Somehow it’s been over a year and a half since I wrote anything here.
Since my last update, I’ve moved to Montréal, played seven shows (which I’ll recap in another post), and released two tracks. Here’s some back story on these, which I somehow neglected to fully share across the sprawl of my instagram, substack, and mailing list ~
“TThreshold” was a piece created for a virtual sound art residency hosted by Vancouver’s Media Arts Committee. The residency, which asked us to create pieces that took a critical approach to the concept of “self care,” culminated in a compilation, “Get A Plant?!”
My track was an experiment in concept-driven sound, based on my experiences with the physical and mental effects of testosterone HRT, infused with my personal cosmology of the planet and mythological archetype Mercury as an alchemical touchstone.
The illustration below is by Max Ammo, who was part of the residency cohort and is also a friend and former studio neighbour from the so-called Vancouver music scene. Max created images for each track that appeared on the compilation, based on the artists’ concepts for their pieces.
Illustration by Max Ammo for “TThreshold” portraying the mythological and alchemical properties of Mercury
For those interested, here’s some notes on the production of this track, excerpted from my statement which you can read in full here.
My original concept was exploring the process of “self care” through the lens of gender affirming testosterone, which I had recently started. The subtle positive changes in my body and mind from the hormones inspired me to foster and care for myself in new, intentional ways.
I recorded the sound of a packet of testosterone gel being opened and applied to skin, and reworked the audio into parts for a drum kit that I used to write beats with. The other sounds in the track were developed from instruments and effects that I tweaked in an effort to evoke contrasting moods of weight and weightlessness.
I layered a lot of spatial/timing effects, like different kinds of delay, reverb, and panning, to create an atmospheric feel. I also used the spectrum tool to tune the frequencies of each channel to resonate with each other, and creative EQ to shape and isolate intentionally harsh, soft, or punchy sounds.
In terms of creating a sound art piece that reflected my concept, I looked toward symbolic and allegorical significators of gender fluidity that I connected with.
I was drawn to the mythological figure of Mercury as a messenger who moves between thresholds and acts as a psychopomp to souls in a transitory state. Alchemists ascribed transcendent qualities to Mercury because it’s a metallic substance that takes on a liquid state. “T Threshold” is meant to convey this morphing, transitory state between solid and vapor as an analogue of an evolving sense of self.
“Granite”, which was part of Delusional Records’ 2-year anniversary compilation, is less concept-heavy, but plays with some similar sonic themes. This piece was actually originally composed as an ambient soundscape for a friend’s website, although I think it ended up with bit too much kinetic energy to succeed as ambiance.
Like my alchemical muse for “TThreshold,” “Granite” explores rhythmic expressions of weight/weightlessness, space, and temperature. Textures of gravity and grace.
Next post, I’ll talk about what I’m working on currently, now that I’ve thrown off the forces of inertia.
Till then,
xx RV