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[le français suit]
the sonic explorations of joël lavoie sail through the troubled water of the individual and collective subconscious. outwitting the anecdotic nature of real soundscapes through complex and textured collages, the auditor finds himself amid a soft and intense universe drifting freely in the evocations of the subconscious. exploring the themes of the souvenir, the elsewhere and introspection, he encourages us to take a pause, a reset, surrendering to a rediscovery of the self. minimalist music in its form, maximalist in his timbral complexity, it questions the usual codes of perception and apprehension.
les explorations sonores de Joël lavoie naviguent dans les eaux troubles du subconscient individuel et collectif. en déjouant l’anecdotique de paysages sonores réel dans des assemblages complexes et texturés, l’auditeur se trouve au beau milieu d’un univers doux et intense voguant librement dans les evocations de son subconscient. explorant les thèmes du souvenir, de l’ailleurs et de l’introspection, il nous encourage a prendre une pause, une remise à zéro, un abandon complet pour une redécouverte de soi. une musique minimaliste dans la forme, maximaliste dans sa complexité timbrale, elle questionne les codes usuels de perceptions et d’appréhension.
practice 41: ylangylang saturday, february 8th, 2020, 4pm-5pm neverapart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
deeply interested in music as an experiential medium, YlangYlang aims at creating a truly interactive moment in which people are free to engage as they wish. everyone’s inner mechanisms are intricate in unique ways, and music can be a gentle navigation device each can use to navigate through the depths of the psyche. sound can caress strange dreams, bring back memories and affect, nourish creative thoughts and colors; it’s an intimate exchange of stimuli and feelings. she proposes for this practice an open-ended moment in suspension, a shared sonic landscape, a shimmering of sound and textures to dive into.
Profondément intéressée par la musique en tant que médium expérimental, YlangYlang vise à créer un moment véritablement interactif dans lequel les gens sont libres de l’approcher comme il.e.s/elles le souhaitent. Les mécanismes intérieurs de chacun.e sont complexes et uniques, et la musique peut être un outil de navigation doux que chacun.e peut utiliser pour s’orienter dans les profondeurs de la psyché. Le son peut caresser des rêves étranges, rappeler des souvenirs et affecter, nourrir des pensées et des couleurs créatives; c’est un échange intime de stimuli et de sentiments. YlangYlang propose pour cette session Practice un moment ouvert en suspension, un paysage sonore partagé, un chatoiement de sons et de textures dans lequel plonger.
practice 40: zlata saturday, january 25th, 2020 neverapart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
Zlata visits the sensory experience as a moment for listening, reflection, and transformation. Through sonic practices of poetics, deep listening, and movement, Zlata invites us to communicate with the embodied subconscious. In this very special mediation, Zlata will be joined with facilitator Ma Lek of A Human Space, who will be leading a movement practice to nourish your body as part of this enveloping sensory presence. We will hold space for you to freely explore your body through laying, dancing, breathing, imagining.
Zlata visite l’expérience sensorielle comme un moment d’écoute, de réflexion et de transformation. A travers des pratiques sonores de poésie, d’écoute profonde et de mouvement, Zlata nous invite à communiquer avec le subconscient incarné. Dans cette médiation très spéciale, Zlata sera accompagnée de l’animatrice Ma Lek de A Human Space, qui dirigera une pratique de mouvement pour nourrir votre corps dans le cadre de cette présence sensorielle enveloppante. Nous vous réservons un espace pour explorer librement votre corps à travers la pose, la danse, la respiration, l’imagination.
practice #39: christian scott (jupiter in 7th) saturday, november 23rd, 4pm never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served. free
[le français suit]
christian scott is a mexican-canadian artist-researcher who uses poetry, field recordings, soundscapes and body/movement to explore themes of interconnectedness, memory, and identity in the city – among humans and non-humans. they are a PhD candidate in concordia’s INDI program and a collaborator of the performative urbanism lab (PULSE). they produce and perform under the moniker jupiter in 7th. christian’s practice set will take participants in a journey of expanded emotions and sensations, poetics and everyday-life questions.
——————————
christian scott est un•e chercheur-créateur•e mexicano-canadien•ne qui utilise la poésie, les enregistrements sur le terrain, les paysages sonores et le corps/mouvement pour explorer les thèmes de l’interconnectivité, de la mémoire et de l’identité dans la ville, chez les humains et les non-humains. iel est candidat•e au doctorat au programme INDI de l’université concordia et collaborateur•e du performative urbanism lab (PULSE). iel produit et joue sous le nom de Jupiter in 7th. la performance pour practice de christian emmènera les participant•e•s dans un voyage d’émotions et de sensations élargies, de poésie et de questions de la vie quotidienne.
practice #38: sid frank saturday, september 28th, 4pm never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served. free
[le français suit]
sid frank creates slowly evolving drones that combine electronics with field recordings of daily life in an urban setting. the drone backdrop provides a different way of hearing what might otherwise be considered harsh or distracting street sounds, revealing a hidden musicality. the simplicity of the music, the repetition, and the deliberately measured pace of change leaves space for the attentive listener to notice what may or may not be imagined, and to generate their own internal composition.
sid frank crée des drones à évolution lente qui combinent l’électronique avec des enregistrements sur le terrain de la vie quotidienne en milieu urbain. la toile de fond du drone permet d’entendre différemment ce que l’on pourrait autrement considérer comme des sons de rue durs ou distrayants, révélant ainsi une musicalité cachée. la simplicité de la musique, la répétition et le rythme délibérément mesuré du changement laissent à l’auditeur attentif l’espace nécessaire pour remarquer ce qui peut être imaginé ou non, et pour générer sa propre composition interne.
practice x mutek: lyndsie alguire saturday, august 24th, 4pm never apart, garden 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served. free
Part of the Digi Lab program, Sonic Circuits is MUTEK’s new gear showroom this edition. Partnering with The Deli Magazine, Sonic Circuits will showcase the latest equipment from synths to pedals—featuring local manufacturers as well as international brands, offering a 10% discount on their products. Guitars will be available for you to try the pedals, but do not hesitate to bring yours. In addition to the gear exhibition, technical workshops and enlightening presentations will be given by artists, professionals and manufacturers.
Sonic Circuits will be hosted at Never Apart, located in the heart of Mile-Ex.
Entrance is free and open to everyone, but make sure you RSVP according to your main interest: synths or pedals!
MUTEK does not tolerate harassment, discrimination or hateful language.
Only the ground floor is accessible to people with wheelchairs and people with reduced mobility. The noise meditation will take place in the garden, which is accessible to wheelchairs.
S’intégrant à la programmation Digi Lab du festival, Sonic Circuits est le nouveau showroom d’instruments de MUTEK, revu et amélioré. S’associant à Delicious Audio, Sonic Circuits mettra en avant les équipements modulaires derniers cris, des synthétiseurs en passant par les pédales—présentés aussi bien par des fabricants locaux que des marques internationales, offrant un rabais de 10% sur les produits. Des guitares seront à votre disposition pour essayer les pédales, mais n’hésitez pas à ramener la vôtre. En plus de l’exposition d’instruments, des ateliers techniques ainsi que des présentations enrichissantes seront données par des artistes, des professionnels et des fabricants.
Sonic Circuits se déroulera au centre multiculturel et inclusive Never Apart, situé au coeur du Mile-Ex.
L’entrée est gratuite et ouverte à tous, mais n’oubliez pas de RSVP selon votre centre d’intérêt principal : synthés ou pédales !
MUTEK ne tolère pas le harcèlement, la discrimination ou le langage haineux.
Seul le rez-de-chaussée est accessible aux personnes en fauteuil roulant et aux personnes à mobilité réduite à Never Apart. La méditation sonore se déroule dans le jardin, qui sera accessible aux personnes en fauteuil roulant.
saturday, july 27th, 4pm never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served. free
[le français suit]
with long drones and interlocking rhythms built around a sustained, simple tempo the listener is invited to breathe deeply in sync with the pulse, allowing for a more active shared experience, collapsing the boundary between performer and audience, between mind and body.
Avec de longs drones et des rythmes enchevêtrés construits autour d’un tempo simple et soutenu, l’auditeur/trice est invité.e à respirer profondément en synchronisation avec le pouls, permettant une expérience partagée plus active, effaçant la frontière entre l’interprète et le public, entre l’esprit et le corps.
saturday, june 22nd, 4pm never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served. free
[le français suit]
4 scents 4 sounds by Schnuppofsky explores the union of scent and sound as frequencies, as gateways to memories, as resources for healing by drawing on the therapeutic and olfactory properties of essential oils.
We invite you to this 60 minute guided sound meditation accompanied by a set of therapeutic essential oils using an oil diffuser. The first part of the session is comprised of a short introduction into the properties of essential oils, then listeners may lie down, close their eyes while their 6th sense is stimulated. The music specifically prepared to complement the oils guides them through the next 50 minutes. In the end everyone can look at, smell and try out the oils.
Free entry.
**Please inform us if you have any allergies to needle trees or other plants.**
• ABOUT SCHNUPPOFSKY •
In Schnuppofsky’s musical compositions, organic sounds merge with thick, dark drones, combining native and classical instruments with field recordings. The emerging soundscapes make audible tensions between the opposing forces in nature: the calm before a storm, the comforting forest sounds juxtaposed to low, rumbling underwater frequencies and the expanded, floating sounds of distant sea- and land creatures’ whistles pervading the human heartbeat.
