SNS asks Stef Eye (aka Zaphryn Follicle) to record her process as she creates (photos by Goken):
PROCESS 1
The set up for this series is: Ableton live, Kaoscillator, kalimba, flat guitar – ancient thing I have no name for it .. just acquired via Spazecrafte. two recorders to flow live and abstractly texture track … trying to tap into the (Pharoah Sanders )
PROCESS 2
while recording I’m trying to get a level .. from a Sony mic that’s actually more receptive than the contact mic .. the contact mic is great to add additional noise texture … since this is my first time recording multiple strings it suits to record it with a higher quality mic … I’m running mic into Ableton and gathering different effects
PROCESS 3
banging on the string instrument with a mallet to see if it works as a dulcimer but its actually rather harsh so I decided to just bow … for its a it suits all sound sculptures evenly
PROCESS 4
now I’m layering the Kaoscillator to blend the organic sounds with electronic sounds …
PROCESS 5
here I’m attempting to record the two recorders … the mic picked up faint sounds. this one is a challenge but sounds interesting at points
PROCESS 6
re-recording another layer of bowing and plucking. this particular steel string guitar has the chords set in so I’m beginning to understand ways to embellish upon all the sounds
PROCESS 7
I’m adding additional textures to complete sounds. I have a Kalimba and a wood Pilon for cooking it adds great drum hints with effects
and that’s a track … every track transforms – I never know how or what will inspire it. The idea is to record it and to say the least … maintain all the memory possible to try a variety of ideas.
Saturn Ring w Drum
Where were you born, where do you live, and would you rather live somewhere else?
I was born in NYC Upper west side … raised in Santo Domingo up until 8 years young. I’m currently in NYC and I would love to live in a variety of places.. I’m interested in living in a variety of places , Belize feels like a place to check out I have family roots there and I hear they have a bit of a music scene there … Liquid Sound Lounge has done some events there, and they speak Spanish plus have pyramids so I’m sure the vibrations would be great for music.
When did you start making art/music?
I started making music really in college around 94/95 , I had a piano during childhood and I would record me and my friends running around banging on the piano keys, I had no idea that those experiences would be become a reality today… I also acquired an
Amiga Commodore Computer at an early age and I would play around typing words via this computer voice program. I believe those experiences were influences and inspiration for today’s process as a sound composer. I began producing and fiddling around with electronic instruments ..at Sunny Purchase I loosely started on the Akai 950 & Cubase, it was still quite new to me. And alot of the information was acquired by looking over the shoulder of some great producer’s (DJ Eli , Siba Giba, Baba, Sean Boogie – not so sure if I need permission to rep these cats). Sampling evolved when I acquired an M-1 sampler and Roland drum machine in Australia, 1997. Then I arrived back to the states and began utilizing a PC. I started on Cubase and Digital Orchestrator with a really big midi keyboard, and 4 tape deck track. I sample off vinyl and tape.
What is your favorite piece of equipment/ instrument to record with and why?
Well lately I have been really enjoying recording live sounds with the contact mic .. the contact mic is fascinating to me, it’s so organic, it’s like a telescope … I always favor my Zoom sampler for it is analog. It adds starch to digital sound.. really thickens the sound, so it’s really warm,and has survived like 3 computers. It’s amazing I can hold like 20 loops.. it has 3 minutes of record time … amazes me how much you can do with that amount of time… and its extremely versatile considering the amount of effects and pitch control. I also use it for live sampling. My favorite samples are straight off vinyl although latelyI have really been pushing myself on making specific samples….with various instruments such as bow on metals, music boxes, kalimba, old keyboards and mini vibraphones.
What’s the last piece of software, instrument or hardware you acquired for the use of making art?
Kaos pad is the last piece of equipment I purchased… it’s great for saturation and layering electronic textures. Super clean sound, I believe it is also analog so it thickens up the frequencies… I just had a wonderful donation of Ableton Live from an Arts Education organization and now that I’m feeling super comfortable with it it allows me compose, record and program audio, all at once. The audio quality is superb. Last but not least I recently encountered a percussion drum from Vietnam, its a flat bamboo drum and it really opens up the realm of primitive sound, makes a great fusion with the electronic textures.
What do you listen for in a loop?
Considering jazz & funk standard, technically I’m trying to minimally replicate & archive chords reminiscent of the golden age of jazz and funk. With that in mind I search to achieve a sonic kaleidoscope.. a free space were loops communicate and dance in unison. I listen for one complete loop and one incomplete loop, the third sound texture weaves the entire structure expressing one mood or multiple. Its all about probability, chances and accidental sound combinations.”
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Saturday November 14th from 7 -9pm, Stef Eye will be performing a solo electronic set, playing for travelers, at Hostelling International New York, 932 Amsterdam Ave, NYC, and December 11th she will be part of the SNS ensemble at the Knitting Factory.
SNS Podcast No.3: Zaturn Blend by Zaphryn Follicle
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This is amazing! I love to see the artist process! Thanks for posting this:)
love her!!!! great feature