Ear Expansion Podcast is a multi-part series of recorded, long form conversations between host LaMont Hamilton and various artists of color working in all aspects of sound. This podcast aims to highlight artists who are invested in the idea of making art that extends the listening experience. Traditionally this has been described as “sound art” or “experimental” work. Ear Expansion Podcast; however, hopes to advocate for a new descriptive language- aural art. Aural Art is a move away from less defined terms such as ambient or experimental in order to specify art made for the hearing body- both the act of listening and its somatic extension.
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Ear Expansion Podcast is a multi-part series of recorded, long form conversations between host LaMont Hamilton and various artists of color working in all aspects of sound. This podcast aims to highlight artists who are invested in the idea of making art that extends the listening experience. Traditionally this has been described as “sound art” or “experimental” work. Ear Expansion Podcast; however, hopes to advocate for a new descriptive language- aural art. Aural Art is a move away from less defined terms such as ambient or experimental in order to specify art made for the hearing body- both the act of listening and its somatic extension.
In this episode of Ear Expansion, host LaMont Hamilton engages in a deep conversation with acclaimed drummer Pheeroan akLaff. The discussion begins with Pheeroan's early musical influences growing up in Detroit, a city rich in black sonic imagination and cultural history. Pheeroan reminisces about his early experiences in rhythm, initially shaped by his parents' love for jazz and reinforced through his spiritual involvement in the AME Church. He reflects on foundational moments such as hearing Alice Coltrane perform live and being mentored by artists like Marcus Belgrave and Travis Biggs. The conversation also explores Pheeroan's time in New York's vibrant loft scene of the 1970s, where he collaborated with icons like Rashied Ali, Oliver Lake, and Wadada Leo Smith, developing a unique approach to rhythm and musical expression. Pheeroan further delves into his travels in Africa during the 1980s, meeting influential figures like Fela Kuti and how these experiences deepened his understanding of rhythm as a form of communal and spiritual practice. The episode concludes with Pheeroan discussing his current work, his work with PHP (Serpentine Story), and his continuous quest to blend spirituality with musical innovation.
Ear Expansion Podcast
Ear Expansion Podcast is a multi-part series of recorded, long form conversations between host LaMont Hamilton and various artists of color working in all aspects of sound. This podcast aims to highlight artists who are invested in the idea of making art that extends the listening experience. Traditionally this has been described as “sound art” or “experimental” work. Ear Expansion Podcast; however, hopes to advocate for a new descriptive language- aural art. Aural Art is a move away from less defined terms such as ambient or experimental in order to specify art made for the hearing body- both the act of listening and its somatic extension.
