CONSCIENCE

Biography

CONSCIENCE was founded in August 1991 as a solo project by Rüdiger Illg. He gained his first musical experience in the 1980s with the C64, the short-lived project “Agony” (together with a school friend), and on his father's slightly damaged home organ. RI became interested in music at an early age, recording radio programs, making his own compilations, and persuading his parents to buy a record player.

It wasn't until he was 20 that RI had enough money to buy a synthesizer (Yamaha SY22). CONSCIENCE was born.

Shortly thereafter, an Atari ST, sequencer software, and a small mixing console were added. The first purely instrumental tapes were created. With the purchase of a microphone and an effects unit, vocals were added, which for the first time outweighed the instrumental pieces on the tape “Calls of despair.”

The musical driving force during this period was both the discovery of new musical genres and the mainstream's shift towards house, hip hop, and Eurodance, which RI couldn't relate to very much.

In 1992, the sound of CONSCIENCE took a big leap towards greater professionalism with the Korg 01/W synthesizer. The equipment continued to grow over the years and a series of tapes was produced. Some tracks made it onto tape samplers, others onto CD samplers. It was not until 1998 that the first official EP CD (Hardware) was released on the Kafue-Systeme label.

The era of tapes had come to an end and given way to CD-Rs. From 2001 onwards, the CD-Rs were released on the New-experience label. CONSCIENCE has been signed to Echozone since 2009 and made its debut there with the CD “Gravity has gone.”

Since CD productions were no longer profitable, all releases from 2012 onwards were available exclusively as downloads. In the 2000s, several guest singers also appeared on the albums, such as Dan Söderqvist (Twice a Man) and Colin Angus (The Shamen).

In addition to new singles and albums, newly recorded old tracks were also released, e.g. on the EPs and albums of the Backwards series.

CONSCIENCE has only performed live occasionally so far. However, there are plans to increase these activities (requests are welcome).

In addition to CONSCIENCE, RI founded the projects CHAOS NETWORK (now on hold) and SCIENCE O.C.N. in 1997.

RI was and continues to be active as a producer, remixer, and mastering engineer.

Every two weeks, he hosts the radio show “Krimskrams butikken.”

Isi joined Conscience already on the single "No fear" in 2022 and two Depeche Mode cover versions. Since 2025 she is a permanent part of the project.