Curated by Kahlil Crawford, this month’s issue features works about electronic music, the intersection of art, creativity, technology and healing, and electronic music composition itself.
‘We must break out of this limited circle of sounds and conquer the infinite variety of noise-sounds.’
Luigi Russolo (1913)
We start off with Bakhora Bakhtiyorova and Tasirul Islam whom provide basic introductions to the contemporary roots of electronic music and technology. Next, Chris Esparza, provides an insider view of rave art history in the midwestern United States – a visual preamble to the upcoming Viva Acid event in Chicago – the home of House music.
Delaware artist/poet Robert Fleming‘s pop art illustrates prominent discotheques in Ibiza, Berlin, London and New York then Metariddim converses with DJ Toyacoyah about indigeneity in and around the electronic music scene. Meanwhile, Zimbabwean poet Abigirl Phiri waxes philosophic on the (electronic) music contributions of Australian vocalist Sia and South Africa’s Makhadzisa.
‘Personally, for my conceptions, I need an entirely new medium of expression: a sound-producing machine.’
Edgard Varèse (1939)
Photographers Daniel de Culla and Isabel Gomez de Diego offer up images of nature, religion and wedding music while poets Kristy Ann Raines and Maja Milojkovic recite the melodious connection between soul, love and music. Mahbub Alam continues this theme with his personal connection to music.
Not limited to music, electronica encompasses our everyday mobile devices as illustrated by Don Bormon. Sabrid Jahan Mahin takes things a step further with a deep technological discussion between father and son while Nurujjaman articulates the lifeways of music and technology on a whole.
‘Many musicians have dreamed of compact technological boxes, inside which all audible sounds, including noise, would be ready to come forth at the command of the composer.’
John Cage (1942)
Yahya Azeroglu explains how music nourishes the soul and provides quotes from historical figures to support this notion. Muhammed Aamir spins a tale of skateboarding, playlists and mixtapes then Jannae Jordan explores the deeper divinity of music frequencies. Tanvir Islam envisions a pro-technological future and DJ Kittenbear sonically reminds us that the beat goes on…