Her artistic practice consists of playing and recording instruments, then synthesizing these audio tracks into pads and improvising/composing. Recent compositions have been strongly influenced by rare instruments such as overtone harps, which she had the chance to record a private collection of custom made harps this winter in Austria.
As a trained flute player, for her live performances, she likes to layer recorded sounds on top of custom made atmospheric pads and flute improvisation to achieve organic, deep and natural soundscapes.
“Essential oils have the highest frequencies of any measured natural substance. Pure grade essential oils range in frequency from 52 to 580 MHz (latest finding with Idaho Blue Spruce). A healthy body, from head to foot, typically has a frequency ranging from 62 to 78 MHz, while disease begins at 57 MHz.”
“Two New York researchers, Daniel Wesson and Donald Wilson, were confronted with this fact when they began investigating an “enigmatic” area of the brain known as the olfactory tubercle. Originally, they only intended to measure how olfactory tubercle cells in mice responded to smell. But during testing, Wesson noticed that every time he clunked his coffee mug down next to the experiment, the mouse cells jumped in activity. In fact, the olfactory tubercle is physiologically well-placed to receive both smell and sound information from the outside world; and so Wesson and Wilson broadened their investigation.
They found that among individual cells, most responded to odour but a significant number were also active when a tone was played. Some cells even behaved differently when smell and sound were presented together, by either increasing or suppressing their activity. As Wesson and Wilson point out, there may be some evolutionary sense behind the phenomenon – the sound of movement accompanied by an unfamiliar smell could alert you to the presence of a predator.”
“While extant research suggests that olfactory and musical stimuli can influence individuals’ perceptions and behaviors, the combined or interactive effects of these environmental cues is not well understood. Using stimuli associated with the Christmas holiday season, this research explores the joint effects of ambient scent and music on consumers’ evaluations of a store, its environment and offered merchandise. A 2 (no scent vs. Christmas scent)×2 (non-Christmas music vs. Christmas music) experimental design was implemented in a mock retail store. Results indicate that the effects of adding an ambient Christmas scent are moderated by the nature of the background music. In particular, consumers’ evaluations are more favorable when the Christmas scent is in the presence of Christmas music. The presence of the Christmas scent with non-Christmas music, however, lowers evaluations. Results and implications of the findings are discussed with regard to retail practice and environmental psychology.”
• • •
We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather for this event is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.
• • FR • •
4 Senteurs 4 sons de Schnuppofsky explore l’union du son et des senteurs comme fréquences, comme portes d’accès à la mémoire, comme ressources pour la guérison en puisant dans les propriétés thérapeutiques et olfactives des huiles essentielles.
Nous vous invitons à cette méditation sonore guidée de 60 minutes accompagnée d’un assortiment d’huiles essentielles thérapeutiques à l’aide d’un diffuseur d’huile. La première partie de la séance consiste en une brève introduction aux propriétés des huiles essentielles, puis les participants peuvent se coucher, fermer les yeux et stimuler leur sixième sens. La musique spécialement préparée pour compléter les huiles les guide pendant les 50 minutes suivantes. À la fin, tout le monde peut regarder, sentir et essayer les huiles.
Entrée libre.
**Veuillez nous informer si vous avez des allergies aux aiguilles d’arbres ou autres plantes.
• À PROPOS DE SCHNUPPOFSKY •
Dans les compositions musicales de Schnuppofsky, les sons organiques se mêlent à des bourdons épais et sombres, combinant instruments autochtones et classiques avec des enregistrements sur le terrain. Les paysages sonores qui émergent rendent audibles les tensions entre les forces opposées de la nature : le calme avant une tempête, les sons réconfortants de la forêt juxtaposés à des fréquences sous-marines basses et grondantes et les sons étendus et flottants des sifflets des créatures marines et terrestres qui envahissent le cœur humain.
Sa pratique artistique consiste à jouer et à enregistrer des instruments, puis à synthétiser ces pistes audio en pads et à improviser/composer. Ses compositions récentes ont été fortement influencées par des instruments rares comme les harpes harmoniques, qu’elle a eu la chance d’enregistrer cet hiver en Autriche dans une collection privée de harpes faites sur mesure.
En tant que flûtiste de formation, elle aime superposer des sons enregistrés à des pads atmosphériques et des improvisations pour créer des paysages sonores organiques, profonds et naturels pour ses concerts.
“Les huiles essentielles ont les fréquences les plus élevées de toutes les substances naturelles mesurées. La fréquence des huiles essentielles pures varie de 52 à 580 MHz (dernière découverte avec l’épinette bleue de l’Idaho). Un corps sain, de la tête aux pieds, a généralement une fréquence allant de 62 à 78 MHz, tandis que la maladie commence à 57 MHz.”
“Deux chercheurs new-yorkais, Daniel Wesson et Donald Wilson, ont été confrontés à ce fait lorsqu’ils ont commencé à étudier une région “énigmatique” du cerveau connue sous le nom de tubercule olfactif. A l’origine, ils ne visaient qu’à mesurer la réponse olfactive des cellules tuberculeuses chez la souris à l’odeur. Mais pendant les tests, Wesson a remarqué qu’à chaque fois qu’il cognait sa tasse de café à côté de l’expérience, les cellules de la souris sautaient en activité. En fait, le tubercule olfactive est physiologiquement bien placé pour recevoir des informations olfactives et sonores du monde extérieur ; Wesson et Wilson ont donc élargi leur enquête.
Ils ont constaté que, parmi les cellules individuelles, la plupart réagissaient à l’odeur, mais qu’un nombre important d’entre elles étaient également actives lorsqu’une tonalité était émise. Certaines cellules se comportaient même différemment lorsque l’odeur et le son étaient présentés ensemble, soit en augmentant ou en supprimant leur activité. Comme le soulignent Wesson et Wilson, il y a peut-être un sens de l’évolution derrière le phénomène – le bruit du mouvement accompagné d’une odeur inconnue pourrait vous alerter de la présence d’un prédateur.”
“Bien que des recherches existantes suggèrent que les stimuli olfactifs et musicaux peuvent influencer les perceptions et les comportements des individus, les effets combinés ou interactifs de ces repères environnementaux ne sont pas bien compris. À l’aide de stimuli associés à la période des Fêtes, cette recherche explore les effets conjoints du parfum ambiant et de la musique sur l’évaluation d’un magasin, de son environnement et des marchandises offertes par les consommateurs. Un modèle expérimental 2 (sans parfum vs. parfum de Noël)×2 (musique autre que de Noël vs. musique de Noël) a été mis en œuvre dans un magasin de détail fictif. Les résultats indiquent que les effets de l’ajout d’une odeur de Noël ambiante sont modérés par la nature de la musique de fond. En particulier, les évaluations des consommateurs sont plus favorables lorsque le parfum de Noël est en présence de musique de Noël. La présence de l’odeur de Noël avec de la musique autre que de Noël, cependant, diminue les évaluations. Les résultats et les implications des résultats sont discutés en ce qui concerne la pratique de la vente au détail et la psychologie de l’environnement.”
• • •
Nous reconnaissons que la terre sur laquelle nous nous réunissions pour cet évènement est située en territoire autochtone, lequel n’a jamais été cédé. Nous reconnaissons la nation Kanien’kehá: ka comme gardienne des terres et des eaux sur lesquelles nous nous réunissons aujourd’hui. Tiohtiá: ke / Montréal est historiquement connu comme un lieu de rassemblement pour de nombreuses Premières Nations, et aujourd’hui, une population autochtone diversifiée, ainsi que d’autres peuples, y résident. C’est dans le respect des liens avec le passé, le présent et l’avenir que nous reconnaissons les relations continues entre les Peuples Autochtones et autres personnes de la communauté montréalaise.
practice #35: sleep fairy saturday, may 25th, 4pm never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served. free
the sleep fairy creates ethereal soundscapes from collected samples and live sound design, stretching time to slow the pace of waking life and invoke the deep rhythms of sleep. signals are layered, panned and stretched to create a collage of movement and texture. aquatic bass sounds mix with granular raindrops, the perfect soundtrack for an afternoon nap.
practice #35: sleep fairy samedi, mai 25th, 4pm never apart 7049 saint-urbain entée libre
sleep fairy crée des paysages sonores éthérés à partir d’échantillons recueillis et d’une conception sonore en direct, étirant le temps pour ralentir le rythme de la vie éveillée et invoquer les rythmes profonds du sommeil. les signaux sont superposés, balayés et étirés pour créer un collage de mouvement et de texture. les basses aquatiques se mélangent aux gouttes de pluie granuleuses, la bande son parfaite pour une sieste l’après-midi.
practice #34: hazy montagne mystique saturday, april 27th, 4pm never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served. free
— the sacred mountain is covered with a shimmering rainbow tundra and sparkling mysteries. at the mountaintop, the meeting of kraut gaze, freak spirit and northern lights’ freedom. never discouraged, he meets his interstellar and love of his eyes. he swims alone with his walkman in his musical influences and drowns. hazy montagne mystique dip our stars’ dust in the water to depths where the sun can’t reach.
with the help of the bewitching sound of his synths and his voice he plunges the listener into his world of chloroformed impossible visions.
