton at Little Castle Mastering

available on Bandcamp

performance video here

photography from 3/16 Oracle Egg show by Christopher Wormald

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voice, guitar, viola, percussion,

acoustic, augmented, electronic, flickering

gladsome, anxious, cathartic, vehement,

solo

water, distant birds, reflecting foliage, warmth,

ambient drones, hidden melodies, cathartic noise,

overlapping language, conflicting words,

duo

pavement, grass, moonlight

wire, hair, wood, plastic, flesh, metal,

trio

nicki chen, nicholas deyoe, m.a. harms, micaela tobin

quartet