2023 wrap-up
Wowee… A whole year and more since an update.
2023 was such a big a year and I’m so proud looking back at all the great work myself and my collaborators made. Some highlights…
Dem Arrernte Mape performing at Desert Festival 2023 hub, Olive Pink Botanical Gardens. Photo: Sara Maiorino
2023 saw me and my long time collaborator, William “Nookie” Lowah receive our first grant together for our project, Dem Arrernte Mape. Through this funding we received $10,000 to develop new work into a performance for Desert Festival 2023. We used this funding to support many Aboriginal songwriters to work on their music. 3 artists performed with at Desert Festival 2023 – Myles, Harley and Jakey – but there were many more artists that came through our studio doors to work on their craft. This formal project through Red Hot Arts’ Project Seed has since ended, but we continue to work with songwriters that want help.
Myles has since released a collection of the songs he recorded as part of Dem Arrernte Mape on his debut EP, Travelling Man – link
‘It takes longer than you think’ exhibition – Photo: Gretel Bull
I worked with Gretel Bull and Jaxon Waterhouse on their concept heavy exhibition, ‘It takes longer than you think’. This exhibition focused on creating works around the concept of time. Different ways we perceive and interpret time and how this can be conveyed physically and sonically. On top of the “time” we spent a lot of “it” talking about the sonification of black holes, cicadas, solar winds and the idea of interpreting short moments over a long period of time.
The sound was based around the destruction of these ceramic works made by Gretel. We recorded the sound of them being shot and breaking. I then took those sounds and processed them in different ways. Often stretching the sounds out to the point that they no longer sounded like their original and/or using granular re-sampling.
The installation was installed on a Raspberry Pi with a PureData patch that randomly triggered samples. The patch had a lot more logic built into than just randomly sequencing, but that was the crux of it.
New 2seqs boards have been developed and tested and are pretty much functional. It’s been a really big leap for my PCB design skills. Lots of firsts with this project. First time interfacing with USB, designing for SMD and designing a micro-controller right into the PCB. Definitely not perfect (USB port needs to be positioned more towards the centre as it doesn’t sit flush with the edge of the PCB), but worlds ahead of working on breadboard.
Software is still very much in development, but I’ve made some more progress on this in 2024. No ETA on this as it’s very much a passion project, but I’ve decided to strip it right back so I can call version 1 done and chip away at version 2 with curlier features over another couple of years.
Before I wrap this up. Because I’m so bad at social media and don’t always put everything on there, I’ll rapid fire a bunch of other great moments from the year. Just in case you’re interested!
Location recording, mix and master for a great video that Hermannsburg Potters artists, Hayley Coulthard and Rona Rubunjta took to the Indian Ceramic Triennale – link
Created sound design elements and composed music for a live puppet show titled, Animating Principles, to celebrate 30 years of Watch This Space – link
Joined The Williams Family Band once again and Warren H. Williams on bass for Desert Song Festival’s Vibrato Fest and a performance at The Jump Inn respectively.
Worked on the development and installation of sound and video elements for the Tangentyere Council exhibition, ‘Ngurrika - Lyatinya - Ingunth’aka’, at Araluen Art Centre – link
Nookie and I hosted our first 3 on 3 Basketball Comp with support from Children’s Ground, Watch This Space, Central Australian Aborignal Congress and their Ingke Arntarnte-areme (Looking After Feet) Program – even after rescheduling when the original date got completely rained out.
Co-facilitated with Kim Dorfman and her In The Mix workshop program with a one-off workshop as part of 8CCC Community Radio’s One Frequency Festival – link
Wrote, recorded and released with Nookz Ancestor’s Footsteps with Central Australian Aboriginal Congress’ Ingke Arntarnte-areme (Looking After Feet) Program - link
Performed Wide Open Space with Nookz & Villen – link
A project I worked on in 2022, Ampe-mape Alyelheme, was released to the world on ABC Music – link
A podcast I wrote theme music for, NT Writers Festival Podcast, began airing on 8CCC Community Radio and podcast streaming platforms – link
Thanks for reading!
