Solo Album: A Thousand Tiny Mutinies
March 05, 2024
I’m very happy announce the release of my new album, ‘a thousand tiny mutinies’ for solo contrabass guitar and artefacts, via Nice Music label. It was recorded and mixed with Timothy Harvey, mastered by Magnus Lindberg, cover design by Design Rows, with an accompanying essay by Andrew Goodman.
Category
#studiorecording
#liveperformance
#solo
#album
#contrabassguitar
2024 MSA Conference
December 01, 2024
Was very happy to present a paper at the 47th National Conference of the Musicological Society of Australia 2024, titled THE HORROR OF THE AVANT-GARDE(S) - composing with an ethics of affirmation.
Here’s a LINK to my abstract.
Category
#contrabassguitar#writing
#composition
#theory
Solo Set at New North
October 03, 2024
Thanks to the New North crew in Naarm/Melbourne for this footage from a concert at Brunswick Mechanics Institute, back in December 2023. This was my second-ever solo performance and it’s very nice to have it beautifully recorded by Theo Carbo and filmed/edited by Callum G’Froerer.
Category
#liveperformance#solo#contrabassguitar#composition#video
Documentary Soundtrack & Premieres at MIFF
August 08, 2024
In 2023, I created the soundtrack for the feature-length documentary film Left Write Hook. The film, directed by Shannon Owen, is a heart-wrenching but ultimately empowering story about survivors of child sexual abuse. It was an incredible opportunity to use my musical skills to amplify the voices of survivors, and I am so happy to have played a small part in telling their stories. The soundtrack was made entirely with acoustic instruments, with the help of Constantine Stefanou (guitar) and Maria Moles (drums/percussion), and additional engineering by Timothy Harvey.
The film is premiering at the Melbourne International Film Festival on 14 August 2024 at ACMI, with additional screenings around Victoria throughout August.
Category
#soundtrack#composition#studiorecording#film
The Horror of the Avant-Garde(s)
February 16, 2024
“…a gutsy, complicated, and occasionally overwrought experience that engaged all the senses.” — Limelight Magazine
THE HORROR OF THE AVANT-GARDE(S) [2023] is a concerto for piano, percussion, and large ensemble, which premiered on August 17 at Alpha60 Chapter House in Narrm/Melbourne.
The performances featured international guests Marc Hannaford on piano and Satoshi Takeishi on percussion, joined by an incredible ensemble comprising Laila Engle, Luke Carbon, Jasper Ly, Phoebe Green, Anna Pokorny, Callum G'Froerer, Louise Devenish, Benjamin Anderson, Melina van Leeuwen, Sophia Kirsanova, myself on my contrabass guitar, under the baton of conductor Elliott Gyger.
The night was art directed by Tina Stefanou, including words by Diego Ramirez, performances by Yumi Umiumare, Tina Stefanou, Young Voices of Melbourne conducted by Mark O’Leary, and culinary horrors by Long Prawn.
I wrote an article about the work that featured in Resonate Magazine (Australian Music Centre) and was also republished in The Music Trust e-zine; and was also interviewed by CutCommon Magazine.
A review of the event can be found at Limelight Magazine (behind a paywall), and republished on the reviewer’s website.
Karl Brandstater and Verena Franz beautifully filmed the performances - video and album release coming in 2025.
Category
#composition
#liveperformance
#video
#score
#studiorecording
#contrabassguitar
Lost In Place At Mona Foma
March 09, 2023
It was a joy to work with this eclectic group of improvising musicians, Butoh performers and dancers. One main stage performance and two four-hour performances as part of the Old Tafe Sessions in Launceston, lutruwita. A huge thank you to Mona Foma and everyone involved. In particular, to my collaborators: Yumi Umiumare, Takashi Takiguchi, Risa Ray, Eri Mulloolly-Hill Konishi, Emily Bennett, Reuben Lewis and Ronny Ferella. Images by Mona Foma.
Category
#liveperformance
#video
#creativedevelopment
You Are Meadow
February 01, 2023
I’m very happy to share the recording of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's premiere of you are meadow, at Deakin Edge, Melbourne (28/1/23).
Program note:
You are meadow, but once you were an open cut in a place no one wants to remember. You are the ashes of a brass band, too few opportunities for the young. The shadow of my instrument. You are lambs eating from morning hands. At night, you are the absence of a dog, of a body, of play. For the women in the haunted hills, mothers of coal and prehistory, they are the stronghold of a working class. You do not sing ecological laments or paint landscapes into notes. You spring in perpetual meadows and linger in the already-past. The concrescence of the orchestra in two parts, only to cut once again.
Category
#liveperformance
#score
#video
#composition
Photos by Laura Manariti
Storm Approaching Wangi and Other Desires
December 07, 2022
Storm Approaching Wangi and Other Desires is a new ballet about
the life of Australian artist Sir William Dobell, which was premiered at MAP mima,
Lake Macquarie, over three nights in November. It was a such pleasure to
develop, perform and hang with this brilliant team: choreographers Skip
Willcox and Belle Beasley, artist James Drinkwater, dancers Alex Abbot,
Allie Graham, Strickland Young, Matthew Mortimer, as well as Vinnie
Drinkwater. I'm very grateful to all the collaborators, The Lockup in
Newcastle for having me as Artist in Residence, and the team at MAP
mima. More to come (fingers crossed). Pics by Ben Adams.
Category
#composition
#liveperformance
#contrabassguitar
#dance
#creativedevelopment
photos by Ben Adams
Album: I Hold The Lion’s Paw (2022)
October 2, 2022
Released September 8, 2022
I Hold the Lion’s Paw
Reuben Lewis - trumpet, subsequent 37, pedals
Emily Bennett - prophet 6, voice, pedals
Joseph Franklin - bass
Ronny Ferella - drums
Didem Caia - poetry (side B)
Recorded Live at
Program Records on 23/2/2022
Category
#album
#studiorecording
#video
#contrabassguitar
#liveperformance