This is Ep.19 of 'The New North Podcast', which does a deep dive into the unique ideas and approaches that make Melbourne's exploratory music scene so rich and varied. In this episode, we share another fascinating artist talk, this time presented by James Rushford in June 2024. James is an artist with an expansive musical imagination and an incredible talent for creating evocative, surprising and atmospheric performances and recordings using electronic and acoustic means. As a composer and performer, his work draws on concrete, improvised, avant-garde and collagist musical languages. The intro music to this episode is excerpted from ‘Fallaway Whisk” and the outro music is ‘Quire III’. Both works are released on Turzets (Blank Forms Editions, 2024): https://blankformseditions.bandcamp.com/album/turzets The first musical excerpt referred to in the talk was from a piece titled ‘Bluebeards' from the album Block Gifts (2022), a collection of works for portative organ composed between 2015 and 2018.  https://jamesrushford.bandcamp.com/track/bluebeards The second example discussed by James is from his piano work 'See the Welter', which was released in 2020 together with Federico Mompou’s Musica Callada, which Rushford’s work responds to.  https://jamesrushford.bandcamp.com/album/m-sica-callada-see-the-welter New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek.

This is Ep.18 of 'The New North Podcast', which does a deep dive into the unique ideas and approaches that make Melbourne's exploratory music scene so rich and varied. In this episode, we share an artist talk presented in April 2024 by Narrm raised double bassist, composer and keyboardist Jon Heilbron. Jon unpacks the role of microtonality and non-tempered tuning systems in various phrases of his musical output. Throughout the presentation, Jon refers to musical examples, some of which can be accessed at the links below.    Alvin Lucier - Still Lives: V. Two Floor Tiles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFAYR1msB6A   Arches: Fredrik Rasten/Jon Heilbron https://inexhaustibleeditions.bandcamp.com/album/with-all-your-mysteries-in-the-open-air   Muto Infinitas - Catherine Lamb (performed by Rebecca Land and Jon Heilbron) https://anothertimbre.bandcamp.com/album/muto-infinitas   New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek

This is Ep.17 of 'The New North Podcast', which does a deep dive into the unique ideas and approaches that make Melbourne's exploratory music scene so rich and varied. In this episode, Dale Gorfinkel and Aviva Endean discuss their duo collaboration with a focus on their performance at New North's Concert 6 in August 2022. They describe their unique instrumentation of air drums and extended contrabass clarinet and the subtle amalgamation of low frequencies made possible by this unique combination. Watch their performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI2gxRYPW3o New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek

This is Ep.16 of 'The New North Podcast', which does a deep dive into the unique ideas and approaches that make Melbourne's exploratory music scene so rich and varied. In this episode, Jack Palmer talks about Bad Ambulance, his long-standing electronic music project that was featured in New North 7: Another Solstice. Follow the YouTube link below to discover a multilayered fever dream of 808 bass, beats and drones set to a video collage of retro VHS Japanese street drifting, cursed hypnagogic imagery, vintage occultism, and cartoon witches. Watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl52JmFneeI Jack also discussed his forthcoming release on Nice Music, called Intel 95, and the whimsical ring tones project he has with his partner Annelise Roberts. Get your Diamond Rings here: diamondringsboutique.bandcamp.com/album/diamond-rings-vol-1 New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek  

This is Ep.15 of 'The New North Podcast', which does a deep dive into the unique ideas and approaches that make Melbourne's exploratory music scene so rich and varied. Aditya talks about fixed/fleeting, which he created with support from the 2022 New North Emerging Artist Commission. The work combines hydrophone recordings from various bodies of water with restrained acoustic sounds performed by Aditya on percussion and Justinn Lu on Saxophone. Discover ideas that informed Aditya's composition and how his work engages with legacies of colonialism that manifest in the relationship between people and ecologies. Watch the premier performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3JebmnBXsI&ab_channel=NewNorth More information about the New North Emerging Artist Commission: https://www.newnorthmusic.online/emerging-artist-commission New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek

This is Ep.14 of 'The New North Podcast' that investigates the unique sounds and perspectives of exploratory musicians. In this episode, pianist, composer and electronic musician Anthony Pateras talks with Francis Plagne about his current musical interests, formative influences and the collection of works presented at NN8: ‘Dread of Voids’ in February, 2023. This pre-concert talk was recorded by Byron Scullin on Feb 17, 2023. Intro music excerpted from ‘Thinning,’ performed by Sam Dunscombe Outro music excerpted from ‘A Happy Sacrifice,’ performed by Jonathan Heilbron Both works are released on ‘ Collected Works Vol. II 2005-2018, Anthony Pateras (Immediata, 2019)’ Find out more at https://www.anthonypateras.com New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek

This is Ep.13 of 'The New North Podcast' that investigates the unique sounds and perspectives of exploratory musicians. In this episode, trumpet player, composer, improviser and producer Reuben Lewis talks about the path that lead him to the electroacoustic work that he is making. He also shares insights about building a varied and sustainable career in the arts, making opportunities and taking care of business. Reuben performed excerpts from his debut solo release 'The House is Empty' at Veils on June 8th. Check out his performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MDZbShHZAE&t=139s&ab_channel=NewNorth New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek

