©TBF
Event Info: Semiotic Sessions
@ Old Main Chapel, University of Colorado, Friday, Feb 19 2010
in case of flood: bus to safety. The Basics Fund Presents: The Semiotic Sessions Session One: Ryan Nelli, Signal Path, The Wicked Won
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What better way to explain what this is, than to let you read the letter that started it off (abridged version)? After all, this is a baby. We are but its parents. Ultimately it will become whatever it was meant to become.
Dear Ryan Nelli, Cody Wille, Ryan Burnett, and Landon Schwindt,
What's up, gentlemen?
I just wanted to get in touch about the new project that The Basics Fund is launching. Basically, what we're trying to curate is an interview/lecture series that aims to get to the bottom of different artists' understandings, approaches, philosophies, and perceptions of their art and the artistic medium they have chosen to explore. The series will be called, The Semiotic Sessions. We have chosen to start out by exploring the current incarnation of electronic music prevalent in the "underground" concert-going culture. And, on February 19th, we have been given approval and funding through The University of Colorado's Cultural Events Board, to host the first ever installment of the Semiotic Sessions. Invited to participate are, Ryan Nelli of GSP (and many other projects), as sherpa (interviewer/guide on this intellectual exploration of art); Ryan Burnett of Signal Path and Pan Astral, along with Cody Wille aka The Wicked Won, formerly of Signal Path. The fact that this is funded by CU means you guys can focus on being intellectuals and artists, rather than on appealing to a large number of people.
So, here's what we're after: Semiotics is a branch of linguistics which defamiliarizes us with language and puts us in touch with the reality that words are separate from the things that they represent. The Semiotic relationship between words and things is amplified when trying to describe abstract concepts like the artistic use of sound, color, or language itself. It is with full understanding of the futility and ridiculousness of this endeavor that we toss ourselves haphazardly down the path of attempting to nail words onto art by enabling artists to discuss their theories, explorations and approaches in a live setting amongst a live crowd.
In more concrete terms, Nelli is going to guide Cody and Ryan through a thoughtful discussion of their individual uses of sound as art. Ideally we will touch on some concrete concepts, but also get deep into abstract thoughts that really teach, not only the audience and the interviewer about the artists' approach, but also the artist himself.
The Sherpa: Aside from being one of the most knowledgeable, experienced, and well-spoken musicians I have ever met, Ryan Nelli has one of the most purely artistic approaches to electronic music, which is his primary medium of expression. Additionally, his involvement in every level of the culture surrounding his work, from throwing shows, to running workshops, to handling sound-production for poets, to running sound for non-profit fund raising events, allowed him to understand his art from every conceivable perspective. As a result, Ryan has been asked to lead, guide, and prompt as many of these sessions as he is able.
The Subject(s): Cody Wille is an interesting, entertaining, and all-around good dude, which doesn't mean shit. What does mean shit is the way his music travels and takes up space. He creates narrative plots with sound. His melodies are heroes and his bass lines are villains, while his beats become the crumbling battlegrounds where the two hold their final showdowns. He uses every component of music to bring these stories together, and as his project name, The Wicked Won, indicates, it's not always a happy ending.
Ryan Burnett is the guitarist and producer behind Signal Path, an electronic music project that has successfully implemented both live guitar and live drums into its performances. It would be interesting to learn more about Ryan's philosophies on what is gained by involving live instrumentation with controlled pre-produced electronic components. We are curious to learn about Ryan's approach to song writing and his artistic take on the medium in general. But also, with his constant focus on exploring new musical concepts which exists in every new Signal Path release, as well as in his side projects including the latest, Pan Astral, an explanation of what the artist is seeking, finding, and the motivation to continue exploring would also be worth....uhhhh.....exploring.
Since we are investigating two different artists, who are linked by their collaboration during the time when they were both actively involved in Signal Path, it might be good to start off speaking to each artist as individuals, and then end by addressing both of them regarding their philosophies on collaboration as a creative process.
The Conceptualizers: Keep in mind when reading this, that I am not a musician, so to an extent, I am talking out of my ass. I do, however, hope that this concept is well-received, and that you guys, being the experts that you are, will see where I am coming from and be inspired to investigate your art in a curious and uninhibited way. ...It will be videoed by the way.
The event will be organized and promoted by The Basics Fund. Specifically, myself (Dustin Huth), and Landon Schwindt, will ensure that sound, video, space, decor, and promotions, are taken care of.
