Thanks Lauren for hosting this month's DC Listening Lounge. Highlights from last night's lounge can be found at the bottom of this note.
Any members interested in hosting in June- please reply to this post. Thanks.
As mentioned last night,
Sound Scene Planning Meeting
Do you want to help make DC Listening Lounge's one-day-only interactive audio extravaganza (called Sound Scene) the best yet? Please come by
Tuesday May 24
7pm (sharp)-8:30pm (max)
Lamont St NW Apt 2
-this is a meeting to plan for our July 9th interactive event: print and social media strategy/ publicity, and general pump-everyone-up effort brainstorming. Also we'll need help constructing our event's program notes (artists' bios, work descriptions). People with graphic design skills and communication strategy expertise are very encouraged to attend (and others too).
(snacks will be served)
OTHER GREAT STUFF (May mtg highlights at the bottom):
Want to have a radio show all your own?
Make it happen with a brainstorming session with Takoma Radio!
We are so lucky to have a community radio station sprouting up and hungry for creative DCLL ideas and contributors. Write back with the subject "Takoma Radio" and we'll get a meeting together.
Our Pals At Rhizome:
Robert Millis presents INDIAN TALKING MACHINE
One of the earliest non-Western outposts of the "recording industry," India's first commercial recordings were made in 1902. The country's music is as beautiful as it is complex, as subtle as it is profound, and as divine as it is simple. From 2012 through 2013, Robert Millis was a Senior Fulbright Researcher in India–studying the Indian 78rpm gramophone industry through the eyes of record collectors and sound artists.
Please join Rhizome May 20th as Robert Millis presents an illustrated lecture about the first recordings made on the sub-continent, about collecting old 78rpm shellac records in India, about the colonial shellac industry, about Indian music and musicians and about his recent book, Indian Talking Machine (Sublime Frequencies, 2015).
His presentation features several short films Millis made in India, rare music from 78rpm discs, glimpses of the city of Calcutta, the shellac industry, and 78rpm record collectors and collections. Millis will discuss Indian Talking Machine, his work as a sound artist and researcher, and his experiences with musicians, sounds, and collectors in India and elsewhere.
ROBERT MILLIS is an experimental musician, sound artist and a Fulbright Scholar who lives and works in Seattle. He is a founding member of Climax Golden Twins and a frequent contributor to the Sublime Frequencies and Dust-to-Digital record labels. He co-authored Victrola Favorites in 2008, made the films This World Is Unreal Like A Snake In A Rope and Phi Ta Khon: Ghosts Of Isan, and composed the score to the cult horror film Session 9. www.robertmillis.net
When: May 20th, 8pm
Where: RhizomeDC, 6950 Maple St NW DC
Cost: $10 suggested donation
http://www.rhizomedc.org/new-events/2016/4/14/indian-talking-machine
Our pals at Flashband:
Flashband's Mixtape Club (kind of like DCLL but its music-only and the audio selections are never homemade). Nerd out with a live "song exploder" type hang out listening session. Wednesday, May 25, 2016 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM (follow the link above for more details)
Do you know about Flashband? A terrific way to meet local musicians and get a band together (or just experiment and collaborate. A number of DCLL members are Flashband alums and many local acts performing around town got their start as a DC Flashband (its like a 48hr film festival for bands- with more than 48hrs...but not much more). Check it out.
MAY MEETING HIGHLIGHTS:Our “get-things-rolling” question was: since its been raining for 2 weeks, how have you kept yourself sane? Lauren- reading/finishing Harry Potter. Elisa- watching the great British baking show. Olgan- Life Documentaries Bond- Getting ready to move into a first apartment and prepping for Firefly and Lalapalooza Katherine- went to Chicago to skip out on the rain (coincidental). Watching unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Kyle- looking on google maps at sunny places. and getting on a bike every day. James- this season of Veep and discovering Amy Schumer Alex- painting and learn how and mp3 works. Jocelyn-eating strawberries from the yard. Neal- working on sound scene projects. Learned LEDs have chips in them and will blink automatically, if you tap into the cathode end and resister with a left-right- creates an audio feed. Nat- reading Bill Bryson. Zach- Watching Game of Thrones in Spanish, Spencer- Taking an online music production course.
Audio kicked off with Jocelyn who shared an interview she conducted with a Russian musician explaining how music connects his national identity and sense of spirituality.
The discussion out of it included generating a great list of tips for putting people at ease:
just listen
ask: oh really?
Give them the mic to hold (at least for a moment so they can see it doesn't bite)
hang a feather off the mic- to distract
leave your sheet of questions aside (maybe).
Study the main ideas in "How to win friends and influence people" - genuinely be interested, ask questions and listen.
Know your subject- and/or ask at some point/take a break to ask, how is this feeling for you so far?
