Concert ft. dj sniff, SlowPitchSound, Mariam Rezaei and Rex Chen
Time: 18:00 - 19:30 (Doors open at 17:30)
Artist: dj sniff, SlowPitchSound, Mariam Rezaei and DJ Rex Chen
About ex-DJ
Ex-DJ will conclude with a concert by four internationally acclaimed experimental turntablists. This will be a rare occasion to witness cutting-edge performances by artist that take unique approaches to performing with sound media and technology.
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.
DJ Rex Chen
DJ Rex Chen is a DJ and a turntablist whose practice involves playing and creating with DJ equipment, researching DJ culture and performing experimental music and live shows. Since the 1990s, Rex has been active in organizing experimental music events in Taichung and playing in noise / free improvisation projects with local and international artists. In 2019, he formed a trio “Buddha Tiger Dog” with Miaogong Jun-Yang and Xiao Liu.
dj sniff
dj sniff (Takuro Mizuta Lippit) is a musician and curator in the field of experimental electronic arts and improvised music. His musical work builds upon a distinct practice that combines DJing, instrument design, and free improvisation. His collaborations include Evan Parker, Otomo Yoshihide, Koichi Makigami, Jaap Blonk, ErikM, Paul Hubweber, Tarek Atoui, Ken Ueno, and Senyawa.
Contact | 02-25957656 #304 | tzuying-TFAM@mail.taipei.gov.tw
