Photay

Photay represents Evan Shornstein, the electronic artist based in Woodstock, New York, whose productions merge analog and digital techniques across organic and synthetic palettes. His widely praised first album, Onism, surfaced in 2017 and included a contribution from Madison McFerrin. Waking Hours, blending art-pop with dance elements, arrived in 2020, while Photay also created ambient material such as the 2021 joint project An Offering with Carlos Niño. Windswept, which fuses jazz instrumentation alongside electronic rhythms and textures, came out in 2024. Shornstein further works with Sam O.B. under the name Ensemble Entendu and belongs to the global group WEMA alongside Msafiri Zawose and Penya members.

An early encounter with Aphex Twin sparked his interest, after which Shornstein pursued drumming, turntablism, compositional studies, and explorations involving field recordings and sampling. The project originated during a journey to Guinea, West Africa, for African drumming instruction, yielding the self-released Photay. Astro Nautico, a Brooklyn label, issued the six-track EP on vinyl with expanded digital versions in 2014 as Shornstein completed his music composition degree at Purchase College. His Sadie EP appeared in March 2016. Reflecting on nature’s relationship to technology amid climate shifts and social media dependence, Photay delivered his proper debut album, Onism, in mid-2017 through Astro Nautico. Recorded by Shornstein himself in Brooklyn and Woodstock, it showcased Madison McFerrin on “Outré Lux” and a rare vocal turn by Shornstein on “Aura.” The next year brought Onism: Remixed, containing reworkings from Hubie Davison, Sam O.B., Phil Moffa, Yonsei, and others.

In contrast to the rural upstate New York setting of Onism, Photay tracked his next album, Waking Hours, in urban surroundings in 2020, a choice mirrored in its focus on relentless output rather than pausing for slower reflection. The subsequent year saw the vinyl edition of On Hold, drawn from call-waiting compositions first shared online the year before to benefit New York City Food Bank. An Offering, the ambient partnership with Carlos Niño, debuted as a limited cassette in October 2021 before International Anthem provided a full release the following year, accompanied by More Offerings. Also in 2022 came the self-titled WEMA album from the remote-recording collective that includes Shornstein, Tanzanian musician Msafiri Zawose, and London-based Afro-Latin dance outfit Penya. Mexican Summer put out the full-length Windswept in 2024, which features appearances by Laraaji, Nate Mercereau, and Will Epstein.