Byzar, an American experimental electronic music ensemble, was founded in 1994 by Akin Adams. The group emerged from the New York experimental dance/electronic music scene and was considered one of the founders of the Illbient genre. Byzar's earliest recordings were long-form textural soundscapes created with a 4-track cassette recorder, featuring heavily processed guitars, found objects, and a damaged Farfisa organ. Byzar's live shows were entirely improvised, with a rotating lineup of musicians playing various instruments. The group collaborated with notable artists such as DJ Spooky and Vernon Reid, and their work was also featured in multimedia installations, notably Mariko Mori's "Nirvana" at the 1997 Venice Bienniale.
