Rising Stars: Meet Cody Perkins of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody Perkins.

Hi Cody, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m a Los Angeles native, born and raised in Sylmar, California, and I grew up immersed in the creative pulse of the San Fernando Valley. My early artistic foundation came from the performing arts, especially through The Robinson Project,an incredible training ground led by dancer and director Eartha Robinson and actress Vernee Watson. That experience instilled in me a love for storytelling, discipline, and the stage.
I went on to refine my craft at Hamilton Music Academy in West L.A., where I studied classical piano, voice, dance, and electronic music. That time gave me a strong technical background and expanded my understanding of how different art forms could intersect. Eventually, I moved to San Francisco to attend the Academy of Art University as a photography major, focusing on fashion and portraiture, all while continuing to make music with my creative collective, The Algorithms.
Between 2008 and 2016, I moved between Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco, diving into DIY art spaces, collaborating with friends in fashion and performance, composing soundscapes, making films, and just exploring the possibilities of what art could be. What started as fun began turning into paid work and deeper artistic commitments.
Around 2018, I transitioned more seriously into the world of sound art and began showing work in galleries and museums. I’ve had the honor of composing for Long Beach Opera, participating in a four month residency at the Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles through the No)One. Art House’s “Infinite Rehearsal” project, and joining the Ace Hotel Artist,in,Residence program in Palm Springs.
Most recently, I graduated with a bachelor’s in Audio Engineering from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and I’m now beginning my MFA at CalArts in their Art and Technology program. I continue to produce for artists internationally, develop personal work, and stay rooted in my community as a creative. I also had the privilege of contributing sound scores to J. Yolande Daniels: To A Future Space,Time, curated by Zion Estrada at Art + Practice.
At the end of the day, I see myself as a true art hustler. I’ve used every tool,performance, education, instinct,to carve out my own lane and create opportunities where none existed. I’m passionate about storytelling, collaboration, and building a future where sound, image, and memory come together in transformative ways.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like many artists, one of my biggest challenges has been navigating the realities of sustaining a creative life,figuring out how to fund my work, support myself, and fully commit to the artist lifestyle without burning out. There’s a lot of pressure to constantly produce, to be visible, to be marketable. That tension between surviving and creating can wear you down if you’re not grounded.
Another major obstacle for me has been learning how to separate personal identity from critique. As artists, we pour so much of ourselves into what we create,it’s deeply personal. Early on, I didn’t always have the tools to receive feedback without internalizing it. I had to develop patience and learn how to hold onto my sense of self, even when others didn’t fully understand or appreciate my vision.
Being a bigger-bodied person in dance and performance spaces added another layer. A lot of the feedback I received wasn’t even about my work,it was about my physical presence. That kind of judgment made me question myself at times, even though in hindsight, I know my work was honest, innovative, and ahead of its time. It just didn’t fit into narrow industry expectations.
I’ve never felt limited by the art itself,my ideas have always been expansive. The real challenges have come from navigating social spaces where I often felt judged, misunderstood, or not taken seriously. My point of view, my choice of expression, even my worth, were constantly being questioned.
But in many ways, those experiences shaped who I am and what I stand for. Today, my work centers around building spaces,sonically and socially,where people like me can feel seen, heard, and empowered. Whether it’s producing music for other artists, composing for film and exhibitions, or stepping into gallery and performance spaces, I bring my whole self into every project. The things that once made me feel like an outsider have become the core of my practice. I don’t just make work,I create worlds where other people who’ve felt overlooked or underestimated can find resonance, representation, and reflection. That’s the full circle moment.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Artist Statement – Cody W. Perkins / Algorythm.Code

My work is rooted in sound, image, and memory—an exploration of Black futurism, spirituality, and identity through experimental and genre-blurring forms. As a composer and interdisciplinary artist, I move fluidly between worlds: from ambient soundscapes and heavy percussive beats to gospel-infused experimental electronica, hip-hop, and alternative music. Each composition becomes a portal—vibrational architecture designed to hold space for reflection, disruption, and emotional release.

I build sonic and visual landscapes that speak to the complexity of the Black experience—its history, its joy, its contradictions. My music is deeply influenced by my roots in gospel and classical traditions, yet driven by a desire to break form and invent new sonic languages. Whether I’m scoring a film, performing live, or producing for others, my process is grounded in intuition and storytelling.

Beyond sound, my visual work—including intimate photography, light-based portraiture, painting with motion, and immersive installations—serves as a mirror to the sonic. These pieces capture fleeting emotion and time, often centered around themes of vulnerability, visibility, and transformation. My short films and installations act as living archives—personal and collective—where memory and possibility meet.

At its core, my practice is about building alternate realities: spaces where people can feel seen, held, and expanded. I’m interested in how sound and image can heal, challenge, and reimagine the future—especially for those of us whose voices have been historically excluded from mainstream narratives.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
At the core of my work is a commitment to building worlds—futuristic, emotionally charged, and rooted in Black expression. I move across mediums: from ambient soundscapes and drum-heavy experimental beats to gospel-infused electronic music, intimate photography, immersive installations, and film. My practice exists in the liminal space between memory and possibility—between what’s been inherited and what’s yet to be imagined.
My sound is deeply spiritual and raw, blending the sacred textures of Black gospel with the grit of hip-hop and the freedom of experimental electronic music. It’s music you feel in your chest before you understand it. It’s about frequency, healing, and challenging expectation. I come from a performance background—trained in classical piano, voice, and dance—so movement and rhythm are in everything I do, whether it’s sonic or visual.
My visuals—through photography, film, and installation—are rooted in intimacy. I paint with light and shadow to tell stories of becoming, of visibility, of softness in the face of noise. My work is often vulnerable, pulling from my personal history while creating space for others to see themselves. I’m not afraid to speak from a place of emotion, reflection, or discomfort, because I believe that’s where transformation happens.
My journey has been DIY, shaped by collaboration, survival, and vision. From bedrooms to museums, I’ve used every tool available to carve out a lane for myself and others. I’ve never waited for permission—I build with community, trust my intuition, and let the work evolve as I evolve.
Everything I create is a conversation—between past and future, between body and sound, between who I am and who I’m becoming. I make work that feels like home for people who’ve never seen themselves reflected fully. That’s the mission: to make space, tell truth, and dream in real time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cody-perkins.com
• Instagram: codyofthealgos__