—
la montagne sacrée est recouverte d’une toundra arc-en-ciel miroitante parsemée de mystères. à son sommet, la rencontre du kraut gaze, du freak esprit et de la liberté des aurores. jamais découragé, il y rencontre son interstellaire, l’amour de ses yeux. il nage seul sur la cime, il s’y noie. hazy montagne mystique propage notre poussière d’étoiles sous l’eau jusqu’aux profondeurs où le soleil n’éclaire plus.
avec l’aide des son ensorcellement de ses synthés et sa voix il plonge l’auditeur dans son monde chloroformées de visions impossibles.
practice #33: hansa saturday, march 16th, 4pm never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served. free
sound artist hansa works with a minimalist composition that increases awareness and evokes deep listening, gently bringing listeners into the moment. in this piece, a single, hypnotic musical phrase is slowly teased out into increasingly abstract shapes. as the ‘organic’ elements are increasingly subsumed into the ‘electronic’ ones, melody gives way to pure texture. A fragmentation of the melody in unpredictable ways keeps attention without jarring the listener, allowing for a meditative reverie.
l’artiste sonore HANSA travaille avec une composition minimaliste qui augmente la prise de conscience et évoque une écoute profonde, amenant les auditeurs en douceur dans l’instant. dans cette pièce, une seule phrase musicale hypnotique se déchire lentement en formes de plus en plus abstraites. à mesure que les éléments «organiques» sont de plus en plus intégrés aux éléments «électroniques», la mélodie cède la place à une texture pure. Une fragmentation de la mélodie de manière imprévisible retient l’attention sans déranger l’auditeur, permettant ainsi une rêverie méditative.
practice #32: strangerfamiliar saturday, january 26th, 4pm never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served. free
[le français suit]
——–
!t!r!u!t!h! (absolute truth)
an emotional experience of transforming absolute truth into a tolerable emotional truth
Strangerfamiliar‘s meditation is a sea that you will get lost in, and find yourself. Harmonic waves of vocals are grounded in deep tones that slow breath and induce deep relaxation. Using a looper, minilogue and vocal processor, Strangerfamiliar uninhibits the listener and sets the stage for emotional body processing, joy, and transcendence.
So much the rather Celestial light Shine inward and the mind through all her powers Irradiate, there plant eyes, all mist from thence Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell Of things invisible to mortal sight. (Milton, 1674, Paradise lost, p 101)
a truth quest to the source where experiences translate to emotion in a state of reverie enter the unconcious summon emotional truth symmetrically resonate there is a common sense a corroboration of reality felt emotions beacons of truth a way towards the acceptance of reality
————— We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather for this event is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.
• • FR • •
!t!r!u!t!h! (vérité absolue)
une expérience émotionnelle de transformation de la vérité absolue en une vérité émotionnelle tolérable
La méditation de Strangerfamiliar est une mer dans laquelle vous vous perdrez et retrouvez vous-même. Les ondes harmoniques de la voix et des tons se fondent dans des tonalités profondes qui ralentissent la respiration et induisent un état de relaxation profonde. En utilisant un looper, un minilogue et un processeur vocal, Strangerfamiliar désinhibe l’auditeur et ouvre la voie au traitement émotionnel par le corps, à la joie et à la transcendance.
Tellement la lumière plutôt céleste Briller vers l’intérieur et l’esprit à travers tous ses pouvoirs Irradier, y planter des yeux, tout brouillard de là Purger et disperser, que je puisse voir et dire Des choses invisibles à la vue des mortels. (Milton, 1674, Paradise Lost, p 101)
une quête de vérité à la source où les expériences se traduisent en émotion en état de rêverie entrer dans l’inconscient invoquer la vérité émotionnelle résonner symétriquement il y a un sens commun une corroboration de la réalité ressenti des émotions balises de vérité un moyen d’accepter la réalité
——— Nous reconnaissons que la terre sur laquelle nous nous réunissions pour cet évènement est située en territoire autochtone, lequel n’a jamais été cédé. Nous reconnaissons la nation Kanien’kehá: ka comme gardienne des terres et des eaux sur lesquelles nous nous réunissons aujourd’hui. Tiohtiá: ke / Montréal est historiquement connu comme un lieu de rassemblement pour de nombreuses Premières Nations, et aujourd’hui, une population autochtone diversifiée, ainsi que d’autres peuples, y résident. C’est dans le respect des liens avec le passé, le présent et l’avenir que nous reconnaissons les relations continues entre les Peuples Autochtones et autres personnes de la communauté montréalaise.
practice #31: be heintzman hope saturday, november 17th, 4pm never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served. free
[le français suit]
a mish-mash of soundscapes, field recordings, guided visualizations and mantric offerings, be heintzman hope will draw from their facilitation practice in breath, voice and movement along with their background in sound and performance for this iteration of practice.
questions about the event can be directed to: janntomaro@gmail.com
• • • •
We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather for this event is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.
un mélange de paysages sonores, d’enregistrements sur le terrain, de visualisations guidées et d’offrandes mantriques, pour cette itération de practice, be heintzman hope tire de leur pratique en facilitation de la respiration, de la voix, et du mouvement, de même que leur formation en son et en performance.
• • • •
Nous reconnaissons que la terre sur laquelle nous nous réunissions pour cet évènement est située en territoire autochtone, lequel n’a jamais été cédé. Nous reconnaissons la nation Kanien’kehá: ka comme gardienne des terres et des eaux sur lesquelles nous nous réunissons aujourd’hui. Tiohtiá: ke / Montréal est historiquement connu comme un lieu de rassemblement pour de nombreuses Premières Nations, et aujourd’hui, une population autochtone diversifiée, ainsi que d’autres peuples, y résident. C’est dans le respect des liens avec le passé, le présent et l’avenir que nous reconnaissons les relations continues entre les Peuples Autochtones et autres personnes de la communauté montréalaise.
practice #30: jérémi roy saturday, september 15th, 4pm never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served. free
[le français suit]
musician jérémi roy is inspired by the perfect imperfectness of natural patterns. his set employs the noise pollution that surrounds us, synthesized into a more deliberate experience. using tension created between repetition and the wayward inaccuracy of tape machines, roy inevitably deconstructs the patterns he creates. his work evolves with recurring sounds that change with each reiteration, results of working with all-analog material. in roy’s homemade tape-loop matrix, no pattern repetition will be exactly the same as the previous. in this piece, roy reflects natural growth and real processes of change in a way that evokes attentive listening to repeating sounds and the differences that arise in subsequent echoes.
for more info on jérémi roy, see here: https://jeremiroy.bandcamp.com/
questions about the event can be directed to: janntomaro@gmail.com
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We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather for this event is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.
Le musicien Jérémi Roy s’inspire de l’imperfection parfaite des motifs naturels. Son set utilise la pollution sonore qui nous entoure, synthétisée en une expérience plus délibérée. En utilisant la tension créée entre la répétition et l’imprécision des magnétophones, Roy déconstruit inévitablement les modèles qu’il crée. Son travail évolue avec des sons récurrents qui changent à chaque réitération, résultats du travail avec du matériel entièrement analogique. Dans la matrice de loops magnétiques faits-maison de Roy, aucune répétition de motif ne sera identique à la précédente. Dans cette pièce, Roy reflète la croissance naturelle et les processus réels de changement d’une manière qui évoque une écoute attentive des sons répétés et des différences qui se produisent dans les échos ultérieurs.
Entrée gratuite.
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Nous reconnaissons que la terre sur laquelle nous nous réunissions pour cet évènement est située en territoire autochtone, lequel n’a jamais été cédé. Nous reconnaissons la nation Kanien’kehá: ka comme gardienne des terres et des eaux sur lesquelles nous nous réunissons aujourd’hui. Tiohtiá: ke / Montréal est historiquement connu comme un lieu de rassemblement pour de nombreuses Premières Nations, et aujourd’hui, une population autochtone diversifiée, ainsi que d’autres peuples, y résident. C’est dans le respect des liens avec le passé, le présent et l’avenir que nous reconnaissons les relations continues entre les Peuples Autochtones et autres personnes de la communauté montréalaise.
practice is teaming up with mutek at the end of the summer for two events: a discussion and noisey set.
on august 21, tomaro contributes to the “breaking the binary: sound/noise, wanted/unwanted, masculine/feminine” panel and then on august 26th, tobias and tomaro open “hors circuit”, a free, outdoor concert at le virage, with lively set that diverges from the habituated noise meditation convention.
practice #29: listening out loud (the möbius chorus) by jesse perlstein (nyc) saturday, august 18th, 4pm, free entry never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
this meditation is based on “listening out loud”, a ‘tuning meditation’ created by the 20th century composer and pioneer of experimental and electronic music, pauline oliveros. ‘tuning meditation’ is an instructive score that requires the active vocal participation of the audience (no previous experience necessary). our aim is to foster an environment of ‘deep listening,’ an idea coined by oliveros that focuses on the confluence of sound and meditation,cultivating a deep awareness of these processes. being an exercise of deep listening, this meditation follows three tenets: listening/sounding, moving, and dreaming.
