《sonar flare i》

The concept for my first live performance centered around a guqin tune I was learning at the time -- 招隱, which can translate both to "Seeking Seclusion" and "Summoning the Recluse" (more info here).

My plan was to record a take of myself performing the song to use as a sample, but my apartment had a lot of background noise. One particularly loud session was recorded on a Saturday night in May 2022, with sirens criss-crossing the street outside and the subway rumbling every minute below. I spend so much time in my bedroom, and I have conflicting feelings about it as a place where I feel both inspired and rejuvenated, but also frustrated and trapped. I thought that the ambiance of my room lent authenticity, and even a new dimension, to the theme of the guqin tune.

For my performance, the sample (linked below) was processed live with the Morphagene (Make Noise) and the Cold Mac (Mannequins), and sequenced by the Stages (Mutable Instruments).

Curated and run by Cy Kim, Sonar Flare was a noise show showcasing the work of NYU ITP students from Sound Garden, a collective of music technology researchers that Cy also founded. Originally intended to take place at a warehouse venue, it ended up taking place on my patio in May 2022.