TANTRONIQ Musings

This page will be updated frequently. I present these "musings" as snapshots of ideas that run through my mind;  some will find their way into a more formal setting.  For now, they can be perused in any order, so feel free to mill around.



 Some of what I do and some of why

Considering sound and noise as a potential narrative and metaphoric communication, I create collages of sound experiences and, for Mantra Machine, put them in the context of a downtempo/trip-hop feel. I harvest sound from varied sources: household objects, improvised instruments, nature sounds, shortwave and am/fm radio frequencies, synths, traditional instruments, and my voice. I began experimentation with recording sounds and manipulating them in various ways within the software I was using, MOTU¹s Digital Performer. (I have since switched to Steinberg¹s Cubase SX). I hit upon certain vocal sounds that appealed to me. The other-worldly semi human voice is to me a representation of our modified technological human selves- the voice of isolation reaching across the divide back towards humanity. In the same way science fiction allows us to examine human foibles from another vantage point, speaking from and listening to this voice creates another perspective on human expression itself

  Kraftwerk was a critical influence for me. As a classically trained youngster, I heard Computer World, and was permanently affected in ways that would manifest many years later, long after I had made the transition from classical violinist to composer.  I had the opportunity to revisit Computer World, as well as Man Machine, while perusing Kraftwerk’s opus to purchase a gift for a friend. I was struck afresh with the genius of this pioneering group. Using exactly the means one would think of us antithetical to human expression ­ mechanically repetitive very simple musical ideas, the barest of lyrics devoid of immediately apparent profound content, flat unaffected vocal performances far outside the critical arena of vocal technique- they manage to create something so compellingly human. We recognize the man within the machine

  Another influence on my sonic world was an album by Laibach called “Kapital”. Its dark industrial textures got me hooked on noise and grittiness of sound. From there my overall conception of musical expression had expanded to include all of my interests: narrative, melody, noise, simple as well as well as complex layered sonic architectures, all with the purpose to express within and outside of conventional parameters in just the right balance to make listeners think interesting things. While I view Mantra Machine as just one humble effort towards that goal, the combination of these elements has infinite potential, and my future work will build on these ideas.

 

  Coming soon: Science Fiction and other influences