And relax…kinda

With the completion of another hugely successful (and fun) Theremin Day workshop last weekend, I have decided it is time for a rest from public-facing events for a while. 2010 has been a very busy year for me. As well as my full-time job I have committed to and delivered so many projects that my time for reflection and learning has been severely rationed. That’s not to say I haven’t learnt stuff through the things I have done this year. I have learnt a lot of stuff! To think that I had never built a circuit from scratch until this year is still pretty amazing to me, especially given the confidence and knowledge with which I ran the workshop last weekend! Also, 2010 has been about planting seeds for the future, working with people I admire on projects that inspire me and generally trying new stuff out. I am more than happy with the outcomes!

I have a couple of major projects in the pipeline that need some time devoting to them, plus I want some studio time to try out some ideas I’ve been pondering. Add to that the various conversations I am having with some inspirational and influential people and I hope there is some really exciting stuff to come.

I leave you with a few pictures of people enjoying the workshop last week and of what they created…plus one of me going boggle-eyed trying to find a fault ;)

Thanks to Martin at DMC for the images and for organising the workshop!

I am cool, by association!

As part of my efforts for Supersonic this year I am getting to work and perform with some great people. This is really inspiring, flattering and rather daunting! Here’s a little round-up of who I am working with and why that’s cool, and why that makes me cool by association, maybe.

The Saturday stats with me doing a performance and workshop, featuring myself in the morning and the super cool Dosh, or Martin Luther King Chavez Dosh it seems, in the afternoon. Dosh is a multi-instrumentalist who uses loopers to layer really great tunes live. I’ve never seen him live myself but I’ve admired his work from afar for a while. Cool stuff, check it:

Then, on to my Noise Box workshop. I have been working with the super cool and always enthusiastic Dr. Kate Sugden of Aston Uni on the design of the updated Noise Box. She’s also kindly helping out on the day!

So far, so good…a talented musician and a scientist!

Lastly on the Saturday, I have been asked by Andrew Moscardo-Parker (of Einstellung fame) to be part of the Lash Frenzy Big Band vs KK NULL. I first met Andrew when I supported Melt Banana last year. Lash Frenzy were supporting too. They are noisy bastards and this incarnation will be no different. As well as having a lot of love for Andrew and Einstellung I am also super chuffed to be playing with / against the mighty KK NULL. Here are a couple of videos showing how cool they both are:

Finally, on the Sunday afternoon, when I perform Steve Reich’s Pendulum Music for torch and Optical Theremin I will be joined by the amazing (and cool) percussionist Joe Snape. I only found this out today. Well chuffed! Check his shit out:

Obviously being involved in Supersonic to the degree I am is pretty damn cool in itself but having the opportunity to work and perform with such a lot of cool people is a real honour! Frankly, whether it makes me cool by association or not is of no consequence to me. I am just going to enjoy the experience!

Supersonic Sam

With my workshop and midi-octopus performance at the British Science Festival complete I thought I’d update you on what’s next >> Supersonic!

Yep, it’s official, Supersonic 2010 will see me rushing around like a fookin mad man!

Saturday kicks off with me doing Big Sounds for Little People at the mac. Then I will be rushing over to VIVID to run a workshop to build Supersonic Noise Boxes on the Saturday afternoon. Then a brief rest before playing tuba in a gimp mask on the Saturday evening as part of the Lash Frenzy Big Band (with KK NULL). Finally, on the Sunday I will be performing a specially adapted version of Steve Reich’s Pendulum Music, for four Supersonic Noise Boxes and four torches.

That is a pretty full-on schedule and one I am very proud to have been asked to deliver! Nietzsche would agree that if it doesn’t kill me it will certainly be very cool ;)

Thanks to Andrew Moscardo-Parker for offering me a part in the Lash Frenzy Big Band, Richard Hawley and his friend who owns a tuba for sorting me out with that, and of course Capsule for allowing me to do all this wicked stuff.

Before all this kicks off though, I am going on HOLIDAY!! See you on the other side.