Reminding them its not live
Plan ahead and do your research
Audio continued with James (continuing the de facto Soviet theme of the night). He offered up a story from his time in Bulgaria. It was a personal story that, for years, whenever he told it to friends and family it creeped them out. So James created an audio version- it features a decrepit former professional dancer, the dark streets, a taxi, a dance party and a mysterious apartment, descriptions that engage the senses through vivid writing bringing to our noses (imaginations) the smell of urine, the creepiness of a baby doll and the risk of murder/suicide...
Discussion included high praise for creative, disruptive and original sound design and Alex pushed hard to be absolutely sure that James' story was indeed non-fiction (it was) and not an example of the work of Joe Frank, Scott Carrier or in print, Bruce Chapman- who admitted after years of saying it was non-fiction that the fictionalizing process was always at work. Stella mentioned she had experienced a similar creepy jarring experience at YMCA with a stranger years back (not in Bulgaria).
Next up in audio was Zach- who shared a cut from the Killer History podcast he's helping to launch. He played part of the story of Reconstruction featuring Killer Mike talking about the history of land reform after the civil war. We got a bit of the back story about the infamous slogan, “40 acres and a mule” and the impacts of economic systems on the livelihoods of Americans today
Discussion included the art of finding the center and style of a podcast when given a giant stash of recorded tape. Debate around the value of the narration between acts with some wanting more and some wanting more intentional writing and some saying, like the three bears, it was juuuuust right. How to make a silent person a character in an audio story- or if its worth the bother and Spencer noted that with podcasts so often being organized and segregated by theme (one about music or history or sports) it was nice to hear podcast that served as a reminder that people are three dimensional -not just a being with one interest and area of expertise.
Bond closed out the night with Radiohead- he took a survey of those in the room who had heard the new album a Moon Shaped Pool and/or those who had seen the video for Burn the Witch. We listened to the title track together and launched into a discussion about the storyline and messages in light of the season's political news.
Did he use an ondes Martenot to generate that organ and cello combo sound (more info here). Some loved the tension building up, demonstrating how frightening the mob mentality can be. The video's use of The Trumptonshire trio- children shows from England -may have been to emphasize the importance of community, that kind of turns Wickermanish.
Conversation about the messaging- Bond felt was a political commentary on the negative aspects of mob mentality rallying around Trump and the anti-immigrant European immigration crisis.
Neal noted the disconnect with the presentation of the English folktale from The Wickerman which turns modernity on its head. notable quotables: “Intellectually great and leaves me cold sometimes.” Can't wait for three years into the future when we all love it as a classic. “future classic.”
Next DCLL will be in June -holler if you want to host.
And join us for the planning meeting on May 24 (see above).
Have a great week.
Any members interested in hosting in June- please reply to this post. Thanks.
As mentioned last night,
Sound Scene Planning Meeting
Do you want to help make DC Listening Lounge's one-day-only interactive audio extravaganza (called Sound Scene) the best yet? Please come by
Tuesday May 24
7pm (sharp)-8:30pm (max)
Lamont St NW Apt 2
-this is a meeting to plan for our July 9th interactive event: print and social media strategy/ publicity, and general pump-everyone-up effort brainstorming. Also we'll need help constructing our event's program notes (artists' bios, work descriptions). People with graphic design skills and communication strategy expertise are very encouraged to attend (and others too).
(snacks will be served)
OTHER GREAT STUFF (May mtg highlights at the bottom):
Want to have a radio show all your own?
Make it happen with a brainstorming session with Takoma Radio!
We are so lucky to have a community radio station sprouting up and hungry for creative DCLL ideas and contributors. Write back with the subject "Takoma Radio" and we'll get a meeting together.
Our Pals At Rhizome:
Robert Millis presents INDIAN TALKING MACHINE
One of the earliest non-Western outposts of the "recording industry," India's first commercial recordings were made in 1902. The country's music is as beautiful as it is complex, as subtle as it is profound, and as divine as it is simple. From 2012 through 2013, Robert Millis was a Senior Fulbright Researcher in India–studying the Indian 78rpm gramophone industry through the eyes of record collectors and sound artists.
Please join Rhizome May 20th as Robert Millis presents an illustrated lecture about the first recordings made on the sub-continent, about collecting old 78rpm shellac records in India, about the colonial shellac industry, about Indian music and musicians and about his recent book, Indian Talking Machine (Sublime Frequencies, 2015).
His presentation features several short films Millis made in India, rare music from 78rpm discs, glimpses of the city of Calcutta, the shellac industry, and 78rpm record collectors and collections. Millis will discuss Indian Talking Machine, his work as a sound artist and researcher, and his experiences with musicians, sounds, and collectors in India and elsewhere.
