In a music industry still shaped by gatekeepers, algorithms, and formulaic trends, UAE-based Filipina electronic music producer and sound artist Kath Dizon—known by her monikers Manic Mundane and Madam Void—is carving out a path entirely her own. In a global scene where women make up only a fraction of music producers, Dizon stands out not just by existing—but by innovating.
Working independently and using a DIY approach, Dizon produces, composes, performs, and records her music solo—without a team, bandmates, or creative compromise. She works DAWless, relying on standalone drum machines, grooveboxes, and synthesizers to craft her sonic worlds—eschewing traditional digital audio workstations in favor of tactile, hardware-based production.
In 2022, Dizon released her debut EP Narrative Three under the independent Cebu-based label Melt Records. Entirely self-produced, the EP was praised for its raw emotional depth and immersive sound design, earning recognition from CNN Philippines, MixMag Asia, NME, and other global platforms. The record was mixed and mastered with support from Sho Hikino, whose technical finesse helped bring Dizon’s vision into sharp, resonant focus.
A multidisciplinary force, Dizon expanded her sonic reach into film in 2024, composing and performing the soundtrack for KANTIL, a Cinemalaya 2024 selection. The score showcased her ability to move fluidly between mediums—merging sound, emotion, and narrative with precision.
As Manic Mundane, she crafts cerebral electronic landscapes layered with melodic, haunting vocals. As Madam Void, she explores abrasive sound art and experimental performance—anchored in feminist punk ethos and drawn from the daily intensity of life on the margins.
This Saturday, May 17, Dizon will perform live for Translating Oscillations: Activations—a series of sonic and performative responses to the curatorial project Translating Oscillations, conceived by Assembly member Jared Maxilom as part of Youth Takeover 2025 at Jameel Arts Centre. Curated in collaboration with the independent multidisciplinary collective Halo-Halo Experiment, these activations invite artists and musicians to reflect on sound’s capacity to translate, reverberate, and transform across disciplines and identities.
Dizon’s performance continues her streak of standout appearances, including the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, Resound, Vinyl Souk, and underground circuits in Singapore and Malaysia. She has also taken the stage multiple times for Fête de la Musique Philippines, with appearances across Cebu and Mindanao.
A co-founder of Halo-Halo Experiment, Dizon has helped create a rogue creative platform for sonic and multimedia experimentation. Alongside musician friends, she’s built a space for misfits, disruptors, and those exploring the outer edges of sound, identity, and independence.
In an industry where true autonomy is rare—and female producers even rarer—Kath Dizon is both a quiet force and a radical presence. She doesn’t just make music; she builds sound worlds from scratch—by hand, by instinct, and entirely on her own terms.
