Audioflux
For those who celebrate, Easter is arguably the most joy-filled day in the Christian church calendar. With seasonal exuberance in mind, I'm excited to share a new project that intends to "prove the potential of a playful, joyful approach."
That's the summary from Julie Shapiro, who has some stellar professional accomplishments, but what I love most is her self-description as an "encourager" and "champion of story + sound."
Our paths crossed briefly a few years ago, and we've stayed in touch. We talked about her new project when it was in a formative stage, and I followed up a few weeks ago.
"Podcasting has solidified that audio is questions-and-answers. It’s interviews," she told me. "This is an opportunity to experiment."
Audioflux is a home for three-minute audio pieces—fluxworks—that are aligned around themes, called circuits. Archival material was one of the rules for the first circuit, and Julie and I talked a lot about her experience with archives.
"In my early days in audio, I was unaware of the vast potential to build the present from the past." Then she heard "The Vietnam Tapes of Lance Corporal Michael A. Baronowski."
But emotional power isn't confined to circumstances of duress and distant geographies. Think about your phone, with voice memos and voicemails.
"We’re carrying around our own little suitcases of archival audio," Julie observed. "Maybe at one point archiving was ceremonial, and now we do it without thinking about it too much."
Audioflux began with commissioned pieces, but the team is now open for public submissions! The deadline is May 15.
"We want people to put themselves on our radar," Julie said. The payoff for her: "to continue exulting in the fun and the creative process."
If you need some inspiration or source material...
Library of Congress - National Jukebox
WYNC - Public Song Project
Spark Media - The People's Recorder
Take a deep breath of the blossomed air and welcome the "wondering joy" of springtime.
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This newsletter was written on the traditional lands of the Piscataway and Nacotchtank.