Perturbator

Under the name Perturbator, James Kent, born in Paris, has been producing dark electronic music since 2012, situated between darksynth, synthwave, industrial, darkwave and touches of metal. Originally a guitarist in several extreme metal bands during his teens, he launched Perturbator as a solo project with the idea of composing imaginary soundtracks fueled by science fiction, cyberpunk and the cinematic imagery of the 1980s. After the first EPs Night Driving Avenger and Nocturne City in 2012, Perturbator followed with the albums I Am the Night (2012), Dangerous Days (2014) and The Uncanny Valley (2016), where his writing gained in scope and tension, blending danceable pulses, nocturnal atmospheres and more abrasive textures. The inclusion of his tracks in Hotline Miami and Hotline Miami 2 helped broaden his audience, while Perturbator also made a name for himself onstage at festivals straddling metal and electronic cultures, from Roadburn to Hellfest. With New Model (2017) and Lustful Sacraments (2021), Perturbator moved further from mere retro homage toward a colder, more confrontational post-punk aesthetic. James Kent also collaborated with HEALTH and Johannes Persson of Cult of Luna in the Final Light project, before releasing Age of Aquarius in 2025.