Dana Schechter & Ashley Spungin @ EMS 24 April - 1 May, 2018
Combining elements of horror-film soundtracks, psychedelic doom metal, and atmospheric noise, NYC/Portland-based instrumental duo Insect Ark is comprised of Dana Schechter (bass, lap steel guitar, synthesizers) and Ashley Spungin (drums, synthesizers).
Insect Ark’s uncommon sound is in part the amalgamation of these two women’s passions: Schechter’s sinister bass lines and unconventional use of lap steel guitar (and her complete omission of electric guitar), and Spungin’s lucid, exacting drumming and synth work with her own hand-built analog noise pedals (Ormus Electronics).
From its inception, Insect Ark has been about creating music that transports, both physically and psychologically. Both women make work with no borders – they are DIY makers, multi-instrumentalists, gearheads, and visual artists.
In addition to their roles in the Insect Ark, Spungin does live sound, studio recordings and programming; Schechter composes music for film and is a video maker/animator for Film/TV.
Photo by Rennie Elliot
Insect Ark’s uncommon sound is in part the amalgamation of these two women’s passions: Schechter’s sinister bass lines and unconventional use of lap steel guitar (and her complete omission of electric guitar), and Spungin’s lucid, exacting drumming and synth work with her own hand-built analog noise pedals (Ormus Electronics).
From its inception, Insect Ark has been about creating music that transports, both physically and psychologically. Both women make work with no borders – they are DIY makers, multi-instrumentalists, gearheads, and visual artists.
In addition to their roles in the Insect Ark, Spungin does live sound, studio recordings and programming; Schechter composes music for film and is a video maker/animator for Film/TV.
Photo by Rennie Elliot
Their residency at EMS coincides with a European tour in support of
their newest record, Marrow Hymns, which will be released on
Profound Lore Records in February of 2018.
insectark.com
insectark.bandcamp.com
ormus.bandcamp.com
danaschechter.com
their newest record, Marrow Hymns, which will be released on
Profound Lore Records in February of 2018.
insectark.com
insectark.bandcamp.com
ormus.bandcamp.com
danaschechter.com
Deena Abdelwahed @ EMS 19-26 April, 2018
Coming from the Tunisian alternative music scene, Deena works to inject a dose of innovation and experimentation in Electro Dance Music. Giving a personnal touch to urban rhythms and energy to avant-garde music, she starts by accompanying jazzman Fawzi Cheki- li and the group “So Soulful". Later in 2011, she joins the World Full Of Bass DJs collective, introduced by Zied Meddeb Hamrouni, one of the first performers of experimental electronic music in Tunisia.
Just before moving to Toulouse/France in 2014, she performed live sets with Arabstazy’s artists in numerous European and north African cities. Now working alone, she's supported by artists as Acid Arab, Morphosis, Bachar Mar-Khalifé or Débruit. She has played at many events such as the CTM festival in Berlin, Sound of Stockholm, the RBMA festival, Villette Sonique in Paris, the Festival Transmusicales in Rennes, and soon Sónar !
Photo by Olivier Jeanne Rose/Julia Castel
Just before moving to Toulouse/France in 2014, she performed live sets with Arabstazy’s artists in numerous European and north African cities. Now working alone, she's supported by artists as Acid Arab, Morphosis, Bachar Mar-Khalifé or Débruit. She has played at many events such as the CTM festival in Berlin, Sound of Stockholm, the RBMA festival, Villette Sonique in Paris, the Festival Transmusicales in Rennes, and soon Sónar !
Photo by Olivier Jeanne Rose/Julia Castel
Myriam Bleau @ EMS 11 April - 4 May, 2018
Myriam Bleau is a composer, digital artist and performer based in Montreal. She creates audiovisual systems that go beyond the screen, such as sound installations and performance-specific musical interfaces. Her hybrid electronic practice investigates music performance as a codified cultural manifestation and seeks avenues of subtle disruption through the recontextualisation of pop culture elements and historical tropes. Her work has been presented and recognized internationally: Ars Electronica (AT), Sónar (ES), Sonic Arts Award (IT), Elektra (CA), ISEA (CA), Transmediale (DE), ACT (KR).
Photo by Alba Rupérez
Joël Lavoie @ EMS 10-24 April, 2018
Joël Lavoie, originally from Montreal, rapidly found himself a passion for music composition and technology. After a few years of work as a sound engineer in various halls and theatres, he completed a degree in electroacoustic music composition at Université de Montréal, where he studied with Robert Normandeau, Jean Piché and Louis Dufort. Besides composition and sound design, he purrs his career as sound engineer for theatre, music and dance. He has composed and performed for various projects in dance, video, theatre and poetry. His music brought him to play in Canada, France, United-Kingdom and Mexico.
In his creations, he tries to grabs the organicity and spontaneous nature of natural sounds and match them to discordant and sometimes cold nature of artificial electronic sounds. The inspiration comes from numerous moments listening to his surroundings and being seduced by them. He captures them and gives them a new transformative life, otherworldly.
Photo by Joel Maud Touchette