Hello my Cyber friends! - March 1994
It’s been about four months since I disappeared into the Submarine, and so much
has changed. I am happy to hear that the group has been growing and I am excited about the
collaborations that you have all been getting involved with.
There are probably new members who don’t
know me, so to them I say hi and warn them that I am not a professional artist nor engineer nor
technologist. I have a pretty standard day job, and have a passion for music at night (when the kids are
asleep!).
The last time I was here in print, I wrote about getting my solo electronic music act out of the
basement and into those wonderful downtown Seattle clubs. I wrote about building drum triggers and
alternative MIDI controllers using MIDItools from PAVO.
I still build
instruments, and I still play live. The latest instuments are called "Speaking Orbs". I salvaged some
1970’s style track lighting which consisted of bowling ball sized-chromed steel balls in black U shaped
housings. I stripped the electical connections out of the lights, leaving each ball with a small hole in the
back side opposite the larger, fist sized opening for the light. Into the holes I siliconed photo-resistors.
The interior of each ball was already black, which turned out to be helpful in keeping stray light from
activating my switches. I built twelve of these orbs. In a live show they are placed around the stage and in
the audience. Flashlights are made available to the audience. When a light shines directly into an orb it
triggers a note on my sampler. Currently I like to use spoken words in my sampler, so the name "Speaking
Orb" was given to these devices. I have to say they are the "coolest" looking things I’ve come up with.
I have recently gotten back in touch with two friends from years ago who make music in the "experimental"
field.
Eric Muhs performs both solo and under the name Metal Men with John Hawkley. Eric builds the
most interesting instruments I have ever seen. He uses electic motors and parts found in thrift shops and
dumpsters to make machines that take your breath away. Eric has a CD out called NOTOCHORD. It is
fascinating. His music is made through the use of tape loops.
Rob Angus has recently returned to Seattle.
He performs a thought provoking kind of music that really can’t be categorized. Using harsh sounds to
make rhythm, he layers softer, long tones on top. He has a CD out with Jeff Greinke called "Crossing
Ngoli" that is available at several shops around town. Listen carefully to both of these recordings.
I will be
doing a show with these fellows this week. To quote the advertisement: "On Friday, March 4th, in a loft
which you can enter through Cafe Capella, located @ the corner of Eastlake & Republican, you may have
the chance to observe: Rob Angus, Metal Men, The Same, Richter Scale, and Project W". It should be a
very long and engaging evening. Call me at 481-3483 if you need more info.
The NEC, (Northwest
Elektro-Industrial Coalition) has been doing well. We are a smaller group than NW CyberArtisits, so the
workload for each member is a bit higher to keep things running, but finally we are receiving some press
locally and nationally. It helps us gain access to some of the clubs in Seattle that prefer to have
mainstream, traditional bands. Most of the NEC bands are electronic and industrial, (you guessed that
already, didn’t you?) but no two bands sound alike. We have different approaches and certainly different
artistic goals.
The NEC has been great for me because I have a lot in common with the other guys when it
comes to the equipment we use. I could B.S. about keyboards and the like all night. But I miss meeting
people who have talents and equipment from the other "cyber" fields. If you have ideas about multimedia
electronic productions, any one of the NEC bands might be looking for a collaborator. We know music,
but computer generated visuals, etc. we’re always wanting to learn about. Like all the other "art" bands
around, we can promise NO MONEY. Exposure, a few laughs and comaradarie is all we can deliver.
If anyone is interested in this local industrial scene, you can contact them at http://www.nec.org/
By the way, I got my CompuServe magazine today and found this publication listed with
Steve’s name under the category of "Cyber things you can download."
Check it out!
See ya,
Einar