The Sydney Fringe Festival is home to several innovative electronic arts events, with many exploring the complex relationship between the real world and the digital world.
Momentum is an online composition project devised and created by musician Nat Grant. With the aim of linking digital and natural environments, Grant has been creating acoustic instrumental and field recording samples each day, and processing them electronically.
‘As a percussionist who incorporates electronic processing in my music making, using digital manipulation with field recordings seemed to me like an obvious progression,’ said Grant.
She is particularly interested in how the natural and electronic can be morphed into completely different sounds, and how they can sometimes even mimic each other.
‘Manipulating natural sounds electronically acts as a creative springboard for new ideas and new sounds, and different combinations of natural and digital environments,’ said Grant.
During the Melbourne and Sydney Fringe festivals her creations will be uploaded daily for the world to hear, encouraging constructive dialogue around the work before it is complete.
‘A big part of my Momentum projects has been the importance of an instantaneous feedback loop,’ said Grant. ‘People all over the world can hear my work, contribute their own sounds for me to incorporate into the work, and comment on it all within minutes of a track of blog post being uploaded.’
This has also resulted in parts of the work being remixed and exhibited all over the world.
Another production exploring the delivery of digital is Zonial, created by animator and graphic designer Neil McCann and researcher, programmer and electronic musician Oliver Brown. Zonial is an audio-visual performance that combines film, animation and collage with a live score of analogue and digital sound.
Transformation, birth and decay are the themes explored within this mix of media. According to McCann, ‘I wanted to engage in the ancient rituals of universal themes. They are within all cultures, but I wanted to involve them in more than one form, to try and combine them in some sort of digital shamanic mash up.’
A vital aspect of the production is the live element. ‘The live aspect brings us all into the moment … The digital projector is the campfire that we gather round to sing and dance and tell stories.’
Described by McCann as a ‘sit down informative cosmic rave cabaret’, Zonial will no doubt be an audio-visual experience that won’t soon be forgotten. If you’re not sure what to expect, check out McCann’s video Hypnic Jerk for a taste of the style.
Performances of Momentum are free and will start from 6pm on the 26-29 September at the Vanishing Point.
Zonial is $5 and will screen from 8pm on the 27-29 September at the Newtown Hotel.
The Sydney Fringe Festival runs from 6-29 September. Most tickets are under $30 and are on sale now through the official Sydney Fringe Festival website or by calling (02) 9020 69 80.
A comprehensive guide to programmed events is also available on the website. Events can be searched for through genre, location, venue or date.