I am extremely excited about this project, and the opportunity to associate The Basics Fund with what I believe will be an important investigation of some of the most insightful contemporary artwork.
Dustin Huth
CEO/Ghost Chief
The Basics Fund, Inc.
Dear Ryan Nelli, Cody Wille, Ryan Burnett, and Landon Schwindt,
What's up, gentlemen?
I just wanted to get in touch about the new project that The Basics Fund is launching. Basically, what we're trying to curate is an interview/lecture series that aims to get to the bottom of different artists' understandings, approaches, philosophies, and perceptions of their art and the artistic medium they have chosen to explore. The series will be called, The Semiotic Sessions. We have chosen to start out by exploring the current incarnation of electronic music prevalent in the "underground" concert-going culture. And, on February 19th, we have been given approval and funding through The University of Colorado's Cultural Events Board, to host the first ever installment of the Semiotic Sessions. Invited to participate are, Ryan Nelli of GSP (and many other projects), as sherpa (interviewer/guide on this intellectual exploration of art); Ryan Burnett of Signal Path and Pan Astral, along with Cody Wille aka The Wicked Won, formerly of Signal Path. The fact that this is funded by CU means you guys can focus on being intellectuals and artists, rather than on appealing to a large number of people.
So, here's what we're after: Semiotics is a branch of linguistics which defamiliarizes us with language and puts us in touch with the reality that words are separate from the things that they represent. The Semiotic relationship between words and things is amplified when trying to describe abstract concepts like the artistic use of sound, color, or language itself. It is with full understanding of the futility and ridiculousness of this endeavor that we toss ourselves haphazardly down the path of attempting to nail words onto art by enabling artists to discuss their theories, explorations and approaches in a live setting amongst a live crowd.
In more concrete terms, Nelli is going to guide Cody and Ryan through a thoughtful discussion of their individual uses of sound as art. Ideally we will touch on some concrete concepts, but also get deep into abstract thoughts that really teach, not only the audience and the interviewer about the artists' approach, but also the artist himself.
The Sherpa: Aside from being one of the most knowledgeable, experienced, and well-spoken musicians I have ever met, Ryan Nelli has one of the most purely artistic approaches to electronic music, which is his primary medium of expression. Additionally, his involvement in every level of the culture surrounding his work, from throwing shows, to running workshops, to handling sound-production for poets, to running sound for non-profit fund raising events, allowed him to understand his art from every conceivable perspective. As a result, Ryan has been asked to lead, guide, and prompt as many of these sessions as he is able.
The Subject(s): Cody Wille is an interesting, entertaining, and all-around good dude, which doesn't mean shit. What does mean shit is the way his music travels and takes up space. He creates narrative plots with sound. His melodies are heroes and his bass lines are villains, while his beats become the crumbling battlegrounds where the two hold their final showdowns. He uses every component of music to bring these stories together, and as his project name, The Wicked Won, indicates, it's not always a happy ending.
Ryan Burnett is the guitarist and producer behind Signal Path, an electronic music project that has successfully implemented both live guitar and live drums into its performances. It would be interesting to learn more about Ryan's philosophies on what is gained by involving live instrumentation with controlled pre-produced electronic components. We are curious to learn about Ryan's approach to song writing and his artistic take on the medium in general. But also, with his constant focus on exploring new musical concepts which exists in every new Signal Path release, as well as in his side projects including the latest, Pan Astral, an explanation of what the artist is seeking, finding, and the motivation to continue exploring would also be worth....uhhhh.....exploring.
Since we are investigating two different artists, who are linked by their collaboration during the time when they were both actively involved in Signal Path, it might be good to start off speaking to each artist as individuals, and then end by addressing both of them regarding their philosophies on collaboration as a creative process.
The Conceptualizers: Keep in mind when reading this, that I am not a musician, so to an extent, I am talking out of my ass. I do, however, hope that this concept is well-received, and that you guys, being the experts that you are, will see where I am coming from and be inspired to investigate your art in a curious and uninhibited way. ...It will be videoed by the way.
The event will be organized and promoted by The Basics Fund. Specifically, myself (Dustin Huth), and Landon Schwindt, will ensure that sound, video, space, decor, and promotions, are taken care of.
I am extremely excited about this project, and the opportunity to associate The Basics Fund with what I believe will be an important investigation of some of the most insightful contemporary artwork.
Dustin Huth
CEO/Ghost Chief
The Basics Fund, Inc.
