In 2007, Paul Rolan Perkes was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In the wake of his illness, he discovered his inner musician, and, since 2011, he's released 22 albums of intricate and emotionally resonate electronica that, taken as a whole, represent a brave and profound life and artistic journey. His artist name is perkXsoundlabs, which alludes to his name and his scientific background.

perkXsoundlabs is music of hope and intrigue. Compositionally, Paul pulls from a foundational background in classical piano and choral music, his scientific training, and progressive rock and a variety of electronic influences, including progressive trance and chiptune. His albums have garnered favorable comparisons to Kraftwerk, Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, Jean Michele Jarre, Infected Mushroom, Yahel, Astrix, and Indra. These are heady creative touchstones indeed, and the music of perkXsoundlabs represents a fascinating sonic tapestry for EDM fans. But without a cultural compass for these signposts, the music stands on its own as richly accessible for the casual music fan.

Paul holds a degree in physics with a minor in numerical analysis. His technical background informs his music programming skills and producing skills. He produces all his music himself in a home recording studio he set up in his spare bedroom using a digital audio workstation (DAW) he designed and built.

"My scientific career is relevant insomuch as my music often has a scientific theme and is often inspired by science," Paul says. "I consider myself a scientist musician. In closing, Paul says: "I couldn't exist without my music. It's enriched my life so much. Instead of sitting around feeling sorry for myself, it's given me a reason to live. It's uplifted me and helped me to connect with other people."

Free tracks can be downloaded at the artist's official website, perkxsoundlabs.com. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.