Live internet TV and it's potential

I have just done another test broadcast using http://www.justin.tv/cluttermusic after a morning of research and chatting online about the possibilities of such technology. Being able to do live streaming of gigs and such is a very exciting prospect and something I've been researching during my residency at Lanternhouse.

I have been discussing the possibilities of live collaborations using things like justin.tv and video conferencing software and the main issue is time lagging of signals - I could perform here in the UK, my friend could play along in the US, but if we try and play, interacting together, then it gets a little more difficult.

Today I did a test performance on justin.tv where using chat I could interact verbally with the 'audience' and what they typed - if you play the streamyou will hear me responding to their messages. It was exciting to do this with Phill in Ulverston, Mr Duke in Wales and Hal in Florida.

So as a pure tool for performing to new audiences this stuff really works, especially with them being able to type messages to you in real time. I will be working with the likes of Phill and Hal and doing somemore experiments with the technology and how we can use it as an artistic tool.

I will be trying to do another little performance over the weekend, this time from my garden if the weather holds, to try out a wifi dongle and to see if that works well enough to do live streaming 'off grid' for future performances.

My first official live performance will be on Wednesday 30th March from Lanternhouse in Ulverston 2pm - 3pm GMT streamed live from http://www.justin.tv/cluttermusic - If you prefer the old fashioned way and live locally why not drop in for a brew and be part of the studio audience.


Watch live video from cluttermusic on Justin.tv

More fun at Meet The Artist

I had fun working in the kitchen at Lanternhouse for another Meet The Artist day today.

I've been wondering about the amount of effects/processing I use on field recordings and after working with Steve & Mary the other day and not using much in the way of effects I thought I'd revisit the loops I've been working with on the project and try and do a 'dry' improvisation, so you hear the actual sounds more. Here's a little workout from the stuff I recorded whilst jamming about which for the sake of it having a name I've called Drystone Welding.



Iain McNicol popped in today and we have arranged to go and record his singing bowls around the county on Monday, he knows some really interesting places so expect some brilliant results :-) We may even try and do a live broadcast somewhere along the way.......Talking of which I will be performing a live internet TV broadcast from Lanternhouse at the last Meet The Artist day - I will post more details soon.....

Barrovian poet Ann Wilson came along in the afternoon with her loop station pedal and we had a bit of a jam - we had a play with a couple of poems and then a general inprovisation. It was good fun and interesting to see how we could work together. 

Still Standing, Still Useful

I have just uploaded a brand new track Still Standing, Still Useful which I have donated to Belgium net label Kopp for a new compilation they are releasing in the near future.

The music is edited from improvisations I recorded during a Meet The Artist day at Lanternhouse on 16th March, then edited down into a usable form - it is 3 sections overlapped to create the whole.

The voices are Eunice, talking about the scruffy houses she remembers as a child in Kendal and Arthur, talking about houses in Ulverston and the poverty people lived under then. Both sets of houses were built by local industry wool and snuff magnates in Kendal and the Mills in Ulverston.



I have contributed to Kopp before, donating an exclusive track The Moon Of Pity to the compilation Basic Imprint in 2010. They release some brilliant dark ambient and experimental music under Creative Commons licence, go check them out.

Elaine talks about Barrow

Had a great chat at the last Meet The Artist day at Lanternhouse with a Barrovian lady called Elaine. She talked about growing up in Barrow and how hard it could be at times being a women in a 'beer and skittles' town, why she left and then why she returned after traveling the world.

Elaine also recited a poem she wrote in Scotland about people hating others for where they come from and who they are.

I have had some amazing chats with Cumbrian people and would still love to talk to more of you. Listen to what others have told me to get an idea of the sort of thing I'm collecting, we can just meet up and have a chat that I record to edit out little parts of conversation to add to the project.

These Things Shall Be

A new film to go with new music. The music is the first track I've produced using the recorded interviews I am making for the project. This one features Arthur from Ulverston, Lanternhouse's 92 year old neighbour who I had the pleasure of meeting one of the times he popped into the building for a brew. The poem is an old school hymn that was popular when he was a child. Look at the words here.

The music features processed field recordings from around Cumbria, including rain on my attic window, Whitehaven harbour and wind on Bardsea beach with harp made using Thumb Jam on my iPhone.

The film was started in a Meet The Artist session and is a collaboration with Geoff Benson from Kendal who came to check out digital film making after liking my work at the film night and chatting about new, cheap digital cameras. All the footage I used in the film are from Geoff's first go at using a digital film camera. More of his work will be in the next VJ pack that will be getting uploaded soon.

Cumbrian People

I have edited and uploaded the first round of interviews with Cumbrian people for the website. They are all available for download so you can add them to the remix packs we have already put out. The first Cumbrian sample pack will be available very soon also.