ROBERT MILLIS is an experimental musician, sound artist and a Fulbright Scholar who lives and works in Seattle. He is a founding member of Climax Golden Twins and a frequent contributor to the Sublime Frequencies and Dust-to-Digital record labels. He co-authored Victrola Favorites in 2008, made the films This World Is Unreal Like A Snake In A Rope and Phi Ta Khon: Ghosts Of Isan, and composed the score to the cult horror film Session 9. www.robertmillis.net
When: May 20th, 8pm
Where: RhizomeDC, 6950 Maple St NW DC
Cost: $10 suggested donation
http://www.rhizomedc.org/new-events/2016/4/14/indian-talking-machine
Our pals at Flashband:
Flashband's Mixtape Club (kind of like DCLL but its music-only and the audio selections are never homemade). Nerd out with a live "song exploder" type hang out listening session. Wednesday, May 25, 2016 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM (follow the link above for more details)
Do you know about Flashband? A terrific way to meet local musicians and get a band together (or just experiment and collaborate. A number of DCLL members are Flashband alums and many local acts performing around town got their start as a DC Flashband (its like a 48hr film festival for bands- with more than 48hrs...but not much more). Check it out.
MAY MEETING HIGHLIGHTS:Our “get-things-rolling” question was: since its been raining for 2 weeks, how have you kept yourself sane? Lauren- reading/finishing Harry Potter. Elisa- watching the great British baking show. Olgan- Life Documentaries Bond- Getting ready to move into a first apartment and prepping for Firefly and Lalapalooza Katherine- went to Chicago to skip out on the rain (coincidental). Watching unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Kyle- looking on google maps at sunny places. and getting on a bike every day. James- this season of Veep and discovering Amy Schumer Alex- painting and learn how and mp3 works. Jocelyn-eating strawberries from the yard. Neal- working on sound scene projects. Learned LEDs have chips in them and will blink automatically, if you tap into the cathode end and resister with a left-right- creates an audio feed. Nat- reading Bill Bryson. Zach- Watching Game of Thrones in Spanish, Spencer- Taking an online music production course.
Audio kicked off with Jocelyn who shared an interview she conducted with a Russian musician explaining how music connects his national identity and sense of spirituality.
The discussion out of it included generating a great list of tips for putting people at ease:
just listen
ask: oh really?
Give them the mic to hold (at least for a moment so they can see it doesn't bite)
hang a feather off the mic- to distract
leave your sheet of questions aside (maybe).
Study the main ideas in "How to win friends and influence people" - genuinely be interested, ask questions and listen.
Know your subject- and/or ask at some point/take a break to ask, how is this feeling for you so far?
Reminding them its not live
Plan ahead and do your research
Audio continued with James (continuing the de facto Soviet theme of the night). He offered up a story from his time in Bulgaria. It was a personal story that, for years, whenever he told it to friends and family it creeped them out. So James created an audio version- it features a decrepit former professional dancer, the dark streets, a taxi, a dance party and a mysterious apartment, descriptions that engage the senses through vivid writing bringing to our noses (imaginations) the smell of urine, the creepiness of a baby doll and the risk of murder/suicide...
Discussion included high praise for creative, disruptive and original sound design and Alex pushed hard to be absolutely sure that James' story was indeed non-fiction (it was) and not an example of the work of Joe Frank, Scott Carrier or in print, Bruce Chapman- who admitted after years of saying it was non-fiction that the fictionalizing process was always at work. Stella mentioned she had experienced a similar creepy jarring experience at YMCA with a stranger years back (not in Bulgaria).
Next up in audio was Zach- who shared a cut from the Killer History podcast he's helping to launch. He played part of the story of Reconstruction featuring Killer Mike talking about the history of land reform after the civil war. We got a bit of the back story about the infamous slogan, “40 acres and a mule” and the impacts of economic systems on the livelihoods of Americans today
Discussion included the art of finding the center and style of a podcast when given a giant stash of recorded tape. Debate around the value of the narration between acts with some wanting more and some wanting more intentional writing and some saying, like the three bears, it was juuuuust right. How to make a silent person a character in an audio story- or if its worth the bother and Spencer noted that with podcasts so often being organized and segregated by theme (one about music or history or sports) it was nice to hear podcast that served as a reminder that people are three dimensional -not just a being with one interest and area of expertise.
Bond closed out the night with Radiohead- he took a survey of those in the room who had heard the new album a Moon Shaped Pool and/or those who had seen the video for Burn the Witch. We listened to the title track together and launched into a discussion about the storyline and messages in light of the season's political news.
Did he use an ondes Martenot to generate that organ and cello combo sound (more info here). Some loved the tension building up, demonstrating how frightening the mob mentality can be. The video's use of The Trumptonshire trio- children shows from England -may have been to emphasize the importance of community, that kind of turns Wickermanish.
Conversation about the messaging- Bond felt was a political commentary on the negative aspects of mob mentality rallying around Trump and the anti-immigrant European immigration crisis.
Neal noted the disconnect with the presentation of the English folktale from The Wickerman which turns modernity on its head. notable quotables: “Intellectually great and leaves me cold sometimes.” Can't wait for three years into the future when we all love it as a classic. “future classic.”
Next DCLL will be in June -holler if you want to host.
And join us for the planning meeting on May 24 (see above).
Have a great week.
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