a little summer update
it's been a little while since i've shared some proper words with you over here, so let's fix that. i hope you're having a lovely and safe summer wherever you're reading this from.
on my end, i spent a big chunk of my break off the grid. that's kind of my yearly ritual in July, just putting the phone and computer aside and focusing on me for a bit. this gave me time to venture into new sonic territories. i've been spending countless hours diving into ambient, hypnotic atmospheres with the Lyra-4. to complement the engine, I built a small pedalboard. i decided to add a slicer (Boss SL-2) for rhythmic, melodic and percussive sounds, an equalizer to be able to tame the Lyra a bit more in the overall mix while playing with the Digitakt, and a Zoom MS-70CDR+ for chorus, Ddelay and reverb duties. i found the pedal to be rather affordable and just about the perfect swiss army knife for diving into ambient territories.
one of my biggest task during this break was the renovation of my flat. walls broken down, floors redone, the whole thing. i've been enjoying the dust a lot lately. been trading my Lyra-4 for a jigsaw instead. it’s been another experience. DIY level: up. turns out i had to learn a whole new set of skills just to knock down a wall and build a proper pass-through window/bar between the kitchen and the living room. somehow we kept it all under control and saw it through to the end, with my other half by my side the whole way. pretty happy to finally be done. it was worth every bit of the effort.
one of my side quests along the way was building a proper office/creative space. a small corner for myself that I've been dreaming about for ages, and finally made real. it feels so good to have one place to work and create in. almost feels like being a grown up now ;)
while off the grid, i also spent some time with my mate Xavier aka ITEM. We managed to record an EP using patterns from previous live sessions. there's still work to be done, but the outcome is promising.
as always, we've been experimenting with our trusty Digitakt, samples, and different Roland sounds for the bass and leads. you can expect hypnotic, minimal techno vibes. that's just what happens when we're in the same room creating as a duo. we're looking forward to sharing more about it with you in due time. there’s no official timeline yet. work in progress. but you read about it over here first ;).
i'm also happy to share that new live shows are coming. time to try out some new material. i'm excited to play my first ambient performance at Strøm På Roskilde on August 15th. i'll be experimenting with the Lyra-4, a couple of pedals, and just letting it flow. looking forward to seeing some of you out there, save the date!
more shows, new music, collabs and special projects are on the way, more news soon. always grateful for your time here.
PS: I've spent most of my downtime reading the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and... wow, it's so good so far. Fully hooked. It's hilarious. The dungeon crawling premise is clearly built to pull in geeks like us (and yes, I'm assuming that if you're reading this, you're a geek like me too). But I have to admit, it works. The author's planning ten books total, and honestly, it's a genuinely well thought out, fun read. Recommended.
while waiting for what’s coming next, you should check the latest Various Artists compilation from @petitevictorycollective. this sampler is showcasing PVC’s roster and our closest friends from the community. if you’re looking for innovative electronic music, spanning from minimal techno, ambient, experimental, and more… there are definitely some gems hidden in this one!
** supporting this compilation is a simple but meaningful way to fund our DIY label and the global creative work around it. your contribution helps us cover the fees required to keep the label running. thank you for taking the time to support and care the way you do.
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