murmur Trio was founded in 2023 during a typically hot summer in Milan. The trio includes longstanding friend, collaborator, and wonderful drummer Cristiano Calcagnile (https://www.cristianocalcagnile.eu/)) and the upcoming Italian double bass star Andrea Grossi (https://andreagrossiofficial.com/)..)
The trio was born out of the idea of experimenting with the format of a jazz piano trio but using a physically-modelled piano instead of an acoustic one. We liked the music and decided to continue playing together! Thanks to a fortunate alignment of geography, time, and stars the three of us will be in Finland at the same time, and we decided to have a concert at (my) home.
murmur trio investigates the space where purely and intentionally electronic practices intersect with the long shadow of the jazz piano trio. How do we react to this potential friction? How do the acoustic and electronic worlds influence each other? What (im)possibilities lie ahead of us? murmur is a laboratory of sounds and real-time approaches, an experiment in continuous evolution, a journey that attempts to drive the listener off the beaten path, even venturing into the impassable ones. murmur trio’s debut album is almost ready and will be released during the next months.
The sonic signature of alya grad embraces raw aesthetics and an experimental approach. Touched by industrial tones, it blends digital textures, noise, and rhythm into layered contrasts — where softness meets rough sonic edges.
Hur Hur is a solo music project started in 2012 by multidisciplinary artists Timo Viialainen (FIN). It is based on the experimental use of an electroacoustic alto hurdy gurdy. Hurdy gurdy is drone based instrument mostly used in folk music but here it is used to create an immersive droney wall of sound that also contains hints of melodic repetative parts and rythms that come and go. Live gigs are very intense mix of improvisation and musically meaninful dramaturgy that slowly builds up to cathartic heights.
Hur Hur has played live in different festivals and events in Europe and North America.
Field recordings and analog synthesizers are the main sources of sound processed by Mathieu Sylvestre. Noises and natural sounds are interwoven and articulated in electrified sound narratives between aural synesthesia and spatial vibrations.
The sound performance is based on the contribution of tape recorded sounds and analogue modules, arranged by improvised motifs that evolve from show to show.
In this way, the treatment of sound focuses on a plastic and physical approach to highlight the materiality of the boundaries between analogue acoustic textures and synthetic sources.
LIVE: THEODOR KENTROS (SWE) JOSEPH BAADER (GER) ANNA-SOFIA ANTTONEN VIKTOR TOIKKANEN
Tickets: 5-15€ at the door
THEODOR KENTROS (SWE) Theodor Kentros is a composer and musician based in Stockholm mostly working with the combination of electronic and acoustic instruments as well as tape loops, sample manipulation and Supercollider.
He’s been a member of the Fylkingen Production group (2021-2024), a member of Fyrec (2021-2023), runs the tape label Kalkatraz Cassettes since 2017 and has been a member of XKatedral since 2016.
JOSEPH BAADER (GER) Joseph Baader is a sound artist and composer based in Düsseldorf. He studied Music and Media (2014-2021, B.Mus)) and Sound and Reality (2021-2024, M.Mus.)) at the Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf as well as Electroacoustic Composition at the Sibelius Academy Helsinki (2018-2019). In Finland he initiated together with local artists the Potential Difference Collective (2018-2019), which organised and played several open jams and performances in the Helsinki area (Asbestos Art Space, Helsinki Music Centre). As a media artist, he is part of the Cologne based theatre collective KRUX, which has won the Kunstsalon Theaterpreis 2019. He plays electronics in various ensembles and is part of the duo honey washed and the underwater sound project Trio Wellenbad. Since 2017 he erratically exhibits his sound installations at the Cologne sound art space LTK4 – Klangbasierte Künste Köln. His radio pieces and electroacoustic compositions have been played at ARD Hörspieltage, Sentralen Oslo, Sonic Matter Festival Zürich, Ensemblia Mönchengladbach, Neuer Kunstraum Düsseldorf, Museum Kunstpalast Düsseldorf and Deutschlandfunk Kultur. He was composer in residence at Elektronmusikstudion Stockholm and Cité Internationale des Arts Paris.
