BIOGRAPHY

Born in Stockholm in 1966, composer, pianist and sound artist Matti Bye moves freely between improvisation, contemporary composition, film music and experimental sound art. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has developed a highly personal musical language where acoustic instruments, tape machines and electronics meet in poetic and cinematic sound worlds.

The piano remains at the centre of his work. Drawing inspiration from early cinema, impressionism, folk music and experimental traditions, Bye explores resonance, memory and atmosphere through both composition and improvisation. His years as a silent film musician at the Swedish Film Institute’s Cinemateket, where he has performed since 1989, have profoundly shaped his artistic approach. Working with piano, tape loops, analogue electronics and acoustic instruments, he creates music that is tactile, intimate and rich in imagery.

Bye has composed music for a large number of films and television productions. Recent works include the internationally acclaimed feature film Un Poeta (2025), premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, Never Alone (2024), Tove (2020), Young Royals, The Serious Game and Everlasting Moments. His music has also been commissioned for theatre, dance and visual art projects, collaborating with directors, choreographers and artists across disciplines.

Alongside his work for film and stage, Bye maintains an active recording career. Recent releases include Capri Clouds (Denovali, 2024), Between Darkness and White Snow (Northern Electronics, 2023), while forthcoming albums include The Sea (Denovali) and the solo piano work The Length Between Dusk & Dawn in Minutes (Neue Meister). His projects range from intimate solo performances to ensembles such as Kiri Ra!, Dreamscope Trio, Trio Ramberget, Mambo Noir Trio and the Matti Bye Ensemble.

He has performed internationally at venues and festivals including MoMA (New York), Fondation Louis Vuitton (Paris), Cinema Ritrovato (Bologna), San Francisco Silent Film Festival, Wiener Konzerthaus, Café OTO, Rewire Festival and the Midnight Sun Film Festival.

Awards include two Guldbagge Awards for Best Original Score, the Harpa Nordic Film Composers Award, the Selma Lagerlöf Mårbacka Prize and the Stockholm City Cultural Award.