‘Place Language’ International Compilation inspired by Robert Macfarlane’s ‘Landmarks’

Dr Maria Papadomanolaki has contributed a piece to ‘Place Language’ a international non-profit compilation album project inspired by the themes found in Robert Macfarlane’s widely-acclaimed book ‘Landmarks’. In particular it focuses on the book’s extensive topographic glossaries, the “word-hoard” of depictive landscape terms gathered from 30 different languages, dialects and sub-dialects around Britain & Ireland which are divided into sections by type of terrain (Flatlands, Uplands, Waterlands, Coastlands, Underlands, Northlands, Edgelands, Earthlands and Woodlands). Relying on these topograms, or “tiny place poems”, as creative prompts, Place Language seeks to inspire a renewed interest in our natural surroundings and reinvigorate our appreciation for the audible textures & patterns that characterize them in keeping with the book’s stated desire to “re-wild” our vocabulary.

The collection features the work of 28 different sound-artists, field recordists, and musicians from around the globe each of whom chose a topogram and recorded an impression of it thus lending new aspects of dimensionality through sound. These selections cover all nine Landmarks glossaries along with place-words of new coinage as prompted by the blank glossary which Macfarlane leaves at the end of the book for readers to fill in for themselves. The end result is a truly global, collaborative survey of place, language, and sound.

More info on the project can be found here.

“If it sounds good, It is good” : Music Production Workshop with DMSA Alumnus Dominic Rae

27/09/2019 11am-4pm
DMSA Computer Labs
University of Brighton
Grand Parade

We are happy to have 2019 alumni Dominic Rae back to deliver a workshop on music production.
As his degree piece, Dominic has recorded, produced from scratch the fantastic album titled ‘Fits The Frame”. The album builds upon Rae’s learnings on the course on experimental sound design and production and references artists like Surfjan Stevens and Pinegrove. Dominic has also launched his own Audio Sea Studios that covers all levels of audio production to live sound engineering.

The workshop is open to students of all levels and it will take place in the Digital Music and Sound Art computer lab, from 11am to 4pm. Places are limited so please email m.e.papadomanolaki@brighton.ac.uk to reserve a place.

Workshop overview

Brief introductory lecture on the modern state and nature of music production, highlighting the role of the music producer and common issues encountered in the professional field as a ‘producer’ (11:00 – 11:30)

Outlining the process and common methodologies of music production, based around the central maxim of “if it sounds good, it is good” (11:30 – 12:40)

Break for lunch (12:40 – 13:00)

In-depth practical work on the Mac suite computers. I will provide audio stems for the whole class to use, the practical segment will be taught using Logic Pro X (13:00 – 15:40)

Final questions and answers about any music production topics/issues (15:40 – 16:00)

Environment, Sound and Engagement: Workshop with David Velez (Sonic Field, Impulsive Habitat)

26/09/2019 1.30-6.30pm
Performance Studio (Room 225)
University of Brighton
Grand Parade Campus

We are very happy to have Colombian Sound Artist and researcher David Velez. David is the co-initiator of the very successful online resource Sonic Field and owner of the online imprint Impulsive Habitat. David is currently based in Huddersfield conducting PhD research. David’s body of work includes numerous releases, installations, sculptures, performances and community engagement workshops, encompassing sound as a textural, social, embodied and political material.

David has designed a workshop to coincide with our welcome week. The workshop is open to all students. The workshop primarily focuses on collaborative work and low tech and DIY techniques in Public Space Sound Art Performance, and also in the familiarisation with the sound phenomena through graphic means. This workshop is perfect for people who are not necessarily familiar or engaged with the aesthetic sound practice
and aims to create a bonding experience with key aspects of this line of work.

More specifically, Public spaces and can work as blank canvases for collaborative Sound Art performances where low tech elements and basic objects can be of great use. The immersive and expansive nature of sound phenomena are key factors in the way we experience our surroundings and visualizing it could help to have a better understanding of its physical and emotional characteristics.

The students will be exploring the above themes through different methodologies including:

– Sine Wave Flash Mob
Using mobile phones and tone generating apps, the participants will intervene the library by quietly projecting sine waves and moving around the building. This performance aims to question the boundaries of what is perceived as silence and as disturbance, and exploring the spatial possibilities of working with independent and portable acoustic sources.The performance is set for 15 minutes.

