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experimental-reminiscence

experimental reminiscence

AI Artwork by Erik Söderberg

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experimental-reminiscence · 22 days

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Imaginary vintage synthesizers

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experimental-reminiscence · 1 year

Audio

Experimental Reminiscence [8:52, .WAV, 48 kHz, 24-Bit] Final task of course at Elektronmusikstudion EMS 2022.

Presentation:

Due to my work with graphics and digital imagery, I early became curious about AI-generated images. When the Midjourney service became available, I signed up for the beta version and started exploring what was possible. I quickly got hooked on rendering images of different environments with elements of plants, appliances, and synthesizers, among other things. The rendered pictures gave me a sense of "phantom nostalgia" – a sense of a place and time that never really existed. These images have been the basis – as a reference point and source of inspiration, a feeling to start from – in my exploration of the Buchla and Serge systems at EMS, and in the recording sessions in my own studio.

To have a structure to relate to, I asked the artificial intelligence for a graphical score for the instruments I intended to use and the AI responded with an image of various blocks and little squiggles. To further concretize and set up a framework, I decided that the piece should stick to the C Minor scale, keep a tempo of 72 BPM and last about 8-9 minutes. I measured the blocks in the score to 159 Bars and divided them into color-coded sections in my DAW. This became the map that I related to in the cutting and mixing process.

The recordings were done as individual explorations and improvised jams. Instruments and effects used are: Serge System in Studio 6, Buchla 100 Series and small 200 system in Studio 3, Buchla 200 in Studio 4, EMS SYNTHI A, Buchla Easel Command, Korg MS20 mini, Synthstrom Audible Deluge, Empress Reverb, Roland Space Echo RE20, Earthquaker Grand Orbiter, EHX Bad Stone, Meris Polymoon, BOSS BX16 mixer, Reason 12, Eksperimental Sounds Ouroboros, Reverb AK11, and FX3180, FabFilter ProQ 3 EQ, field recordings of crackles and bubbles with Zoom 4Hn.

The hardest part during the process has been letting go of the idea of "traditional" music and finding a form that feels good. I wanted to explore all the instruments involved and let them have a role in the piece which easily became cluttered and bordered on chaos, but I think in the end I managed to balance just right on the edge of cacophony.