together as a sonic chorus, we will be accessing these tenets through oliveros’ simple instructions: 1. close your eyes and inhale deeply 2. exhale on the note of your choosing (and hold it for as long as desired) 3. on your next inhale, listen to the sounds around you and exhale on a note you can hear 4. on your following inhale, listen to the sounds around you and exhale on a note you do not hear 5. repeat and cycle steps 3 & 4
it’s okay to take breaks, be silent & simply listen; make sound when it feels right..
this meditation will last approximately 40 minutes.
for more about jesse perlstein, see here: jesseperlstein.com
practice #28: processing the now by t.gowdy saturday, july 14th, 5pm never apart (7049 saint-urbain) we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served. free entry, all ages / gratuit, pour tous les âges
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urban noise—a by-product of human activity—is often experienced negatively. what would happen if we listened to these sounds through a different lens? modifying parameters like pitch and speed in real time could influence the way we experience the urban environment and facilitate a deeper awareness for the present. this offers potential to transform associations and connect in new ways to the noise that surrounds us as urban dwellers.
with a live stereo microphone installation capturing city sounds outside of the never apart gallery, t. gowdy channels and processes the din of the urban landscape through resonators, pitch and distance modulators to bring into focus the flow of now.
le bruit urbain—une conséquence de l’activité humaine—est souvent perçu négativement. Que se passerait-il si nous écoutions ces sons sous une optique différente? la modification de paramètres tels que le niveau et la vitesse en temps réel pourraient influencer la façon dont nous perçevons l’environnement urbain, et faciliter une prise de conscience plus profonde sur le présent. cela offre un potentiel pour transformer ces associations et se connecter différemment au bruit qui nous entoure en tant que citadins.
avec une installation de microphone stéréo live capturant les sons de la ville proche de la galerie never apart, t. gowdy canalise et traite le vacarme du paysage urbain à travers les résonateurs, les modulateurs de distance pour mettre en lumière le flux du présent.
practice #27: jane/kin saturday, june 16th, 4pm, PWYC never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
https://www.janekinmusic.com/
for this special meditation performance, jane/kin will focus on different utilisations of the microphone, both as an object of amplification, and as a tool to generate sonic phenomena. as a duo, they aim to develop the deepest connections possible between the electronic musician, the acoustic musician and the performance space. using feedback as a “third” voice, they’ll be in search of the exact resonances and proportions of tones to give us all the feeling of walking a tightrope together.
jane/kin brings together saxophone player and vocalist ida toninato with laptop musician, spatialist and foley artist ana dall’ara-majek. their music stands between instrumental, electronic and a certain taste for drones. having made their debut as a duet at festival akousma xii (2015), in montreal, they develop multi-disciplinary projects in collaboration with dancers, visual artists and interface programmers. jane/kin have been artists in residency, along with vj myriam boucher, at the satosphere, a modular immersive theatre in montreal (2017). they also performed at various venues such as: akousma xiv, daïmôn, symposium ix, la vitrola, suoni per il popolo and toronto international electroacoustic symposium. currently, they are on a residency at le viver/gesù (montreal) for the creation of a show for kids using invented instruments and video mapping.
oscillating between dark drones and metal-like melodies, jane/kin’s music takes its time to construct a startling resonance.
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Pour cette performance spéciale, Jane/KIN se concentrera sur différentes utilisations du microphone en tant qu’amplificateur et outil générateur de phénomènes sonores. Le duo vise à créer des connexions profondes entre le musicien électronique, le musicien acoustique et l’espace qui accueille la performance. En utilisant le feedback comme troisième voix du groupe, il construit un alliage de résonances et de tonalités qui évoque le sentiment de marcher, collectivement, sur la corde raide.
Jane/KIN réunit la saxophoniste et vocaliste Ida Toninato et la musicienne électronique, spatialiste et artiste foley Ana Dall’Ara-Majek. Leur musique se situe entre l’instrumental, l’électronique et les drones. Ayant fait leurs premières armes en tant que duo au festival Akousma XII (2015) à Montréal, le duo a développé des projets multidisciplinaires en collaboration avec des danseurs, des artistes visuels et des programmeurs d’interfaces. En 2017, Jane/KIN était en résidence d’artiste avec VJ Myriam Boucher à la Satosphere, un théâtre modulaire immersif de Montréal. Le duo s’est produit dans plusieurs festivals et salles, incluant Akousma XIV, Daïmôn, Symposium IX, La Vitrola, Suoni Per il Popolo et le Toronto International Electroacoustic Symposium. Il est actuellement en résidence au Viver du Gesù, à Montréal, pour la création d’un spectacle pour enfants au moyen de divers instruments et de mapping vidéo.
Oscillant entre des drones sombres et des mélodies aux influences métal, la musique de Jane/KIN construit de délicates, mais saisissantes résonances.
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practice is an investigation of the capability of sound to induce different transcendental states of awareness and being. through a series of noise sets, practice explores the experiential application of theories underpinning the transformational properties of sound, such as cymatics, music therapy, sound healing, brain entrainment, and binaural-beat perception.
each session features a noise artist, who, informed by their own knowledge of sound, creates a immersive set intended to bend consciousness. listeners are encouraged to embrace a receptive, meditative attitude during sets.
we don’t mind if you’re new or old to noise or meditation. if you’re curious to be engaged, to open yourself to new experiences and to hear some noise, then join us.
…….
we have yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please.
never apart is a non-profit organization in montréal, québec, canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact.
questions about the event can be directed to: janntomaro@gmail.com
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We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather for this event is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.
we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
https://jstruchy.bandcamp.com/
for this meditation performance, js truchy will use two of the aspects we can find in sound meditation: sound as an object of concentration, and sound as an object used to see how our minds interact and judge the events that it encounters via the senses and the filters that cloud them based on ripening karma from previous lives.
js truchy has performed in montreal since 1996. buddhist philosophy, literature and cinema bring him to reflect on how to elaborate, conceive and orchestrate his compositions as well as the effect they have on their audience. his work is inspired significantly by the idea of emptiness, in its implications with respect to duality and our perception of the world. he aims to create music that challenges the notion of concept in both the musical and philosophical language, in order to destabilise his audience and confront them with the daily concepts that manage, direct and define our lives. currently pursuing the ideological and formal work begun several years ago, js truchy creates music characterised by the use of electronic instruments and vocals both sung and processed. He is often accompanied by video projections. these highlight the fluidity of the music and the concepts which inspired him by playing on colors found in textures and objects, while influencing the reception of his pieces.
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Pour cette performance, Jean-Sébastien explorera deux dimensions des méditations sonores : le son en tant qu’objet de notre concentration, et le son en tant qu’indicateur des interactions de nos pensées, de notre karma et de la perception des expériences qui se présentent à nous.
Jean-Sébastien Truchy performe à Montréal depuis 1996. La philosophie bouddhiste, la littérature et le cinéma inspirent la manière dont il conçoit, élabore et orchestre ses compositions. Son travail s’inspire notamment de la notion de vide et de sa dualité intrinsèque. Il vise à créer une musique qui explore et met des concepts au défi, autant dans sa forme musicale que linguistique. Il souhaite déstabiliser son public et le confronter aux idées préconçues qui structurent notre quotidien. JS Truchy construit ses pièces à partir de voix et d’instruments électroniques, dans la continuité du travail de création qu’il poursuit depuis plusieurs années.
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practice is an investigation of the capability of sound to induce different transcendental states of awareness and being. through a series of noise sets, practice explores the experiential application of theories underpinning the transformational properties of sound, such as cymatics, music therapy, sound healing, brain entrainment, and binaural-beat perception.
each session features a noise artist, who, informed by their own knowledge of sound, creates a immersive set intended to bend consciousness. listeners are encouraged to embrace a receptive, meditative attitude during sets.
we don’t mind if you’re new or old to noise or meditation. if you’re curious to be engaged, to open yourself to new experiences and to hear some noise, then join us.
…….
we have yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please.
never apart is a non-profit organization in montréal, québec, canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact.
questions about the event can be directed to: janntomaro@gmail.com
…….
We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather for this event is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.
practice #25: ari swan saturday, june 2nd, 4pm, PWYC never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
https://ariswan.bandcamp.com/
ari swan will utilise voice, violin, and electronics to create a longform looping collage of tones and breath work aimed at triggering a deeper connection with the present moment, and the space we all occupy together.
ari swan’s music combines strings, voice, and electronic effects to create complex sounds that are reflective of her diverse musical interests. her compositions contain the complexity of her classical training but are influenced by pop and electronic sensibilities. her works are influenced by artists such as björk, brian eno, donovan, and philip glass. ari’s solo compositions explore improvisatory performance techniques and include visual artists and dancers.
in september of 2013, Ari released her debut ep, symphony plastique. engineered and produced by juno award winner jamie thompson (esmerine, the unicorns, reversing falls), the album combines violin, voice, and percussion with electronic effects and unconventional recording techniques. the album has received praise from critics, who describe the music as “fun, playful, and at times intricate; a true symphonic debut” (cjlo magazine) and “honest, accessible, and unique” (cult mtl). in february of 2014, ari was named one of aux magazine’s “11 unconventional canadian singer-songwriters you need to hear”. ari swan has appeared at several montreal festivals, including pop montreal, one man band, and suoni per il popolo. in 2015, ari collaborated with jamie thompson, composer and arranger quinn brander, and the spacesuits on a multidisciplinary, improvised installation and performance series exploring afrofuturistic themes.
