I have made a sound and visual piece based on Fear. Fear is one of the primary dictators towards human behaviour.
We build resentments and perceptions based on them. I have pieced together a soundtrack. I have Dj-ed for over 13 years wanted to replicate a set and pair with visuals and a sampler for the crowd/DJ to interact with. I have moved the samples to an app which is at the bottom of the page.
I used a variety of recorded sounds using wood hits, also using Serum’s VST and Kontakt’s Ashlight to further add to the sound library.
The tracks within the sound piece are made using Ableton Live 11 using again a variety of samples and synths. This is designed to be an experience for the audience. I couldn't replicate a club environment at the university, but this is the setting it would be designed for.
I wanted this audio piece to a be a journey. I was taking inspiration from a wide range of sources collecting sounds and visuals. I wanted to create a reflection on society and the fears I have today. Looking at the issues within our political landscape; War, Nuclear arms, Lies, Riots, Poverty, Bigotry, Racism, and Addiction.
Track 1: Fear Is.
I wanted the opening tracks to be unsettling and dark with panning speech using samples and recording Axel Valberg speak about fear.
Track 2: Three Things.
I have used inspiration from RD Liang and Gabor Mate. “Human Beings are scared of three things: Death, Other People and their own minds”
Track 3: Alone with it.
Is inspired by NOFX’s Punk masterpiece “The Decline” is a political song about humanities social and ethical decline. I wanted to represent something similar with a piano riff and bass.
Track 4: Barrow.
Barrow is inspired by a trip to Barrow-in-Furness in the lake District. It is where BEA make nuclear submarines. An almost derelict town with a billion-pound arms industry. A true testament to Free-Market Society. I wanted to illustrate issues around nuclear war and was lucky enough to record Seals howling in the nature reserve nearby.
Track 5: Opiate of the People.
Opiate of the People is inspired using mass media within our globe. Like Karl Marx said about religion I believe about Media. What can be an effective tool to help, inspire and promote good in the world has been hijacked by corporations and agendas. Rupert Murdoch the media Mogul and his right-wing agenda stretches far and wide. Political wars are won with tabloid papers like the Sun. A conservative Paper once backing a Labour candidate who went on to win in 1997. What is the agenda?
Track 6: Some 1.
Some 1 is a break inspired track creating a Reese Bass. Wanted to create a hypnotic style track as a way of escaping.
Track 7: People in the Streets.
Inspired by Dr Cornell West’s TV appearance in May 2020. He is a Black Intellectual who is highly active in his fight against inequality, racism and poverty. His interview is hard hitting. He talks of the USA as a ‘Failed State’ and how the murder of George Floyd has highlighted yet again the problems within the country. If you look at the Brixton Riots in 1981 and compared to today’s problems with Racism within our society, I don’t feel like an awful lot has changed unfortunately.
Outro.
Dark and distorted ending with samples and guitar.
The piece is 44 minutes long. Thank you for watching and listening.
Below is a sound board which are the samples that I have made which are assigned to the physical model. Please click the squares to listen to the sounds. They are a variety made from wood hits, Synths and also a recording of Billie Holiday.
The idea is that the performer/DJ/artist to trigger this over their set/performance to add more impact for the audience and create new dynamics.
Thank you for taking the time to watch and look through my work.
