The Static Between Heartbeats

Canadian sound designer and composer Mark Hjorthoy returns to the Italian imprint ZeroK in 2026 with his second full-length album for the label, titled The Static Between Heartbeats. Based in Vancouver, Hjorthoy brings a professional background in sound design for the Roland/BOSS Corporation to his experimental practice, which spans IDM, electroacoustic, and drone music. This eight-track collection is framed as a sonic departure from the noise of constant digital connection, tracing a path toward natural environments and pure atmosphere. The album’s sound palette balances persistent drones and industrial textures with rhythmic structures and sequenced beats that provide a sense of accessibility within its dark ambient framework. Released on CD and digital formats, the work was mastered by Raffaele Pezzella and follows Hjorthoy’s earlier 2026 release, The Future That Never Existed, further establishing his presence within the Unexplained Sounds Network ecosystem. The compositions navigate landscapes suspended between the dystopian and the organic, utilizing field recordings and rhythmic pulses to represent a transition into silence.