Ard Bit is the artist project of Ard Janssen, based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. A composer, sound designer and field recordist who creates audio sculptures which are subtle, layered and characterized with great detail. His musical forms come about through free improvisation and systematic composition with a focus on minimalism.
“…it seems there are very few steps that keep the work of the Dutch composer from becoming an example of modern classical music rather than just ambient…” ~ Data.Wave
Ard studied electronic music composition at the Institute of Sonology of the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 2003. While working in composition and sound design for advertising and the cultural sector, he began developing musical ideas that led to his debut album, Spanon, released on Symbolic Interaction in Japan in 2009.
In 2011, he released Table For Two, a split EP with Astroposer on Shipwrec Records. This was followed by the EPs Yelleen (2012) and Ellioth (2014) on Lowriders Recordings. His works have been remixed by prominent artists and featured in multiple electronic music compilations.
In 2019, Ard released his fourth EP, Six Scores One, which blends field recordings, soundscapes, and rhythmic sources into melancholic, atmospherically layered constructions. Continuing this path, he created Amazing Bubble, a drone, noise, and ambient composition stemming from spontaneous improvisation sessions with modular synthesizers and field recordings. This was followed by Amazing Bubble II in 2021, with a mastering re-treatment by Jochem Paap (Speedy J) at STOOR.
Ard’s travels have also played a key role in his creative output. In Sri Lanka in 2019, he captured unique sonic environments that inspired his ongoing Field Recordings series. These releases showcase his curiosity and exploration of sound fields in the environment. The latest episode, recorded in Czechia during the summer of 2023, marks the fifth release in this series.
In 2022, Ard completed Music For Delirious Episodes, an album based on work developed between Amazing Bubble I and II, released on Shipwrec Records’ sublabel Phainomena. His 2023 collaboration with Radboud Mens, Marking A Boundary With The Turning Point, was released in June 2024 via Shimmering Moods.