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Ari Swan combinera violon, voix ainsi qu’une palette d’instruments électroniques afin de construire un collage de tonalités répétitives et circulaires qui invite à un travail de la respiration et à une connexion plus profonde avec l’espace et le moment présent.
La musique d’Ari Swan mêle cordes, voix et effets électroniques pour créer des sons complexes qui évoquent une grande diversité d’intérêts musicaux. Ses compositions évoquent à la fois la formation classique de l’artiste, et ses sensibilités pop et électroniques. Ses influences incluent notamment Björk, Brian Eno, Donovan et Philip Glass. Les pièces solos d’Ari explorent différentes techniques d’improvisation, et mettent souvent à contribution des artistes visuels et des danseurs.
En septembre 2013, Ari faisait paraître son premier EP, Symphony Plastique. Produit par Jamie Thompson, récipiendaire de prix Juno (Esmerine, The Unicorns, Reversing Falls), l’album combine violon, voix et percussions à des effets électroniques et des méthodes non conventionnelles d’enregistrement. Acclamé par la critique, l’album est décrit comme « ludique et intriguant, un véritable début symphonique » (CJLO Magazine), mais aussi comme « honnête, accessible et unique » (Cult MTL). En février 2014, Ari était reconnue par le Aux Magazine comme l’un des 11 auteurs(trices)-compositeurs(trices)- interprètes canadien(ne)s atypiques à découvrir. L’artiste a participé à de nombreux festivals montréalais, incluant Pop Montreal, One Man Band et Suoni per il Popolo. En 2015, Ari collaborait avec Jamie Thompson, le compositeur et l’orchestrateur Quinn Brander et The Spacesuits sur une série de performances improvisées, installatives et multidisciplinaires explorant des thématiques afrofuturistes.
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practice is an investigation of the capability of sound to induce different transcendental states of awareness and being. through a series of noise sets, practice explores the experiential application of theories underpinning the transformational properties of sound, such as cymatics, music therapy, sound healing, brain entrainment, and binaural-beat perception.
each session features a noise artist, who, informed by their own knowledge of sound, creates a immersive set intended to bend consciousness. listeners are encouraged to embrace a receptive, meditative attitude during sets.
we don’t mind if you’re new or old to noise or meditation. if you’re curious to be engaged, to open yourself to new experiences and to hear some noise, then join us.
…….
we have yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please.
never apart is a non-profit organization in montréal, québec, canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact.
questions about the event can be directed to: janntomaro@gmail.com
…….
We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather for this event is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.
practice #24: anabasine saturday, april 14th, 4pm never apart (7049 saint-urbain) we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served. free entry, all ages / gratuit, pour tous les âges
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anabasine builds an improvised set using synthesizer and effects-based drones, zooming in on the mind-rhythms of dance-oriented electronic musics to explore polyrhythm, phasing, and repetition with a stretched attention span. can these structural elements create a similar listening space to beat-driven music when stripped of their velocity and percussion? anabasine experiments with a gentle approach to explore if some of the trance-like effects and benefits of “zoning out” on the dancefloor are retained when translated into a meditative drone set. both dancing and meditating to music are specialized, focused forms of intensely conscious listening; in this way, dance music can be thought of as a kind of technology-of-mind alongside the action of improvisational dance, and likewise, drone music alongside meditation. join us to explore a long-form sit-down with these phenomena.
about practice
practice is an investigation of the capability of sound to induce different transcendental states of awareness and being. through a series of noise sets, practice explores the experiential application of theories underpinning the transformational properties of sound, such as cymatics, music therapy, sound healing, brain entrainment, and binaural-beat perception.
each session features a noise artist, who, informed by their own knowledge of sound, creates a immersive set intended to bend consciousness. listeners are encouraged to embrace a receptive, meditative attitude during sets.
we don’t mind if you’re new or old to noise or meditation. if you’re curious to be engaged, to open yourself to new experiences and to hear some noise, then join us.
we have yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please.
never apart is a non-profit organization in montréal, québec, canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact.
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We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather for this event is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.
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anabasine construit un set improvisé à l’aide de synthétiseurs et de drones basés sur les effets, zoomant sur les rythmes mentaux des musiques électroniques orientées vers la danse pour explorer la polyrythmie, le phasing et la répétition avec une durée d’attention étirée. Ces éléments structurels peuvent-ils créer un espace d’écoute similaire à celui de la musique rythmée lorsqu’ils sont dépouillés de leur vélocité et de leurs percussions? anabasine expérimente avec cette approche tout en douceur pour explorer si certains des effets et des avantages de cette «évasion» sur le dancefloor sont conservés quand ils sont traduits en un ensemble de drones méditatifs. à la fois danser et méditer sur la musique sont des formes spécialisées et focalisées d’écoute intensément consciente. Ainsi, la musique de danse peut être considérée comme une sorte de technologie de l’esprit, en parallèle à l’action qu’implique la danse improvisée. La musique drone et la méditation présentent une relation similaire. Joignez-vous à nous pour explorer un sit-down étendu avec ses phénomènes.
Practice est une investigation sur la capacité du son à induire différents états transcendants de conscience et d’être. À travers une série de performances noise et ambient, Practice explore l’application expérientielle des théories qui sous-tendent les propriétés transformationnelles du son, telles que la cymatique, la musicothérapie, la guérison sonore, l’entraînement cérébral et la perception binaurale.
Chaque session met en scène un.e artiste différent.e, qui, informé.e par sa propre connaissance du son, crée un ensemble immersif destiné à faire fléchir la conscience. Les participant.e.s sont encouragé.e.s à adopter une attitude réceptive et méditative pendant les performances.
Que vous ayez beaucoup ou pas du tout de connaissances en ce qui a trait à la méditation ou à la musique noise et ambient, ce n’est pas important. Si vous avez la curiosité de vous y plonger, de vous ouvrir à de nouvelles expériences et d’entendre des sons atypiques, alors joignez-vous à nous!
Nous avons une quantité limitée de tapis de yoga à votre disposition. Vous êtes invité.e.s à apporter votre propre tapis ou coussin si nécessaire.
Nous voulons que tous les invité.e.s puissent participer, veuillez svp arriver à l’heure. Les places sont limitées, premier.e arrivé.e premier.e servi.e.
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À PROPOS DE NEVER APART
never apart est un organisme à but non lucratif de montréal, québec, canada, qui a pour but d’amener des changements sociaux et une conscience spirituelle à l’échelle mondiale par le biais de sa programmation culturelle.
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Nous reconnaissons que la terre sur laquelle nous nous réunissions pour cet évènement est située en territoire autochtone, lequel n’a jamais été cédé. Nous reconnaissons la nation Kanien’kehá: ka comme gardienne des terres et des eaux sur lesquelles nous nous réunissons aujourd’hui. Tiohtiá: ke / Montréal est historiquement connu comme un lieu de rassemblement pour de nombreuses Premières Nations, et aujourd’hui, une population autochtone diversifiée, ainsi que d’autres peuples, y résident. C’est dans le respect des liens avec le passé, le présent et l’avenir que nous reconnaissons les relations continues entre les Peuples Autochtones et autres personnes de la communauté montréalaise.
practice #23: lyndsie alguire saturday, march 17th, 4pm, free entry, all ages never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
a soft decomposition of lucid to aeriform
ethereal sound artist, lyndsie alguire, begins this set in active listening and shifts into the passive. a meditation on relatedness, alguire collages tones with synth and voice, slowing building until the individual components are no longer distinct. in this aural transformation the discretely illuminated blend and become indistinguishable from the whole. alguire explores the transition from shedding light on the singular to a radiancy in which the edges of the light bend into the atmosphere.
as beings in progress we are partially defined as well as open and changing, and this work speaks to the interstitial. the space where our particular frequencies share a responsiveness to our setting. …..
practice is an investigation of the capability of sound to induce different transcendental states of awareness and being. through a series of noise sets, practice explores the experiential application of theories underpinning the transformational properties of sound, such as cymatics, music therapy, sound healing, brain entrainment, and binaural-beat perception.
each session features a noise artist, who, informed by their own knowledge of sound, creates a immersive set intended to bend consciousness. listeners are encouraged to embrace a receptive, meditative attitude during sets.
we don’t mind if you’re new or old to noise or meditation. if you’re curious to be engaged, to open yourself to new experiences and to hear some noise, then join us.
