---

latest schemes archive

march 2024:

ecotone played Audiopollination, Guelph at the beginning of march 2024. we all agreed this was one of our favourite live sets we've ever played, so much energy between the three of us. it came after a great day of wandering around the town together, and we spent a really productive time make sounds with the environment next to a creek. we've begun recording for an album that will be released on Ministry of Phonic Services. Ben Mike and Owen Kurtz are producing.

Wildnerness Adventure Ride came out with an album titled "Public Statements on the Privitization of Ontario Place". this group includes two performers, Owen Kurtz and %%30%30, who are integral to the experimental music scene in Toronto right now. I collaborated with Gabrielle Tyrie on the album cover:

I spent some time alone with the no input mixer, which became quite productive once I allowed the mixer to make sound on it's own and accompanied it on pump organ. immediately after I shot a video to pair with the piece. under it I wrote:

"communication takes two willing parties. no oomph or umm, just listen and watch. one small particle has something to tell you.

today they met for the first time, and it felt so obvious once it began. the pump organ requires input through the stomping of my legs, a movement that reminded me of hiking. thinking here about the parallels to our bodily organs, rhythmic blood pumping. the no input mixer (as the name suggests) requires no input, it produces sound without my help. its sound changes due to my suggestions (via knobs), or by some unknowable ghost inside. it ends up feeling more like a companion than an instrument, with a fluttering heart of its own."

this was a practice in turning on a camera and trusting my own instincts. I've been thinking lately about how durational performance or documented settings for art making pushes me to make immediate and quick decisions. improvisation has transformed into a new kind of tool for me recently, forcing me to move beyond a paralysis I can encounter in art making.

and finally, I revisited ceramics for the first time in nearly 4 years with the help of local ceramicist Shakeel Rehemtulla we spent about 3 hours talking and reintroducing me to hand building and wheel throwing techniques. this prompted me to realize a few goals that I've been desiring in my art practice, and some ambitions to work towards are doing me good.