A Quick Note About My Music

Posted on October 29, 2009 by John C.S. Keston

Some of you might not be aware of the process to get electronic promos of my music for reviewers, radio, music blogs, publications, music venues, etc. If you’re in any way involved in the music industry please complete the Unearthed Music Service List Application.

As soon as your application is processed you will have access to download full length 320kbps MP3 files of all of the music currently available on Unearthed Music including my solo album, Precambrian Resonance by Ostraka. Don’t worry about being spammed because we send out no more that five or six mailings per year. Here’s Blitzen Machine.

Blitzen Machine
– Precambrian Resonance, Ostraka

GMS Beta Release, September 28, 2009

Posted on September 23, 2009 by John C.S. Keston

gms_grab I have decided on September 28, 2009 as the release date of the GMS, coinciding with my performance with Graham O’Brien, and my birthday. We can call it a combination Ostraka with Dial System and DJ Zenrock show, GMS beta software release, and birthday party. Currently I am releasing a binary version of the software for Mac OS X only. A windows version is in the works, with no prediction of when it’ll arrive.

The GMS is a Gestural Music Sequencer that I developed in Processing (processing.org). The application samples video and displays it either normally or inverted so it looks as though you’re looking into a mirror. Each frame is analyzed for brightness, then the X and Y data of the brightest pixel is converted into a MIDI note. These notes produce a non-repeating sequence based on movement within the range of the capture device.

For more details, including audio examples and video produced using the GMS, checkout the
GMS category. There’s also a Gestural Music Sequencer Documentary Short produced by Josh Clos, that does a good job of illustrating what the software does.

Ostraka with Dial System and Keston and Westdal Performances

Posted on September 16, 2009 by John C.S. Keston

I have a few performances coming up. One at the end of the month and two at the begining of October. Here’s the official word from Unearthed Music on the upcoming events:

Unearthed Music has a few upcoming events we thought you’d like to know about. On Monday, September 28, John Keston is celebrating his birthday by performing with Graham O’Brien on drums as, Ostraka with Dial System at the Kitty Cat Klub. The duet combines the stochastic, angular melodies produced by Keston’s custom music software with live drumming. Gestural video input is simultaneously projected onto a screen and processed into musical phrases. The results are live looped and molded into spontaneous compositions. Expert, veteran turntablist, DJ Zenrock, completes the bill.

Keston and Wedstdal with Graham O’Brien on drums are performing back-to-back events at Sauce with House Luna and Honey Stick (Thursday, October 1, 2009, $5.00) and the Dakota late night (Friday, October 2, 2009, $5.00). Sauce is located in Uptown on Lake and Lyndale and the Dakota is on Nicolet Mall in Downtown Minneapolis.

More Information:
http://www.unearthedmusic.com/?source=shows.php

Recent Releases on UEM:
http://www.unearthedmusic.com/?source=releases.php

Precambrian Resonance on iTunes

Posted on August 10, 2009 by John C.S. Keston

Recently my solo project, Ostraka, became available on the iTunes Store. Now it’s possible to buy individual tracks. My label partner, Unearthed Music, only sells full albums rather than individual tracks. At such a low volume the transaction fees make individual track sales impractical. That’s why we let Apple handle it for us. Right now the album is floating around in the lonely outskirts of cyberspace, with no ratings or reviews. If anyone is so inclined, please consider visiting the link below to deposit feedback.

Precambrian Resonance on iTunes

365 Sounds in 365 Days

Posted on July 28, 2009 by John C.S. Keston

regis_fire_diamond Today is the official release date for Precambrian Resonance. As I mentioned, the release is timed with my 365th sound posted on Audio Cookbook in 365 days. For my 365th sound I am presenting Fire Diamond. It is track number thirteen on the album. Whereas most of this release is a departure from my usual approach, in my opinion, this track is the most similar to my previous work out of any others within this collection. I hope you enjoy it and the rest of the album. Thanks to everyone who helped me complete this work, especially Nils Westdal, who proved to me that introspective music can be beautiful through his albums, Flavor Country, and Transdimensional Bypass.