……. we have yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please.
never apart is a non-profit organization in montréal, québec, canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact.
practice #22: sonic apophenia by philippe vandal saturday, february 17th, 4pm, free entry, all ages never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
our interaction with the outside world is effectively unconscious, some estimates say that only 0.01% of our neural activities are consciously fired, leading us to critically question the extent of our involvement in everyday actions and decisions. our conscious perception has been compared to a black box programmed, a serial protocol communication machine in a multi-parallel environment. in our digital age this analogy is undoubtedly pertinent: big data, quantum noises, chaotic information, political and social complexities, and cultural biases – this is an overflow of stimuli. the unconscious mind grasps everything to induce a comfortable intelligibility of our informational surroundings. there are some slips, glitches, biases, noisy assimilations, errors, cacophonic impressions. our vigilant apprehension of the environment is bent through our responsive apparatus as it seeks for meaning. parsing is easier through this processed conglomeration, producing spasmodic psychological illusions and phantomatic bleeps.
this episode in the noise meditation series will present the artistic and sensational possibilities of the concept of apophenia, in a sound perspective, through a saturated auditory scene filled with aural bodies.
related readings: http://www.mind-body.info/files/conscious_vs_unconscious_thinking.pdf http://www.e-flux.com/journal/72/60480/a-sea-of-data-apophenia-and-pattern-mis-recognition/ http://www.artlurker.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Sound-ART.pdf
for more on phillipe vandal, see here: https://soundcloud.com/philippevandal ……
practice is an investigation of the capability of sound to induce different transcendental states of awareness and being. through a series of noise sets, practice explores the experiential application of theories underpinning the transformational properties of sound, such as cymatics, music therapy, sound healing, brain entrainment, and binaural-beat perception.
each session features a noise artist, who, informed by their own knowledge of sound, creates a immersive set intended to bend consciousness. listeners are encouraged to embrace a receptive, meditative attitude during sets.
we don’t mind if you’re new or old to noise or meditation. if you’re curious to be engaged, to open yourself to new experiences and to hear some noise, then join us.
……. we have yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please.
never apart is a non-profit organization in montréal, québec, canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact.
practice #21: two colour sets by piper curtis saturday, january 13th, 4pm, free entry, all ages never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
in two distinct 20 minute meditative sets, talented sound artist piper curtis explores the relationships between colour, noise and environment. stemming from white noise, these sets introduce listeners to other colours within the spectrum. curtis evokes familiar environments seeped in colour (imagine the sound of a yellow sunlit day, a white snowy blizzard, a greenhouse) and listeners are transported into unfamiliar textures inspired by colourscapes. the first set focuses on the watery world of mids, turquoise and azure, washing over and seeping in. the second set draws from the windy highs, cerulean and magenta, the pink sky following a storm. transposing colour into sound, we allow for an imaginative reinterpretation of vibrational frequencies, a synesthetic understanding of the reception of one sense as another, pushing our known perceptions into creative new territory.
practice is an investigation of the capability of sound to induce different transcendental states of awareness and being. through a series of noise sets, practice explores the experiential application of theories underpinning the transformational properties of sound, such as cymatics, music therapy, sound healing, brain entrainment, and binaural-beat perception.
each session features a noise artist, who, informed by their own knowledge of sound, creates a immersive set intended to bend consciousness. listeners are encouraged to embrace a receptive, meditative attitude during sets.
we don’t mind if you’re new or old to noise or meditation. if you’re curious to be engaged, to open yourself to new experiences and to hear some noise, then join us.
……. we have yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please.
never apart is a non-profit organization in montréal, québec, canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact.
practice #20: aperture by mikael tobias saturday, december 16th, 4pm, free entry, all ages never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
mikael tobias – aperture
mikael tobias, one of the original founders and noise makers of practice, moved to copenhagen a year ago. while visiting montreal this december, tobias has graciously offered to play an experimental set for practice.
in optics, an aperture is an opening through which light travels to focus into an image. in the human eye, the iris and pupil work together to form the aperture, contracting and dilating to regulate the amount of light admitted.
imagining this process in sonic landscape, tobias explores the psychoacoustic opening of the mind using noise as well as organic and synthesized sounds. slowly blending, expanding, and toying with the interactions between frequency and rhythm, this set transposes aperture from light to sound, decelerating the process by multitudes.
deliberating, mikael builds tunnels of sound that weave and entwine through the air, slowly unfurling and brightening. in sympathetic resonance, the mind and body can allow for a state of consciousness to bloom and unfold, increasing sensitivity. with heightened openness, thoughts may become clearer and physicality may be more embodied as the sonic environment envelops the listener.
for more on this artist, see here: http://mikaeltobias.com/ ……
practice is an investigation of the capability of sound to induce different transcendental states of awareness and being. through a series of noise sets, practice explores the experiential application of theories underpinning the transformational properties of sound, such as cymatics, music therapy, sound healing, brain entrainment, and binaural-beat perception.
each session features a noise artist, who, informed by their own knowledge of sound, creates a immersive set intended to bend consciousness. listeners are encouraged to embrace a receptive, meditative attitude during sets.
we don’t mind if you’re new or old to noise or meditation. if you’re curious to be engaged, to open yourself to new experiences and to hear some noise, then join us.
……. we have yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please.
never apart is a non-profit organization in montréal, québec, canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact.
Nick Schofield teams up with practice on November 11th for a meditative lullaby where Schofield showcases a first listen to his new project, Water Sine.
Tell us a bit about your project Water Sine
Water Sine started in June 2016 as a way to create music more fluidly, using somewhat specific production parameters that guided the compositions. I used just one synthesizer (Yamaha PSS-270), one effect pedal (BOSS RV-3) and an Edirol field-recorder. Even though I tracked with Ableton Live, I treated the DAW like a 4-track recorder, so I had limited channels and editing options. The music itself is very much my way of coping with insomnia and tapping my nocturnal creative energy.
How does your work tie into noise meditation?
It doesn’t really tie directly to noise meditation, but I made the music to help coax me towards sleep, so the music has the intended effect of relaxation and release.
This is your first time producing work under your personal name, Nick Schofield. Why now? Why this project?
That’s true, I’ve always worked on music under a moniker or as a band, so this is somewhat exposed solo territory for me. Having grown up going to galleries and exhibitions with my mom, I always held high regard for artists who go by their own name. Personally, it implies acceptance. This music is ‘me’, it just felt like the most natural nomenclature.
What is your relationship to meditation?
I actually don’t really meditate, I probably should though. A doctor said I have anxiety issues a while back, and suggested practicing. Making this music is super meditative for me.
When did you start listening to music ?
My brother got me interested in music when I was 9, but moving to Montreal and studying Electroacoustics broke my mould of what music ‘should’ be. It was around then I started shedding a lot of preconceptions and just sought simplicity; all my my early ideas felt too crowded, I wanted something more singular. It took time to actualize those ambitions.
When did you start producing music?
Again, my brother urged me to give production a shot, he said I should try Garageband and I quickly became fascinated with being able to create whole compositions on my own. Before that, I was ‘just’ a drummer. After a while, people started describing my music in really similar terms, basically as being very watery, so I unintentionally found my sound. I gravitated to the idea of being a producer when I learned about Daniel Lanois and his career, he’s such a creative conduit, that’s my aspiration.
What have been big moments for you, producing, playing, or listening to music?
Hm, that’s a tough question, I’ve had some really special life-moments with music. When I was quite young I got to play a ripping drum solo to a sold-out Roy Thompson Hall, that definitely sparked something in me. Since then, what feels ‘big’ is when a musical dream comes true, like opening for Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Bing & Ruth and Hauschka – these are artists I genuinely admire and appreciate. Playing alongside them felt monumental, like I should keep going… it’s not for nought.
How does space factor into your music and how do you think Never Apart will influence your work on the 11th?
Location is really important! I like David Byrne’s idea that a space actually inspires what kind of music befits it; he contrasts how cathedrals enhance choral music, but the boxiness of CBGB is perfect for punk. A space works on so many levels, it’s impossible to surmise all the elements, but Never Apart is pretty ideal since it’s a place that fosters appreciation for experimental arts and welcomes community projects.
What upcoming projects are you excited about?
This project! This is just the listening-party portion of Water Sine, so I’m excited to really release it in 2018. Otherwise, I’m on the edge of my seat to finally finish an album that has been in the works for almost three years – that’s for my other project, Rêves Sonores.
practice #19: water sine by nick schofield saturday, november 11th, 4pm, free entry, all ages never apart 7049 saint-urbain
we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
practice and never apart present a meditative first listen of water sine, the debut album by nick schofield, in advance of its 2018 release.
straying from the format of live and experimental sessions, practice nevertheless continues engaging in immersive sonic events at never apart with water sine, a minimal ambient album comprised of one synthesizer and field-recordings. schofield has spent the last year tinkering away during twilight sessions at his home (studio 2X5) in montreal, and what results is his soundtrack for sleep; an antidote to insomnia. we invite listeners to be lulled by the softness and simplicity of water sine, a sound that beckons for tranquility and release.
practice shares this listening session as a way to join together in an experience of calm. we invite you to sit with us and listen to this new body of unreleased work that continues the ambient tradition pioneered by hiroshi yoshimura and brian eno, allowing for the soothing effects to wash over us all.
nick schofield is a montreal based musician, producer and radio host with a BFA in electroacoustics from concordia university.
