Led Er Est

Led Er Est is a Brooklyn-based electronic music project formed in 2007 by Shawn O’Sullivan and Sam De La Rosa. Merging elements of cold wave, industrial, minimal synth, and post-punk, the duo quickly gained recognition for their brooding, analog-driven soundscapes and hypnotic rhythms. Drawing inspiration from early '80s European synth pioneers, darkwave, and retro-futurist aesthetics, Led Er Est crafts immersive compositions steeped in atmosphere and cinematic tension.

Their early recordings, released on labels such as Wierd Records and Mannequin, were characterized by raw drum machine pulses, haunting synth melodies, and haunting, reverb-laden vocals. On stage, Led Er Est cultivated a reputation for intense, immersive live performances often featuring live hardware manipulation and dense, smoke-filled settings that amplified their enigmatic aura. Critically acclaimed albums like “Dust on Common” (2009) and “The Diver” (2011) helped establish Led Er Est at the forefront of the contemporary synth revival, earning them a dedicated following within underground electronic music circles across Europe and North America.

Alongside their studio output, members have released solo and side projects under various aliases, reinforcing their influence and versatility within the genre. Continuing to evolve, Led Er Est remain devoted to analog hardware, experimental sound design, and exploration of haunting human emotions through electronic music, making them enduring fixtures in the modern darkwave and minimal synth scene.