Since our first lecture on Monday about our portfolio hand-in and Milo giving us an inspiring speech, I’ve been thinking about what I really want to do. I’m still not entirely sure and I feel I’m going to let my work dictate what I end up doing. I do see a possibility of my portfolio tying into my research project but I’m unsure at the current moment.
My first initial idea was one that I’ve had for a while. I’ve been meaning to create an abstract hip-hop album, inspired by Brazilian music I’ve been currently digging through and playing at my radio show on LOOSE FM. As well as my piece for the gallery 46 installation which had Brazilian music and videography installed into the space.
I’ve been wanting to create an album that encompasses my thoughts and aesthetics currently. More abstract and left-field, taking inspiration from MIKE and Earl Sweatshirt’s project Some Rap Songs, I enjoy the idea of making something without the constraints of genres or need to fit into what I think rap should sound like. More just make music and noise and see what happens.
I think the benefit of this is that it’s something I can use for my own professional career and benefit me as well as develop my skills as a creative and really push myself to create the best piece of work I’ve done so far.
I’ve also been curious about the second piece to either do a sound design element to a video or video game or a purely abstract sound piece. Perhaps relating to field recordings and what I can do with them, over the summer I’ve spent time reading and field recording and have found it a meditative practice.
I have also thoughts of doing engineering and learning mixing and recording to a better level than I currently am. I think it’s an important skill to know and I’m content at my skill level but I wish to learn more. Yesterday I purchased mixing secrets for the small studio as well as the recording secrets book and will learn the skills and apply them. I want to record instruments through the rack units in the Performance Lab and record instruments, drum kits and record musicians for myself to use in my album.
I’m curious to see the outcome of this but I think the first step is perhaps to do a lot of things and see where it leads.