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we have yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please. uniquely for this event will be the availability of chairs.
never apart is a non-profit organization in montréal, québec, canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact. more info on practice, here:. we are on facebook.
questions about the event can be directed to: janntomaro@gmail.com
practice #18: radio therapy by martín rodríguez saturday, october 21st, 4pm, free entry never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
radio therapy: a meditation on healing.
musician and sound artist martín rodríguez guides listeners in a meditation on healing processes that are not the stereotypical peaceful, glowing, warm processes we may be conditioned to imagine. inspired by his experiences with chemotherapy and radiation, rodríguez opens us to the more aggressive modes of healing that are necessary for transformation. working the spontaneous sounds from the radio from an unknowable intensity into a soothing and battling ambiance, rodríguez speaks to the uncertainty of recovery and remission that are part of healing.
this meditation is inspired by his work entitled radio therapy, developed as an original way of producing music for rodríguez during cancer treatments, and as an embodiment of his healing process. the vibrational resonance of this work takes on symbolic importance and acts to reach participants and unify through shared sound waves, rhythmically pulsing through our bodies.
radio therapy is produced by harnessing radio frequencies through a transducer that is attached to a standalone guitar. the transducer forces the whole body of the guitar to vibrate. the resulting sound is a blend of musical notes, and scanned am radio frequencies resonating through the body of the guitar and passing through a chain of manipulated sound effects to then reach and resound throughout the room. this meditation offers a space for participants to face their own difficulties and ease into welcoming the burden of transformation through a sonic narrative.
for more information on martín rodríguez, see here:.
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we have yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please. uniquely for this event will be the availability of chairs.
never apart is a non-profit organization in montréal, québec, canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact. more info on practice, here:. we are on facebook.
questions about the event can be directed to: janntomaro@gmail.com
practice #17: grkzgl saturday, september 9th, 4pm, free entry never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
sometimes harsh, sometimes technical, sometimes scented, practice has been experimenting with sound in a myriad of ways to influence the psychological state of the listener. in this special upcoming set, we let go of specific mind-altering intentions and return to a foundational goal of meditation. rather than adhere to one of the numerous schools of meditation, we encourage any (including new) forms of meditation that suit the listener. for this edition of practice, local sound maker grkzgl will provide a self-evolving sonic environment that is conducive to contemplation by layering and modulating a number of arbitrarily tuned and processed synthesizer voices. in a well of low resonant tones, we offer a time and space for you. come sit and be immersed in sound together and see where your thoughts go (or don’t go).
we have yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please. uniquely for this event will be the availability of chairs.
never apart is a non-profit organization in montréal, québec, canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact. more info on practice, here:. we are on facebook.
questions about the event can be directed to: janntomaro@gmail.com
#16: detune saturday, august 12nd, 4pm, free entry never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
Sasha Ford – Detune
My sound practice investigates the embodied effects of psychological experience within the realm of auditory environments. In the form of performances, recordings, and installations, I create somatically immersive and rhythmically sensitive sound works guided by improvisation, intuition, and a sense of surreptitious musicality. I attend to physically demanding aspects of sound upon the body, such as volume and frequency, and at once invite a sense of narrative that sits liminally between the concrete and the abstract, the imagined and the unremembered. To date, these pursuits have taken the form of using repurposed objects, tape machines, and field recordings in collaboration with architectural space and with consenting bodies–whether my own or those of others. Through these explorations, I aim to provoke sensory awareness and modes of corporeal recollection that navigate a tension between therapeutic and disarming in effect.
For my performance as part of the “practice” series at Never Apart, I will build upon my interests in the intersection of sound, psychology, and the body specifically by exploring the tuning fork as an object of political and acoustic resonance. Employed in late 19th-century psychological research by the French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot, tuning forks were used as a hypnotic means to induce cataleptic episodes in female patients. Sounded at high volumes in close proximity to a patient’s ears, such practices are now understood as one of many injurious treatments for the no longer medically-recognized condition of “female hysteria.” Yet, the status of tuning forks as an object of healing continues to this day, being seen within certain alternative medicine circles as provoking restorative vibrations within the body. From a place of fascination with the object’s dual status as a corrective instrument in the realm of medicine and in musical pitch, for “practice” I will create a listening environment with acoustic tuning forks and digital resonators. Specifically, I will explore the resonance of 64 hz tones (C2 in scientific pitch notation), a pitch Charcot that describes using to induce hypnosis in “major hysterics.” By purposely sounding and manipulating this tone, I aim construct a listening environment that critically appropriates and reworks this disciplinary and gendered history, and functions as a form of transhistorical communion with these “hysterical” women of the past. In doing so, I aim to inquire into the healing properties of vibrational resonance and of the 64 hz tone in particular, which in its low frequency invites listeners to connect to a sense of groundedness, the Earth, and self-observation of the body.
……. we have yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please. uniquely for this event will be the availability of chairs.
never apart is a non-profit organization in montréal, québec, canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact. more info on practice, here:. we are on facebook.
questions about the event can be directed to: janntomaro@gmail.com
practice #15 saturday, july 22nd, 4pm, free entry never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
sound artist and experimental composer adam basanta will create an in-situ improvised sets of minimal, slow evolving music. Straddling the line between the meditative and the ecstatic, the two sets will combine sine wave beating patterns, field recordings, white noise, and polymeric rhythms, spatially distributed throughout a DIY surround sound system.
we have yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please.
never apart is a non-profit organization in montréal, québec, canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact.
practice 13: tunnel, a listening session saturday, may 13th, 5pm, free entry 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive early. seating is limited and first come, first served. this event will start on time.
practice deviates from its habitual format to introduce a unique listening session of a 50 minute recording titled tunnel by jen reimer and magnus tiesenhausen.
In late September of 2015, Jen Reimer and Magnus Tiesenhausen stumbled upon an underground concrete enclosure in a construction site in Montreal. Over the course of the next three weeks, they recorded the sounds of their own voices and actions in the tunnel, transformed and influenced by the architectural dimensions of the space.
The tunnel became a mutual meeting place, and the process by which the two would navigate there each night consisted of a complex repeated pattern of recognized landmarks. A beam of light crossing the path, a downed chain link fence, a swamp’s edge: all directional indications. This ritual of recognition inundated the tunnel pieces, becoming a magic decision-making process which formally structured the recordings.
The resonance of the abandoned space served as a type of prosthetic communication, translating the artists’ voices to the plane of reverberation and resonant frequency, and guiding their actions within the space. The absolute darkness within the tunnel reduced the two to sound sources, each movement of their bodies generating ten-second reverberations, from which certain frequencies would surface and linger. The aural artifacts of the space rendered speech incomprehensible. The artists were only able to communicate in relation to the tuned frequencies in constant ricochet. As a result, the compositions materialized in real time. The melodies and harmonies recorded are human explorations of a complex audio world, aleatoric representations of the energy and physicality of the space.
The sound captured by Reimer and Tiesenhausen in September/October 2015 culminated in a fifty-minute piece, simply titled ‘Tunnel’.
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Jen Reimer is a sound artist, musician and performer based in Montréal. Her work explores the resonances of urban environments through in-situ performances, installations and spatial recordings. More here
Magnus Tiesenhausen is an interdisciplinary artist and musician based in Alberta. His work is a multi-angle treatise on magic energy, characterized by experimental and industrial synthesizer music; craft and sculpture processes; readymades and free drawing.
saturday, april 29th, 5pm, free entry never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
sound artist dominique alexander skillfully plays with memory and recall curating two sets using foley type sounds from personal, found and field recordings, mixed with melodic and rhythmic elements from a variety of sources. layering ambient and atmospheric airs, alexander fills an audio bath of dub echoes where micro samples bubble up to the surface and get pushed back down, reemerging again in changed configuration. toying with the comfort that repetition and familiarity bring about, alexander invites an atmosphere of awareness with focus on pattern recognition and recall. through sound, alexander fosters an environmental that nurtures meditative presence and the renewal of presence again and again.
dominique alexander performs solo as buffalo mri and as a two-piece called urlapse with her longtime collaborator joshua bastien.
join this event on facebook, or dial into the series by following our page on facebook.
saturday, april 22nd, 5pm, free entry never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
sound artist jeremy young pairs up with scent artist and zen buddhist chaplain in training alex beth to guide a collective meditation through scent and sound.
scent is one of our strongest senses in its ability to recall images, memories and distant forgotten moments, as well as to forge new kinds of relationships . when combined with meditative sonic blankets, we are deeply excited to explore what new landscapes this compound might evoke.
awareness of the memories and emotions recalled when introduced to the associated scents and sounds can give us glimpses into our many ways of being in relationship to the world… past, present and future.
in two sets, a subtle narrative is created through sounds by young and scents by alex beth. using materials from the jean talon market, alex beth strays from essential oils and employs techniques such as toasting, cracking, stewing and simmering to open and disseminate fragrances, while young moves between a variety of instruments, objects and electronics to sew together a floating cloud of minimal noise.
hear more from the artists on the internet, here and here
join this event on facebook, or dial into the series by following our page on facebook.
questions about this event can be directed to noisemeditation@gmail.com
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samedi 22 avril à 17h entrée gratuite never apart 7049 saint-urbain
nous aimerions que tous les invités puissent participer, arrivez à l’heure svp. les places sont limitées, premier arrivé, premier servi.
l’artiste sonore jeremy young s’associe avec l’artiste des odeurs et l’aumônière bouddhiste zen alex beth pour guider une méditation collective à travers l’odeur et le son.
l’odorat est l’un de nos sens les plus forts dans sa capacité à rappeler des images, des souvenirs et des moments lointains oubliés, ainsi que de forger de nouveaux types de relations. lorsqu’ils sont combinés avec des couvertures sonores méditatives, nous sommes profondément ravis d’explorer quels nouveaux paysages ce composé pourrait évoquer.