There is a great selection of people's memories starting to take shape. Thanks to Arthur, Eric, Eunice, Janice and Betty for talking to me and to Jack & Ian for donating some recordings.

Cumbrian People by cumbriaremixed

If you would like to be interviewed or know someone that might be interested please contact me at info@shaunblezard.com or phone 07743822114.

You can also pop into one of our Meet The Artist days at Lanternhouse. They run from 11am - 3pm on Wednesdays 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th March. Please come and have a little chat or why not try your hand at remixing the sights and sounds of Cumbria?


Sample Pack can be downloaded here - available for free download at The Internet Archive

House Of Bowls, Singing

A film collage of footage shot during the first Cumbria Remixed Meet The Artist day with resident artist Shaun Blezard at Lanternhouse on 25th February 2011.

For more details of further meet the artist days visit lanternhouse.org

Meet the artist and more

I had a fantastic day at Lanternhouse on Friday for my first Meet The Artist day. We had a steady stream of people coming to play and try their hand at remixing Lanternhouse with some stunning results.

Among my personal highlights were a mellow collaborative, improvised session with Ian McNichol's singing bowls and recordings of the building where a little ensemble created a beautiful audio visual treat for passers by.

There was also some great new VJ loops and sound recordings made and it was great to see people trying things out for the first time and really engaging with the technology. It was good to get to talk to people about the project and to make some plans to do some visiting and recording with people, also always great to get feedback and ideas for the project. Some really fun ideas coming to try out in the next few weeks.

Here's a collage of some of the music created during the day:



I'm starting to get a feel for what is achieveable and I'm excited about getting an interactive, improvised installation together by the end of the project. We got some amazing results from the test material of Lanternhouse and I will now start adding more sounds and film to the mix.

The next Meet The Artist day is on 9th March at Lanternhouse - visit http://www.lanternhouse.org/ for more details.

Remixing Lanternhouse - more remixes and other news

Another remix of Lanternhouse from the United States, this time from the talented Clint Newton aka Beed and Fascia who have sent the track Goodbye Faerie, Goodbye.

Clint said: 'Although I did do some processing and repurposing, it's more of a straightforward composition with some of the fragments. I kind of like the way it turned out... hope you do too! Thanks for the opportunity and thanks for listening!'

Beed and Fascia on Bandcamp
Beed and Fascia on Soundcloud

The wonderfully talented Phil Powell has sent us this beautiful track, Pause For Allan.

Phil says: 'This is a very melancholy mix. My uncle recently left this mortal coil far too quickly, after being diagnosed with leukaemia. His passing was so sudden, it took us all by surprise, and nobody really had a chance to say goodbye to him. I have known him all my life, and now he is gone. So this track is inspired by the moments I've been taking these past few days to pause, reflect, and to think about the many loving friends and family who are grieving at his passing.'

Phil is a resident in Ulverston and runs the amazing company We Make Media, who designed the Lanternhouse website.

Phil Powell on Soundcloud

We Make Media

All the remixes can be downloaded here

Also just a quick reminder I'll be in the foyer of Lanternhouse from 11am - 3pm tomorrow (25th February) if you want to drop by and find out more about the project or have a go at remixing Lanternhouse yourself. You can try your hand at soundscapes or VJing, or come and let me record your memories of Cumbria to add to the sound bank.

Remixing Lanternhouse - Meet The Artist Shaun Blezard

Friday 25th February - 11am - 3pm (Free Drop In Session)

Lanternhouse

The Ellers,

Ulverston,

Cumbria,

LA12 0AA

Drop into Lanternhouse to find out about Cumbria Remixed and meet sound artist Shaun Blezard. Record your memories and thoughts on Cumbria and help remix Lanternhouse itself!! No need to book, just drop in to see and hear what Cumbria Remixed is all about.

Cumbria Remixed is an exciting new digital sound project using digital technologies to investigate and remix the soundscape of Cumbria. It will create a lively dialogue between old and new, young and old through field recordings of Cumbrian environments, and local people’s tales, tunes, stories and songs. It will use digital technology to remix and remould our environment and our stories to create new soundscapes and songs.

Cumbria Remixed is a project by sound artist Shaun Blezard for Lanternhouse.

Shaun will be creating a series of works throughout the project both on-line, at Lanternhouse and around Cumbria. He would love to hear from you and work with your recordings of the county.

Other Meet The Artist days @ Lanternhouse with Shaun Blezard
Wednesdays 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th March 2011 - 11am - 3pm (Free Drop in Events)

Resident sound artist Shaun Blezard will be running open house days to talk to the local community about his work and the Cumbria Remixed project. If you are interested in the project and want to try creating soundscapes, field recording, VJing or just want Shaun to record your memories and thoughts about Cumbria why not come along and join in. No experience necessary.

www.lanternhouse.org for more details on this project and others