Chronicles and Projects (mail art! EP! cyberpunk film!)
I continue to think “oh, I ought to send a newsletter” and then not, and the perfect is the enemy of the good, so I’m going to list the projects I’ve released the last few months since I last messaged in early May.
Postcard Wall/Postcards to Pals
For over 10 years, I’d accumulated postcards and used them to decorate places I lived. In 2018 I took down the wall when I moved, and I decided not to rebuild it. I decided to send the postcards to people, taking photos as I went. Those photos were chronicled as I went on an Instagram account, and in May, while I was “at”[1] Never Graduate Week I finished the online experience. There’s also a little more extended backstory on the blog.
Pam the Webivore EP (and other music news)
I got some tracks mastered (Dino Linetti) to submit to a livecode compilation, and I decided, why not, let’s release all the tracks as an EP. You can stream it anywhere and if you’re inclined to buy it, it’s on iTunes, etc. Thanks to my musician pal/mentor for advising me to use DistroKid.
My music was also featured/used in the Oxidize Global event online in July, which makes it the first event I’ve officially licensed my music to! (Rather an an agreement between friends). I also played a show in June, a virtual synth night (II), and have the video from the performance.
Cyberpunk Film
The HOPE conference was online this year[2] and they added a film festival element, “Cyberpunk Now”. The challenge was to make a film in a 5 day period, and it sounded like a fun little challenge, and I’ve wanted to see my music in film.
Scott Blaszak and Nora Gibson and I collaborated to make the film, Scott being a real hero with having a clue w.r.t. the actual making a movie part, and Nora contributed video art that was generated from EEG (brain) data, which is especially cool in the context when you watch the film[3]. I brought the team together, managed the submission, and my music is featured in the film (including some custom composition!). We generally collaborated/made the whole thing over gmail, and our film was in the Found Footage category, using only public domain footage.
All the festival films are online, but I also uploaded ours to Vimeo for a more permanent home.
Chronicles/Thoughts
This feels kinda wild to see all these things! Things have been made! I have had mixed (or just … “many”?) feelings over the last few months and so listing out a bunch of creative output, I want to emphasize that it’s possible to output creatively and still feel “not great” I guess! Hey, it’s happening! There’s a pandemic and the uprising (solidarity with everyone contributing to the uprising in the many ways they can) and it is all a lot.
August is shaping to mostly focus on rest (I bought a car, so some venturing has been happening, and I’ve spent a lot of time around trees and nature). I have also joined the ranks of the sourdough-keepers.
This fall, I’m volunteering to help with the Code for Philly Fellowship, please spread the word if you know anyone who might be a great fit. Applications are open through September 5th.
Until next time,
Pam
[1] “at” – I took the week off work and attended the virtual event. Ha ha, hahahaha, “going” somewhere in May 2020.
[2] Ha ha, hahahahaha. I’m very tired of online events! But I am maybe speaking at one in the fall.
[3] There’s a content warning on the film but it doesn’t hurt to state again: there are flashing images/be careful if you have sensitivity!