this occasional society - february newsletter
hello friends! hoping that this newsletter finds you well.
this occasional society update
in some respects, not a lot going on for the society this month. had a go at a jam a day for #jamuary - made it about 3 weeks through until laid low with a cold. try again next year.
here is your exclusive ‘unvarnished, work in progress, music sketch’.
the next newsletter will be with you 3.3. as ever, if you want anything included in the ‘updates from friends of the society’ section, just let us know.
updates from friends of the society
maybe it’s observer bias, but there’s seemingly a steady increase in mailing lists, websites and general #beyourownplatform activity lately. For example, we were delighted to sign up for the mailing list of experimental musician, Samantha J Smith recently and get access to some great free music.
Speaking of new releases Stan Stewart aka muz4now has released a new track - a synth rock piece ‘Protection’ about protecting the vulnerable. There’s a video on Peertube here too.
Speaking of videos - this one for the recent Roberta Fidora single ‘Let them Deep Fake (opt in or die)’ is one of the best and most creative videos to cross the eyes of t.o.s. for a very long time.
Speaking of Roberta, word on the street is that she’s also doing a remix of a track for Simon Heartfield on his forthcoming ep for the excellent Moolakii Club Audio Interface. Well worth looking out for.
Speaking of Simon, he’s also appearing at BleepTHREE night in Dorking on 28 march with WHI Recordings artist and t.o.s. fave Secret Nuclear. there’s going to be a t.o.s. outing to that one, if anyone from Southampton wants a lift.
Speaking of t.o.s. outings, we’re off to Synth East at the end of this month. Film viewings, great acts including Seefeel and Loula Yorke, workshops and stands - can’t wait.
As if that wasn’t enough, early-bird tickets for Machina Bristonica in Bristol in late September are now available. Pretty much the most fun t.o.s. had last year was at MB - £55 for two long full days feels like a great deal.
In other news, we’ve just heard that NHAM have announced that their monthly new music mixes of artists from the Fediverse will be appearing as a regular show on Audio Interface - which feels like a great partnership.
Speaking of Audio Interface, Xylander’s new album, Happy New Dystopia! (which was a while in the making, but has a perfectly timed title) doubles as a fundraiser for Audio Interface. So quite apart from being great music, you’d be supporting a great cause too.
a.o.b. - things that have replenished our creative wellspring recently
There’s another great series of ambient-esque guitar improvisation podcasts from James Hastings / Strange Textures underway. A couple of episodes in and it’s as varied and beautiful as ever.
As one great series begins, so another draws to a close. Kate Bosworth’s amazing Dark Train radio show - Season Dead Drive 9 - on Warminster Community Radio, ended last week, but fear not, the next season is due to start imminently. Watch this space - and strap in.
Finally, whilst the ripples of sadness at the passing of David Lynch echoed, thanks to fedizen, ‘The Eddie Show’ for highlighting Lynch’s ‘Interview Project’. In 2009, Lynch crossed the US and back (20,000 miles), interviewing Americans who are often invisible to most of the world. 122 interviews - under 5 mins each. What an amazing memorial to a wonderful and seemingly very kind hearted creative artist - and what a good way to end for this month.
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