Artist talks by SlowPitchSound, Mariam Rezaei
Symposium 2: on Turntablism
Rundown
15:00-15:05 Introduction
15:05-15:25 Artist talk: Mariam Rezaei
15:25-15:45 Artist talk: SlowPitchSound
15:45-16:45 Roundtable
16:45-17:00 Q&A
Language: English, consecutive translation in Mandarin
About ex-DJ
Artist talks by Sci-Fi turntablist from Toronto, SlowPitchSound and turntable composer and performer from Newcastle Mariam Rezaei. The evening will conclude with a roundtable discussion hosted by dj sniff on how the practice of turntablism relates to the body, machine, and histories.
DJs engage with technology and sound on a tactile level. One can argue that DJing is fundamentally improvisational, compositional, and electroacoustic. In 1974, Grandmaster Flash debuted a groundbreaking DJ technique to spontaneously compose and recompose music using only prerecorded material, by playing and manipulating two vinyl records simultaneously. Ironically, Flash himself considered this debut performance a failure because, instead of dancing, audience members only stood and watched! dj sniff asks what might the reception have been had such a raw and disjointed experiment with new musical technology and technique taken place at INA-GRM in Paris (founded by avant-garde composer Pierre Schaeffer in 1958) or at the Moers international jazz festival in Germany during that same period in the 1970s? How would this have altered the course of both Hip Hop and avant-garde music?
From 10–16 December , 2023, dj sniff presents a one-week program featuring four experimental turntablists from around the globe: Mariam Rezaei from Newcastle, UK, SlowPitchSound from Toronto, DJ (Rex Chen) from Taichung—all, like dj sniff from LA/Tokyo, experimental turntablists positioned outside of traditional DJ practice, yet also closer to Hip Hop, noise, and jazz than contemporary and academic musical fields. By bringing together artists working in similar niche fields, but who have not previously met, and engaging in a public dialog about records, memories, and creation over the course of a symposium, open studio, and performances, this program explores the liminal spaces where forces of inclusion and exclusion collide, to ask how we can gain insight into how aesthetics, technology, and cultural backgrounds shape music and its histories.
During the open studio, the artists work together on a mixtape highlighting their musical practice and influences, available in a limited edition of 100 copies featuring designs by local Taiwanese artists.
About Artist
Mariam Rezaei
Mariam Rezaei is a multi-award winning composer, turntablist and performer. She previously led experimental arts project TOPH, TUSK FRINGE and TUSK NORTH, and in November 2022, received the Paul Hamlyn Foundation #AwardsForArtists in recognition of her contribution to music composition. Her music has recently been described as ‘genuinely ground-breaking’ (London Jazz News 2022) and ‘high-velocity sonic surrealism’ (4* The Guardian 2022).
SlowPitchSound, Composer | Mentor | Sci Fi Turnablist
SlowPitchSound (Cheldon Paterson) is an award winning Toronto-based artist, composer, mentor, and explorer of sounds. He has collaborated with creators from a wide range of disciplines including electronic music, opera, jazz, classical music, theatre, and dance. He has been developing his craft for over two decades. His "scifi-turntablism" is heavily inspired by the natural environment, outer space, and dystopian sci-fi and has graced stages around the world including Canada, Australia, USA, United Kingdom, and Sweden.
Contact | 02-25957656 #304 | tzuying-TFAM@mail.taipei.gov.tw