ANNA-SOFIA ANTTONEN Anna-Sofia Anttonen is a curious and versatile saxophonist and musician based in Helsinki, Finland. She is especially interested in contemporary music and interdisciplinary projects, collaborating with composers in ensemble and solo settings. Anna-Sofia holds a master’s degree in Sibelius Academy from classical saxophone performance. At the moment she is also working as a composer in a project combining instrument building and ceramic art together with artist Armi Teva.
Anna-Sofia is an experienced and requested chamber and orchestra musician, theater musician, performance artist, soloist, pedagogue, arranger, and artistic director of projects. She has collaborated with such institutions as the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Finnish National Opera and Ballet, Uusinta Ensemble, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Helsinki Police Band, The Finnish Navy Band, NYKY Ensemble, Tampere Worker’s Theater and so on. She has performed internationally at festivals like Musica nova, rainy days, Flow, Time of Music and Helsinki Festival. Anna-Sofia was the co-artistic director of the Ostrobothnian Contemporary Music Festival 2023–2024.
Anna-Sofia is one of the founding members of Saxtronauts, a saxophone quartet on a mission to bring music to different kind of audiences and spaces. Anna-Sofia also plays in Kaaos Ensemble, a group formed of flute, saxophone, guitar and percussion. The group is specialized in contemporary music performance and collaboration with composers. Anna-Sofia is also a member of Uusinta Ensemble since 2023. Her newest project, Trio WAS+ is a formation of saxophone, accordion (Frin Wolter), double bass (Aida Salakka) and electronics (Tuukka Tervo).
VIKTOR TOIKKANEN Viktor Toikkanen is a composer, musician, and multimedia artist from Helsinki, Finland, with over a decade of experience in the city’s electronic and experimental music scene. He holds a Master of Music from the Department of Music and Technology at Sibelius Academy and has studied multimedia composition at Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg. His work spans film, electronic music, multimedia art, computer-assisted chamber music, and performance. A former drummer, Toikkanen has recently reconnected with the instrument.
Navigating naturally between electronic music, multimedia, contemporary classical, free improvisation, and performance art, Toikkanen refuses to adhere to a single style, constantly seeking new ways of self-expression. He has collaborated with various ensembles, and his music has been released and performed internationally. Toikkanen has also worked as an event organizer, curator, sound engineer, and workshop leader. He views his art as a diary—an ongoing reflection of a specific time and place, shaped by the interests and resonances that move him in the moment.
“Auguri! (Agouro)” [From the Italian – Congratulations From the Portuguese – Omen], Is a ritualistic and cathartic performance open to the spectator. It was designed to celebrate error, failure. Based on the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi (acceptance of imperfection), the performance uses Kintsugi (the Japanese tradition of repairing ceramic pieces with gold) to, with it, celebrate all the differences that unite us.
Artistic Direction: Daniela Morganiça (performer, PT) Artistic Collaboration: Aino Säävälä (singer, FI) and Tonya Björkbom (performer, FI) Performers: Aino Säävälä, Daniela Morganiça, Tonya Björkbom
Äänen Lumo warmly welcomes you to a Seijiro Murayama 2-day residence on Dec 7-8. The main focus is a collective improvisation workshop led by Murayama, open to anyone with an interest in improvisation. In addition, Murayama will perform solo on Sat Dec 7 and on Sun Dec 8 a public workshop performance takes place.
