Video: Rhodonea II at SEAMUS

Posted on March 25, 2025 by John C.S. Keston

This video is a new interpretation of Rhodonea (Rhodonea II) that I performed for SEAMUS (the Society for Electroacoustic Music in the US) at Purdue University on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Attending and performing at the conference was a fantastic experience. I’ll share more about the event in future post.

The animated, generative, graphic score developed with Processing.org sends corresponding MIDI data to one of my favorite electronic instruments of late, the Dirtywave M8. Previously I performed the piece in Ireland at the inaugural Radical Futures conference.

The piece serves as a model of how we might collaborate with near future synthetic entities. Software feeds automated, algorithmic, projected visual cues, tempi, and low frequency oscillations to improvising electronic musicians. The visuals, based on Maurer Roses, suggest melodic, harmonic, and percussive gestures that are modulated by data streaming from the generative animations. Throughout the piece the artist adapts to the familiar yet unpredictable graphic scores and corresponding signals.

Note: please watch in full screen with the lights off and listen on headphones or high fidelity stereo speakers

ACB Live Volume 5: Music Made with Trackers

Posted on September 2, 2023 by John C.S. Keston

Last Tuesday, August 29, 2023 was the fifth entry into the AudioCookbook Live streaming show. This time around two guests participated with me including Lucas Melchior aka MKR, and Evan Beaumont. Each us of played music using the Dirtywave M8 tracker. I was thoroughly impressed with the work that Lucas and Evan performed, so I am pleased to be able to share the stream archive with you. The video is long, but I have included chapter markers so you can skip the discussions, although I think we made some interesting points about how using trackers influences our approaches to music composition, production, and performance.

Tonight at the Terminal in Minneapolis

Posted on April 28, 2023 by John C.S. Keston

Tonight I am performing a solo set of original electronic music featuring instruments including the Dirtywave M8, Prophet REV2, and Numa X Piano GT. The instrument are integrated through a complex web of apps and customization on iOS including AUM and Mozaic to name two. Check it out at the Terminal Bar, 409 E. Hennepin, Minneapolis, Minnesota. My set starts at 8pm ans is followed by the jazz improv trio SingleCell who just released a new album titled Regeneration.

Sample Glitching on the Dirtywave M8

Posted on March 10, 2023 by John C.S. Keston

The Dirtywave M8 has been consistently sneaking its way into my music workflow these days. One of the things I really enjoy doing with it is sample glitching. There are so many generative techniques possible when it comes to the tracker and how it is integrated with the sampling instrument. Things like chance, playback rate, direction, start position, randomization and anything else that makes the sample instrument get weird are really interesting and effective approaches to sample manipulation.

In this clip I have several rows of chains which include instruments, each with different samples and ways that the samples are being juggled and twisted. This involves chance and randomness applied to everything from delaying the note to reversing the playback direction. All the samples are sounds that I either recorded or made using synthesis or other sound design techniques. The range of possible textures is remarkable even without a wide range of samples to work with.

Performing with the Dirtywave M8, Numa X GT, and Prophet REV2

Posted on October 17, 2022 by John C.S. Keston

This month I will be playing a solo set at RÖK Eatery in St. Paul on Thursday, October 20th at 7pm. 7th St. W, Suite 12, St. Paul, MN 55102. This is an exciting opportunity for me to improvise with some amazing instruments that I have been working with recently. These include the Numa X Piano GT, a gorgeous sounding stage piano, my beloved Prophet REV2 polysynth from the late Dave Smith, and a handheld tracker/sampler/synth called the Dirtywave M8.

I am still surprised by my own decision to include the Dirtywave M8 in this setup given that I did not anticipate using it in a live setting, but with the collection of customized tools I’ve been crafting that aid with improvisation and experimentation I’m finding it to be a rewarding combination. More to come!