-Drawing Field Recordings
The workshop participants will draw a sequence of sound waves in a paper roll using a charcoal pen and a stencil based on the intensity of sound stimuli.

Initially the group records the sounds of passing cars near the university, and the doppler effect they produce will be used as cues for drawing. The blindfolded participant listens to the sound of passing cars on headphones and responds to its intensity drawing zigzag patterns with the help of a guiding stencil. The zigzag movements are more dramatic when the car approaches the subject and more subtle when disappears. The paper roll rotate with a simple mechanism similar to a cassette or reel to reel tape. The participant will also be fully isolated from any visual stimuli in order to focus his attention on sounds and on his tactile interaction with the pencil. This session aims to analyze the acoustic perception of movement
and intensity in an acousmatic context and in isolation conditions.


-The Environment is the Performer

The participants will outline a basic structure to be performed by a group of collaborators to be recruited in campus. The collaborators will perform by rubbing two sheets of sandpaper in circles and increasing and decreasing the speed depending on the cue. The subtle sound product of the sandpaper friction builds up when performed by a group and becomes louder and louder as the piece progresses until it disappears.

This three minute performance looks to strengthen the empathy and convening power of the group and their ability to engage others in the discourse and practice of Public Space Sonic Art performance.

The workshop will run from 1.30pm – 6.30pm in the Performance Studio (Room 225).

Places are limited. Please contact m.e.papadomanolaki@brighton.ac.uk to reserve a place.

ID Spectral Live (003)

We are proud to announce the third event for ID Spectral – a record label and creative agency that promotes both up and coming and established artists as part of a new creative network.

The imprint, setup in June 2017, has since signed tracks from artists including Aphex-twin approved Ability II, Hyperdub’s Loraine James, Yaporigami, Anji Cheung and more.

At IDS Live, attendees will have the opportunity meet the staff behind the agency, learn more about the project; from its partners, the official distribution contract, IDS radio and future plans, as well as to experience three live performances from the label’s artists, including performances by current students and alumni.

Label presentation : 5:00-5:30pm

Live sets / [all visuals provided by https://www.jeddwinterburn.art/)]

RF WN (5:30 – 6:20pm)
Tarek El Goraicy (6:30 – 7:20pm)
Cyphon (7:20-8:30)

The event is scheduled for Wednesday 25th of September at 5.30pm at the University of Brighton Grand Parade campus (performance studio).

Entry : £3 online (tickets – https://bit.ly/2kq05S3)
£5 on the door
DMSA Students: Free (Proof of Student ID)

Facebook Event:https://www.facebook.com/events/636617820181545/

Opening Today: Salon Exhibition

Today is the opening of Salon, an exhibition celebrating the artistic work of professional services and technical staff at the University of Brghton’s School of Media. Salon has been organised by academic administrator Claire Levitt, curated by SSGT Haley Moyse Fenning and showcases the work by eleven technical and administrative staff from the School of Media. Included are a sculpture and 500 copies of a new instructional text piece by Joshua Legallienne.

More information:
https://www.facebook.com/events/499486080806736/
https://www.instagram.com/uobsalon/

New Release on ID Spectral Label

ID Spectral are proud to present Overk (IDS003), the debut release from Egyptian-based instrumentalist Hossam Hilal. Set in hazy desert landscapes, to underground soundsystem culture, Hilal presents us with a collection of rich textural works that hint at styles of world music, packaged with the influences of psychedelic rock, ambience and electronica.

The journey begins with ‘Hurry up’, a collage of luscious tonal bodies and melodic electric guitar riffs, topped with a beauteous synthesis of sampled drums. As Hossam takes us into the more organic, off-kilter african percussions on tracks such as ‘Habitat’ and ‘Ma Fi Makan’, the artist begins to unveil his egyptian roots with more traditional, celebratory atmospheres of a city of with a rich cultural history. The EP closes with ‘Crippled Down’, a delicately dissonant blend of metallic textures and concrete basslines.

