Insitu Recordings

Proyek

Western Front Youth Engagement Collaboration

Our participation in Western Front’s youth engagement efforts began in 2019 when we invited students in Bali to write and record music specifically for the purpose of being electronically reinterpreted by students in Canada. Interested students were organized into three groups led by Insitu Recordings team members who provided guidance and feedback throughout the composition and rehearsal process. Several months later these groups convened at Antida Studio to record the fruits of their labor: 15 intricate compositions, some approaching 10 minutes. This was the first time many of the students had been in a professional recording studio, and the opportunity for professional documentation inspired creativity far exceeding our expectations and instructions. The impressive sonic tapestry captured during that session was then sent to Canada to be mixed, remixed, sampled, or otherwise reinterpreted.

Concurrently with the composition and recording process unfolding in Bali, Canadian students were introduced to the sounds of gamelan and electronic music production. Insitu Recordings’ cofounders Jonathan Adams and I Putu Gede Sukaryana (Balot) provided a hands-on introduction to gamelan performance coupled with a discussion of the historical and cultural context for new music in Bali, while Vancouver-based composers Brian Topp, Yu Su, and Kiran Bhumber taught students how to create electronic music using Ableton Live. Armed with 40+ minutes of new gamelan music, some knowledge and experience with the instruments upon which it had been played, and drawing from their newly acquired production skills, the students were then invited to create electronically manipulated reinterpretations of the compositions sent by their Balinese peers.

Both the original compositions and reinterpretations were scheduled to be premiered in 8-channel surround sound at a special event in early June 2020 that had to be cancelled due to COVID-19. In its place a full-length album was conceived that would include the original compositions alongside works inspired by them. Several established North American electronic musicians were also invited to contribute to it. The result, Mepalu Sari (Essence of a Collision), is a collection of music born from an attempt to bridge sonic practices while simultaneously creating educational opportunities that encourage meaningful collaboration.

Partners

Western Front (Vancouver, Canada)

Supported By

Credits

Balinese Artists: Dewa Gede Agung Kayonanda Parikesit Pemayun, I Pande Komang Gede Triadi Ditya, I Putu Diva Adi Pradana, I Made Panji Pradnya Adi Kusuma, I Kadek Hendra Dwiantara, I Gede Mei Sutrisna Yasa, I Komang Galang Widnyana, Ida Bagus Pradnyananta Arimbawa, I Kadek Wahyu Baskara Dewangga, I Kadek Divananditya, Made Pande Gangga Sentana, I Kadek Bagas Suryadinata, I Kadek Anggara Dwianta, I Putu Restu Andika

North American Artists: Tegan Wahgren, Scott Gailley, Sarah Davachi, Aysha Dulong, Ethan Lum, Ben Berardini, Kalyan Rath, Ashley Musa, Rohini Soedhwa, Bianca Greco, Denis Petrov, Mela Melania & Jack J, Maria Alvarez, Minimal Violence

Educators (Bali): I Komang Pasek Wijaya (Pasex), I Wayan Situbanda (Banda), I Wayan Ari Widyantara (Arik Pejeng)

Educators (Canada): Kiran Bhumber, Csaba Laszlo, Yu Su, Brian Topp, I Putu Gede Sukaryana (Balot), Jonathan Adams

Burnaby North Secondary School Coordinator: Kevin Ault

Western Front Technical Support: Lief Hall & Ben Wilson

Western Front Production Assistant: Kate Woolf & Kathy Feng

Western Front Producer & Curator: Aram Bajakian

Produced in partnership with Burnaby North Secondary School and Western Front, and with support from the Canada Council for the Arts, the BC Arts Council, the Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver, ArtStarts in Schools and TELUS Friendly Future Foundation.

Western Front Youth Engagement Collaboration

Partners

Supported By

Credits

Associated Releases

Contributors