Workshop contents:
1. group improvisations – trying some methods only to share the space and time 2. physical exercises to activate our perceptions – working on breath, voice, walking – experiencing a dynamic way of listening 3. playing solos 4. trying some rules (based on permutations etc) to improvise collectively 5. improvising with no specific rules, then with participant initiatives
Schedule:
Sat Dec 7 15h-18h Workshop day 1 19h Seijiro Murayama solo performance
Sun Dec 8 12h-15h Workshop day 2 16h Workshop public performance
TICKETS (find them HERE) Workshop fee: 20 € Seijiro Murayama solo: 5 – 10 € Workshop public performance: free
Seijiro Murayama is a percussion-vocal improviser, born in 1957 in Nagasaki, Japan. He has been working within the field of improvisation since 1980. He toured the USA with Keiji Haino as part of the seminal psychedelic band Fushitsusha. Returning to Japan after a period in NYC he continued playing drums and electronics in K.K. Null‘s noise/rock band A.N.P. (Absolut Null Punkt), while further exploring free improvisation. A relocation to France in 1999 led to collaborations that extended into dance, theatre and performance as well as ongoing partnerships with musicians Jean-Luc Guionnet, Eric Cordier, Michel Doneda, Mattin, Lionel Marchetti, among many others. He uses voice and percussion and tries to apply his practice of improvisation to other fields of creative activities. Murayama is the co-author of the book “Idioms and idiots” (in English: http://www.mattin.org/recordings/IDIOMS_AND_IDIOTS.html; in Finnish: https://komeetta.info/2022/02/17/idiomit-ja-idiootit/)
Isnt’ses workshop at Crux Festival 2024 – photo by Guy Smallman
Electronics Synth Building Workshop and presentation, hosted by Tim Drage and Lisa McKendrick (Isn’tses)
NOTE: Tim and Lisa will have their separate performances as Disgusting Cathedral (Tim Drage) / NNJA RIOT (Lisa McKendrick) on 22nd of November from 19.30 as part of Ääneen Festival organized by Äänen Lumo. See details here.
Workshop on Sunday 24th November
Confirm workshop entry by the 18th November 2024.
To book your place please fill in the required details and select the synth you want to assemble by 18th November from the form linked below.
If you only want to watch the initial presentation please donate at the door on the event date.
Location Nokiantie 2-4
Times: 12noon – 5pm
12 -12:30pm – Presentation
12:30-5pm – Workshop
Description Our workshop will give the participants the opportunity to build and solder their own noise synthesiser from one of our synth kits which includes all components, Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and Build of Materials (BOM) instructions. The workshop will begin with a 30 minute presentation about the development of our noise synths The Fort Processor, Chernobylizer and 567 Piezo contact mic synth. We will cover the inspirations behind the electronics and sound as well as the psychogeographic aspects of the design and artwork. During the presentation the basics of electronics will be introduced, including identifying components, how to populate a PCB correctly, and reliable soldering techniques. (It’s advisable that you attend the presentation as it will include some instructions on building the synths)
All materials and equipment are provided and participants may keep what they create. Usually participants leave the workshop with a working synthesizer, we can help with trouble-shooting and assist with any problems you encounter during the building of the synth. Basic soldering equipment is provided but we encourage people to bring their own soldering iron if they have one.
All three circuits have 3.5mm output jacks suitable for connecting to an amplifier, mixer or recorder/sound card.
The synths all run on 9v DC power. (Power supplies / batteries are not included, we will have some for testing during the workshop but you will need to get your own for future use, we can advise what type is best)
Suitable for: Suitable for anyone with an interest in experimental music and sound arts. No previous experience in electronics is necessary. Some soldering experience is useful but we also can teach those with no soldering experience.
Workshop Hosts:
Tim Drage Lisa McKendrick The hosts of the workshop are from the live noise duo Isn’tses (United Kingdom) Times: Presentation and workshop will run from 12 noon – 5pm (some people may finish earlier depending on the synth chosen)
We have 3 different synth builds to choose from:
1. Light-controlled piezo contact mic noise synth
This is a small battery-powered PCB with a contact microphone and oscillator controlled by a light sensor and flashing LEDs. It’s suitable for beginners as it doesn’t have many parts. We supply all electronic components and PCB.
A psychogeographic noise synth and distortion/effect unit, controlled by knobs, light and touch. We provide a complete kit of parts including PCB. It’s suitable for beginners/intermediate. Build time 3-4 hours.
A psychogeographic noise synth controlled by knobs, touch and power-drain switch. We provide a complete kit of parts including PCB. It’s suitable for beginners/intermediate but has more components than the Fort Processor. Build time 3-4.5 hours.
