Back for its third installment, the Unsound Music Festival descends on New York for a week of experimental music, cross-cultural collaborations, and panel discussions in partnership with the Polish Cultural Institute New York and the Goethe-Institut. The Unsound Festival aims to cut across boundaries in electronic-based music and form unique dialogues that capture the scope of the genre.

The centerpiece of the festival is a commissioned piece by LA-based dark ambient musician Lustmord and Norwegian electronic music pioneer Biosphere. Named after the code word for the first nuclear weapons test, TRINITY explores the general shift in consciousness brought about after that first detonation, including feelings of tension, anxiety, fear, and power. The two musicians visited the test site for inspiration and worked with Berlin-based video artists MFO to create visuals for their performance. Previous commissions include a soundtrack for an Andy Warhol movie and a musical accompaniment for visuals created by Brian Eno.

Each day during the festival, the Goethe-Institut will hold free lectures and panel discussions hosted by Wire magazine as part of its LABS series. Attendees will have the chance to hear from their favorite performers as well as authors, filmmakers, organizers, and label heads. ISSUE Project Room will host two evening LABS performances, each involving one Scandinavian and one American performer for an evening of improvisation, in holding with their mission of crossing both musical and geographical borders.

A full schedule of the week’s events can be found on Unsound’s website.