Follow Hossam :

www.soundcloud.com/hossamhilalofficial
www. facebook.com/HossamHilalOfficial

Written and produced by Hossam Hilal
Mastered by Jamie Moore
Managed and A&Red by Louis Sterling and Jamie Moore
Distributed by State51 (London)

Forever Stardust

Join University of Brighton lecturers and guest speakers for a tribute to the art and music of David Bowie, celebrating 50 years since the release of ‘Space Oddity’. Covering music, journalism, photography and graphic novels, ‘Forever Stardust’ will include a talk by DMSA Staff Dr Stephen Mallinder and live music from Bowiesque.

The event is on Friday 12 July, 1900-2130 at Sallis Benney Theatre, Grand Parade, University of Brighton.

£8 tickets

£4 concessions

Free entrance for all David Bowie impersonators.

More info: http://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/davidbowienight/

DMSA Feature: Amanda Brooks

Before the official launch of our Master’s programme and a much needed holiday break we talk to our recent graduate Amanda Brooks who presented a very ambitious experiment in immersive and 3D sound titled ‘SINKHOLE’. We hope to be able to present Amanda’s project again in the coming year! Stay Tuned and read below to learn more about her.

DMSA: Three important words that represent you as a creative person

AB:Progressive, Classical, Spooky

DMSA: When did you start working with sound and music?

AB: Live bands since 1984, sound phenomena since 2009 after my guitarist/sound guy had a stroke and there was no-one else who wanted to engineer the bands sound. I took the job on.

DMSA: In what ways has the DMSA course supported or helped you to develop into who you are today creatively and professionally?

AB: The DMSA course has inspired me to compose differently, it has helped me to develop technically which is one huge reason why I applied for the DMSA B.A and to understand the concept of sound art on a deeper level.

DMSA: Can you tell us a bit more about ‘SINKHOLE’, the piece you presented in our degree show this year?

AB: My final degree project ‘Sinkhole’ is about travelling sound lines, vertically, horizontally, and diagonally engulfing and surrounding the listener on a large scale (5 meters high sound cylinder) Inspired by Austrian architect and sound artist Bernhard Leitner. The concept derives from modern life as a human being where everything seems to be a race against time. ‘Sinkhole’ represents standing in a insurmountable sink under a giant tap where the listener hears pipes creaking and swelling, then the inevitable ‘water’ comes as sound, crashing vertically onto and around the listener. It is sonically big as well.

DMSA:You have been performing in quite a lot of bands. Any gigs coming up?

AB: I don’t have any gigs right now as I ‘walked’ from my two bands, ‘Undercover Agents’ and 20+ year old ‘Soul x Press’, I felt stuck and stagnated. Personally, from time to time, I do feel the need to maintain my place in the ‘un-comfort zone’ so I started a new project ‘Ditch the Demon’ where the music and band members are a little more ambitious.

DMSA: Other plans for the future? projects, events, visions?

AB: The future: I have applied for the DMSA M.A. which I am very excited about, I feel I need to continue my journey into all the aspects of sound phenomena in the field of sound art and design. I have a vision to gig, compose, freelance as a sound artist/designer and a session vocalist. I may even become an acoustician as well and sort out some live music venues !!

Ithaca Prize Winners

To mark the course’s longstading partnership with Chris Evans-Robert’s (DMSA Alumni, 2007) ITHACA Studio, Chris and DMSA have created a new award, launched on this year’s graduate show. Known for its cutting edge audio and light installations, ITHACA Studio and the ITHACA Prize want to celebrate innovative creative work by our students.

This year’s winners were Jedd Winterburn’s breath-taking Zenith and Olivia Louvel’s (Runner Up Prize) intense and through-provoking The Whole Inside.

You can watch excerpts from both pieces in the videos below.

Warning: The video contains strong language.

‘The Whole Inside’ by Olivia Louvel – generative sound mural from Cat Werk Imprint on Vimeo.

Chance Vs Causality

Cabaret Voltaire the DADA-inspired DIY, tape-machine, electronic project by Stephen Mallinder Richard H. Kirk and Chris Watson will release a rare soundtrack to the 1979 film Chance Versus Causality. The album will be available officially for the first time since the film’s release. Chance Versus Causality will be out on limited edition transparent green vinyl, CD and digitally on 30 August 2019 via Mute.

You can watch an excerpt here