Lisa McKendrick and Tim Drage present an evening of music which pushes the boundaries of noise songwriting and fringe genres such as Avant Pop and Dungeon Synth. Both approach music as an arena to explore ideas relating to electronics, circuit bending and uncouth approaches to sound exploration. They do this by creating and designing their own synths, making field recordings and integrating open source technology. They share a somewhat rebellious nature when it comes to music/noise and also perform together under the project Isn’tses. They each have a solo project where they take quite a different approach to music.
They will perform a solo set each from the projects NNJA RIOT and Disgusting Cathedral.
(Note: They will also hold an electronics workshop, 24th November) (link)
NNJA RIOT is the solo project of New Zealand-born artist and composer Lisa McKendrick, now living in the UK. Based in London, she is a multidisciplinary creator, working as a graphic designer, painter, musician, and synth designer. Her creative drive is to push against established norms and to celebrate music which is visceral, intense and energetic.
Her music is a journey into the potential of electronic beats and song composition using musical instruments recorded as samples, modular synthesis, auditory fragments, and vocals. Her live performances incorporate an amalgamation of textures, beats, melody and noise. On stage, she likes to approach the concept of art as a ritual, employing custom-made costumes and headdresses. When playing live she likes to allow the music to take on a new life for each performance, while maintaining a framework to create and improvise with. She incorporates visuals into her performance which are her own footage of forests, stone circles and land art performance.
She has recently released a new studio album “Violet Fields” in February 2024 with Cruel Nature Records. Using her skills as a songwriter and her love for noise she has crafted seven new tracks which hint at the shamanistic disharmony inherent in human evolution, the futility of war and the disconcerting horror of current global events. She explores these themes amongst disparate and poetic lyrics where she conveys her own feelings of being a human struggling to make sense of a fast changing world intent on its own destruction. As if a scholar of sound she records her memoirs through beats, field recordings, noises, rhythms of the city and nature. As if viewing the contemporary world through the eyes of an alien she observes and dismantles, then rebuilds through the fullness of sound, creating a story that can only be told within the realm of music.
Recent performances were at: Expanded Music, Until We Catch Fire, Baba Yaga’s Hut, Berlin Modular Society, Tides/Gossamer Fog, Chaos Theory, Sharp Noodle Bristol, Weird Garden Lincoln, EVTV, Hot Freaks, Ealing Extranormal, IKLECTIKA, Plastic Infinite, Nosiemas, Earworm Presents, Skronktronic, Exit Points Canada, Corpora Aliena, Piksel Festival Norway, It’s Her Factory, Dronica Festival. She was featured/reviewed in Plastic Mag, The Quietus, Sun 13, Fighting Boredom, Resonance FM – Hello Goodbye Show/Bad Punk, Independent Music Podcast, Uptown Transmission, Loose Lips blog, MusicTech magazine, Noods Radio, Dronica Podcast, Female Pressure Radio Podcast and ZRadio.
Disgusting Cathedral is the dungeon synth project of UK-based electronic musician, animator and circuit-bender Tim Drage, who has been prolific in the UK and international noise scene. His projects have an absurdist approach rebelling against the often dour aesthetic of noise music and he makes extensive use of modified and home-made instruments.
Taking the most lo-fi and disjointed aspects of ‘dungeon synth’ to their extremes, Disgusting Cathedral mutates the genre’s traditional black metal and videogame music influences with elements of harsh noise and doom. Ominous and disturbing fantasy soundscapes are created using handcrafted electronics, Casio keyboards, eurorack and Nord modular synthesisers, magnetic tape, open source hardware such as Monome Norns Shield, and obscure, esoteric music software on obsolete devices including Nintendo DS, Game Boy and Macintosh Plus.
Disgusting Cathedral has performed live at IKLECTIK, Earworm and Noise Shed events in London, and at Sharp Noodle events in Newport and Bristol. As well as a number of self-published albums the project’s debut “Adventurers Despised and Rejected” was released on cassette by vaporwave label Rei Records.
