Comparative mythology
This piece by Detritus Tabu for the Disquiet Junto this week is very funny and a beaut discussion of comparative mythology in how the conversation drifts from Christmas to Star Wars. Makes me wonder about the significance of the blockbuster openings at holiday times.
It's also a beaut for capturing one those conversations with kids where the sense of wonder and digression is surprising.
My response to the Junto was to accompany sounds from my neighbour's party with samples of festive music.
Cicadas
Visitors to Australia during summer will often ask the origin of the drone heard in bushland. Cicadas make a buzzing drone to attract a mate, after sometimes spending years buried as grubs.
Here's what a mature adult cicada looks like and here's the exoskeleton they leave behind during metamorphosis.
I was stoked to hear musical interpretations, such as Lee Rosevere's, as well as improvising my own piece about the soundtrack to an Australian summer.
Oscar sings BitFinity
This year it was fun to start recording with Oscar. We recorded a few Smooth McGroove-style covers of videogame soundtracks and, yesterday, this video based on BitFinity's Waluigi-themed Carol of the Waa.
Haiku over screen door
My interests in music and poetry come together in different ways. Sometimes I write haiku and sometimes I write music responding to haiku and sometimes I write lyrics for songs, which I consider a form of poetry.
Last week I had an idea to write lyrics in the form of a haiku for a Junto project. It followed from a week where I'd written a haiku most days and my partner sang the verse for me, accompanying a melody played on the bass.
The Junto version (below) ended being a bit of a mess, but the remix (above) turned out good. Both use an old and previously unused recording of a screen door from another Junto.
Level up
We're nearing the point of looking backward, so I thought I'd comment on a couple of things that changed for me in 2015.
In previous years I've felt somewhat dismissive about the funding of artists. It was an opinion that developed from conflict with people who felt their art was important because they got money from the government to make it.
I've never wanted to put myself in a position where something external to me determines the enjoyment I get from making music and the like, so I'd always taken the view that if I couldn't do it with the resources I had then I wouldn't do it.
Then, earlier this year, there was an opportunity to apply for funding for a project and that was successful. And, soon after, I was knocked back from attending a workshop and realised I could organise my own workshop if I sought funding.
This week I heard that this funding application to run the workshop in 2016 was successful, so I can see there's been a significant change in my attitude towards funding.
I think it's important since I will be looking to develop more funded projects through my role at Pioneer Park, which was another significant development for me this year.
In previous years I've felt somewhat dismissive about the funding of artists. It was an opinion that developed from conflict with people who felt their art was important because they got money from the government to make it.
I've never wanted to put myself in a position where something external to me determines the enjoyment I get from making music and the like, so I'd always taken the view that if I couldn't do it with the resources I had then I wouldn't do it.
Then, earlier this year, there was an opportunity to apply for funding for a project and that was successful. And, soon after, I was knocked back from attending a workshop and realised I could organise my own workshop if I sought funding.
This week I heard that this funding application to run the workshop in 2016 was successful, so I can see there's been a significant change in my attitude towards funding.
I think it's important since I will be looking to develop more funded projects through my role at Pioneer Park, which was another significant development for me this year.
Julie Montgarrett at Wagga Art Gallery
Review On Common Ground
Last October RealTime Arts asked I write about The Cad Factory's On Common Ground, an explosion of art in Narrandera's Common.
That review is now online and here are photos from the Saturday night performance of The Haunting and the sculptures on the Sunday. Please see the file names for artist and title details, cheers.
That review is now online and here are photos from the Saturday night performance of The Haunting and the sculptures on the Sunday. Please see the file names for artist and title details, cheers.
2015 on Bassling's Youtube
Excuse me but this is a quite a good collection of music videos, if I do write so myself. I'm pleased with the diversity of styles and instruments, as well as visuals since watching disembodied hands can start to feel a bit weird.
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