Pop-up Music: Sangre Azur

This the sixth track in a series of mixes that I am creating by improvising on the DSI Tempest synched to the Korg Volca Keys, which is in turn synched to the Korg Monotribe. Minor editing for length and simple processing has been applied, but there’s no extensive post-production or mastering.

I have eleven of these tracks now. In the next entry I will share a link to an album preview on SoundCloud. I didn’t set out to make an album in less than two weeks. However, they kept coming and once I allowed myself to see the tracks as a sort of pop-up music making approach (more about this soon) I allowed myself forgo refining each piece any further.

Tempest, Volca Keys, Monotribe Series: Chimera Crew

This is one in a series of mixes that I am creating by improvising on the DSI Tempest synched to the Korg Volca Keys, which is in turn synched to the Korg Monotribe. Minor editing for length and simple processing has been applied, but there’s no extensive post-production or mastering.

DKO at FRANK Part 3: Everyday Music

This is another excerpt from a performance by DKO from the MCAD MFA open studio night on December 7, 2012. The document features Oliver Grudem (not shown) who produced the audiovisual score in real-time. The video and sound coming from the LED display and loud speaker below it was broadcast into the performance space as Oliver walked around the Minneapolis Uptown area during a snow storm. Listen for traffic, footsteps, car horns, and the occasional blurt of humans speech. The visuals and sound from his walk provided a “score” for the ensemble to respond to as we improvised. Oliver was also able to hear the musical reactions to the audiovisual score as he was broadcasting and respond accordingly.

The piece was recorded with my custom built binaural head microphone (Vincent) to capture the sound localization of the performance space. Remember that it is necessary to wear high quality, circumaural headphones to experience the binaural effect. While watching, imagine you are in the same position as Vincent. You should hear the bass clarinet in your left ear, the Rhodes and synthesizers to the right and the drums and video sound in front. The relative height of the sound should also be noticeable.

Dueling Monotribes 121BPM

This video features me and Lucas Melchior improvising on two synched up Korg Monotribes. This time with the tempo at 121BPM. The Korg NanoKontrol is being used to apply swing to the sync signal as well as control delays and filters.

Dueling Monotribes 140BPM

This video features me and Lucas Melchior improvising on two synched up Korg Monotribes. This time with the tempo at 140BPM. The Korg NanoKontrol is being used to apply swing to the sync signal as well as control delays and filters.