This is Ep.12 of 'The New North Podcast' that investigates the unique sounds and perspectives of exploratory musicians. In this episode, drummer James McLean talks about solo drums, practicing for emergence, and the influence of street photography in his thinking about long-term artistic development. James's performance at  'Afterglow' was titled 'Photo Book'. Discover video and recording of this performance and many more: https://linktr.ee/new_north_music Find out more at newnorthmusic.online http://jamesmclean.info/ New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek      

This is Ep.11 of 'The New North Podcast' that investigates the unique sounds and perspectives of exploratory musicians. In this episode, Flora Carbo and Eitan Ritz discuss feedback loops and bodily movement as inspirations for their work 'Besides, Just Besides' which premiered at 'Foreign, Intimate' on April 27, 2022. The work responds to a poem by Caitlin Aloisio Shearer. Watch their performance at the New North YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpsRNhbePL4&t=1295s&ab_channel=NewNorth   New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek

This is Ep.10 of 'The New North Podcast' that investigates the unique sounds and perspectives of exploratory musicians. In this episode, interdisciplinary ensemble Mahagonny discuss their telematic performance at New North 4: Foreign, Intimate, which connected performers in Narrm/Melbourne, Boorloo/Perth and Berlin using live networking technology. Joe talks with Josten Myburgh (Perth), Lena Czerniawska (Berlin) and composer-performer Emilio Gordoa (Berlin) about the sounds and images in their performance, which also featured Michael McNab. Michael was not available for this discussion but was interviewed in Ep.5 of the podcast. Video of performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxV_UsNEWso&t=2265s&ab_channel=NewNorth New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek

This is Ep.9 of 'The New North Podcast' that investigates the unique sounds and perspectives of exploratory musicians. In this episode, Jessica Linsday Smith discusses her opera 'Esoteric' that premiers at Brunswick Mechanics Institute on May 20th, 2022. Esoteric contemplates a future on earth post environmental collapse.  It combines instrumental and vocal textures with projections by visual artist Rachael Archibald and movement by Arabella Frahn-Starkie. More information on Jessica's website: http://www.jessicalindsaysmith.com/esoteric-1 New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek

This is Ep.8 of 'The New North Podcast' that investigates the unique sounds and perspectives of exploratory musicians. In this episode, Joe O'Connor is interviewed by guest host Steven Socha about his piece 'Five Moods, Five Poses' which was performed at 'Afterglow' on February 24th, 2022. The piece combines tape tracks developed by Joe and percussionist Tim Green, with live elements by Helen Svoboda (double bass) and Joe (organ and samples placed through drum and gong, piano, and trombone). Watch performance at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufH_ntn5_fY&ab_channel=NewNorth New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek  

This is Ep.7 of 'The New North Podcast' that investigates the unique sounds and perspectives of exploratory musicians. In this episode, Jasmin Wing-Yin Leung talks about her performance at New North's 'Resonant Threads' on March 10th, 2022. She explored the resonant frequencies of the room with wavering sine-tone harmonies, combined with her unique approach to the erhu.  Find out more at newnorthmusic.online New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek

This is Ep.6 of 'The New North Podcast' that investigates the unique sounds and perspectives of exploratory musicians. In this episode, drummer and composer Maria Moles talks about her performance at New North's 'Resonant Threads' on March 10th, 2022. Her performance combined drums, gongs, cymbals and synthesizer to create an immersive and hypnotic series of textures. Find out more at newnorthmusic.online New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek

This is Ep.5 of 'The New North Podcast' that investigates the unique sounds and perspectives of exploratory musicians. In this episode, percussionist and sound artist Michael McNab talks about the the YouTube set he performed at New North's 'Resonant Threads' on March 10th, 2022. This amazing piece of musical collage was created by layering sounds played from multiple internet browser tabs. We couldn't publish this set due to its use of 3rd party content, so the episode begins with an original footwork composition by Michael called 'I'll Be Fine'. Find out more at newnorthmusic.online New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek

This is Ep.3 of 'The New North Podcast' that investigates the unique sounds and perspectives of exploratory musicians who make and present work in Narrm (Melbourne).  In this episode, trumpet player Niran Dasika and guitarist Theo Carbo talk about the new electroacoustic work they developed for New North's online concert 'Monochrome'.   New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek

This is the second episode of the 'New North Podcast' that investigates the unique sounds and perspectives of exploratory musicians. In this episode, violinist Lily Tait and guitarist Nick Ashwood talk about ideas that converged in their stunning performance at New North's inaugural concert 'Ghost Lights' in May 2021. They created a transfixing presence that was subtle, soothing and, above all, incredibly beautiful. New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek

This is the first episode of 'The New North Podcast' that investigates the unique sounds and perspectives of exploratory musicians. In this episode, trumpet player and composer Callum G'Froerer talks about his creative practice, his growing repertoire for the double-bell trumpet, and the intriguing piece that he developed with the amazing James Rushford for performance at 'Ghost Lights', New North's inaugural concert in May 2021. Find out more at newnorthmusic.online New North’s activities are made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia and Arts Merri-Bek