la prise de conscience des souvenirs et des émotions rappelés lors de l’introduction des parfums et des sons associés peut nous donner un aperçu de nos multiples façons d’être en relation avec le monde … passé, présent et futur.
en deux ensembles, un récit subtil est créé par des sons de jeremy young et des parfums par Alex Beth. Utilisant des matériaux du marché jean-talon, alex beth vagabonde entre diverses huiles essentielles et emploie des techniques telles que le grillage, le craquage, la cuisson pour ouvrir et diffuser des parfums, tandis que Young se déplace entre une variété d’instruments, d’objets et d’électroniques pour coudre un nuage flottant de bruit minimal.
practice #10: layered in synth trance saturday, march 25th, 5pm, free entry never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
talented artist matthew stinis sets up an ambient languid cloud with layers of synth, allowing listeners to rest busy thoughts and become slow in their personal reflection. this meditation employs a immersive sound with a subtle narrative to capture the attention and provide a focal point. minimal changes help to reinvest in awareness without providing content to distract.
stinis is known for his experimental, industrial noises that incorporate lower frequencies with powerful transporting vibrations. with drone sets that nod to noise music, stinis uses reverb, loops, and pitch shifting to evolve the sound. this set has the potential to gently guide listeners through a visceral-auditory sensation into a transformative state of deep relaxation.
learn more about the talented sound artist matthew stinis, here.
join this event on facebook, or dial into the series by following our page on facebook.
practice #9: collection of small moments saturday, march 18th, 5pm, free entry never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
multidisciplinary artist emilie payeur tones it down in two very minimal sets that focus on meditation of present moment. the sounds of the room serve as the medium as payeur uses loops and overdub to capture the moment and then create, recreate, layer and add each present moment to the next. by listening to this collection of small moments, the listener pays attention to the little sound events that would usually go unnoticed. in a second set, payeur uses the familiar dtmf tones from an old telephone to integrate everyday noises into a relaxing, meditative drone.
payeur immerses us in our own soundscape, connecting us to the noises of our lives. through awareness of the sounds in which we swim we are better able to notice their influence on us.
learn more about the talented sound artist emilie payeur, here.
join this event on facebook, or dial into the series by following our page on facebook.
practice #8: fractals and kittens
saturday, february 25th, 2017, 17h00, free entry never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so please arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
deep listener and talented soundscape artist christian carrière has designed two conceptual sets pulling and pushing ideas to explore their influential capacity. join in sacred geometry and an immersive purring room.
the first set will explore the possibilities of audio fractals as compositional loops. fractals are pattens made up of smaller versions of the same pattern. there is discourse on the healing nature and meditative quality of fractals, as well as potential to mitigate effects of tinnitus. in this set, loops made from various sources (no-input console, field recordings) are structured in self-similar patterns, like audible versions of the fractal shapes we see in nature.
set two explores the deep resonance of cats’ purring, known to have the potential for tissue healing and cell regeneration. captured with modified stethoscopes and lavalier microphones, the set will move through tonal variations of purring from different cats.
learn more about the talented artist christian carrière here.
join this event on facebook, or dial into the series by following our page on facebook.
practice #7: resounding echoes return
saturday, february 11rd, 2017, 5pm, free entry never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so please arrive on time. seating is limited and first come, first served.
james goddard (from skin tone) is a talented experimental saxophone player who has designed a set of resounding echoes and their return; an oceanic sound to bathe in, and breathe in. with single saxophone notes projecting from each corner, goddard guides this meditation from all sides, using guitar amps to create a 4-channel surround sound installation. goddard plays with the interaction between tones, using a distance that is far enough to be just audible when the tones meet. this powerful soundscape immerses listeners in noise from all directions, giving multiple perspectives on sound. as our spatial perception of noise alters our understanding of noise and our felt sense of that noise, listeners can tune into the different angles of sound and associated influence that follows.
there are three broad types of meditation, focusing, awareness and transcendental. this meditation was designed to be accessible for all three types. listeners can practice a focusing meditation using the noise as a focal point. or, practice an awareness meditation by opening up to the many differences within the sound and tuning into the influences these differences have on the self. deep engagement with the noise and self may lead to a transcendental experience, although we are less inclined to suggest a plan to transcendence. you’ll have to figure that out on your own.
come listen and share this experience.
learn more about the exceptional sound artist james goddard here or here.
join this event on facebook, or dial into the series by following our page on facebook.
practice #6: lone tone
saturday, december 3rd, 5pm, free entry never apart 7049 saint-urbain we would like all guests to be able to participate, so please arrive on time.
certain frequencies have been known to have a powerful effect on listeners. tones from the ancient solfeggio scale are said to have transformative impact, such as healing, repairing, inspiring creativity, maintaining focus, altering moods, calming the mind, and sparking love. these tones have been used in historically sacred music, such as in gregorian chants. in this session sound artist jeremy young uses a durational experience with one lone tone. this provides an intimate listening allowing for the effect of the tone to become apparent. in two 25 minutes sets, young explores single frequencies using a tone generator, incorporating tape loops of amplified breath and oceanic waves to facilitate a meditative soundscape.
this may not be easy listening, but by giving up the easy we allow for the potential to go deep.
more on the artist jeremy young, here: http://cargocollective.com/jeremyyoung
join this event on facebook, or dial into the series by following our page on facebook.
we would like all guests to be able to participate, so please arrive on time.
for every action there is an equal and opposite action
this set employs low tones and high frequencies, steady rhythms and stochastic beats. a pillow of soothing filtered white noise punctuated with brain stimulating sonic accents. intimate tones are juxtaposed with informal sounds and durational themes are met with new synthesis.
throughout it all, tobias weaves a meditative rhythm into the set.
studies of experienced meditators have shown that in their meditative state, they take an average of 6 breaths per minute. This slowed breath has been linked with a host of health benefits and reflects a lowered heart rate and calm serene state of being. with this in mind, tobias employs a rhythm of 6 beats per minute to create an immersive soundscape imitating the meditative breath rate of a practiced meditator.
feel everything, feel nothing, feel something.
see you saturday
we have a few yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please.
never apart is a non-profit organization in montréal, québec, canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact.
join this event on facebook, or dial into the series by following our page on facebook.
we would like all guests to be able to participate, so please arrive on time.
pushing his knowledge of filtered noise, low frequency tones and rhythmic impulses, sound artist mikael tobias opens the possibility for aural and visceral connections to noise in a way that provides an immersive and potentially state altering experience. without being wayward, tobias departs from musical expectations with discrete changes in an otherwise minimalist set that encourages fresh engagement with an unconventional soundscape.
we have a few yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please.
never apart is a non-profit organization in montréal, québec, canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact.
join this event on facebook, or dial into the series by following our page on facebook.
we would like all guests to be able to participate, so please arrive on time.
building on material from his first session, sound artist mikael tobias explores the psychoacoustic properties of elemental sound to bring attention to their physicality. manipulating filtered noise, low frequency tones and rhythmic impulses, tobias creates an environment where visceral reactions to sonic space can catalyze alterations in mental state. through a corporeal engagement with noise, there is a continual investment in the present that detaches the mind from thoughts and allows for new experiences to emerge. the absence of traditional harmony creates the possibility to let go of musical expectations, encouraging a state of awareness and acceptance.
we have a few yoga mats available to use and listeners are invited to bring their own sitting paraphernalia if they please.
820plaza is a sparse industrial multi-purpose venue. the venue is wheelchair accessible, but the washrooms are not fully accessible. however there are accessible washrooms just across the path at alexandraplatz.
join this event on facebook, or dial into the series by following our page on facebook.
practice #2: specific frequency
sunday, august 7th, 8pm, free entry
820plaza
we would like all guests to be able to participate, so pls arrive on time.
certain frequencies have been known to have a powerful effect on listeners. in this session sound artist jeremy young will have two sets, 25 minutes each, exploring the frequencies 528hz and 741hz, using a tone generator, tape loops of amplified air and a reverb rainbow machine. this may not be easy listening, but it will certainly affect your mood in a positive way.
528hz, named “mi” in the solfeggio scale, is considered the “love” frequency, capable of miracles. it has been ascribed to divine supernatural powers and is attributed to inspiring wonder and marvel. in addition, it is used to return human dna to its original, perfect state. repaired dna is expected to increase energy, bring clarity and awareness, activate creativity and induce ecstatic states of peace and celebration.
741hz, “sol” in the solfeggio scale, is known to be a purifying frequency, cleansing cells from toxins, electromagnetic radiation build up, and infections (viral, bacterial and fungal). it leads listeners to a healthy, simple life. it is also known to encourage problem solving and self-expression.
practice #1
preliminary research
sunday, july 24th, 2016, 7pm, free entry
at 820plaza
please arrive on time.
an exercise in restraint, sound artist mikael tobias tailors three short sets exploring the psychoacoustic properties of elemental sound and it’s interaction with physical space. meditative in process, tobias shifts filters, frequencies and spacial characteristics of sound in tectonic drifts in an effort to zone in on affective resonances, both physical and emotional. embracing sound as an extension of the material environment, participants are invited to observe, either actively or passively, the ways in which a sonic backdrop can catalyze alterations in their mental states.
there will be short breaks between each set and a chance for discussion at the end of the third set.
