Sound and The City

We had been scheduled to visit Eyebeam for quite some time, though the date was postponed until today. Unfortunately however, the class consisted of Erica, Diana, Jose and myself due to the fact many weren’t able to make it. On the bright side, Friday we’ll be at Eyebeam yet again. With what I’m almost certain to be the full class.   

I must confess, my day up unti lthe end had gone completely belly up. I felt a headache creeping up on me, and was very exhausted. All in all, I wasn’t too enthuistic. Though, my mood began to take a new direction as we set out of the school building and towards Eyebeam. The short trip was entertaining, with Erica riding her shiny red bike and the three of us tagging along behind her.

At Eyebeam, we continued to follow Erica until she found Liz shortly after, who then led us into a seperate room with a table, chairs and a projector. I claimed my seat, and soon Liz was briefing us on who we’d be meeting, and who would be teaching the class. His name was Cory and as Liz informed us, he had done various projects in which he mixed and transformed video game music.

After Cory arrived and we got the projector working, with his laptop set-up, I was able to settle back in my chair and observe some of the many pieces of his work, as did the remainder of the group. It turned out to be an extremely fun, amusing experience as he guided us through wacky, crazy and industrial-like music he and friends had composed out of video games’ background music and others, including a seperate website that hacked into Domino’s and ordered you pizza using commands, straight from your computer! Not to mention, we received some history of the earliest computers and how they evolved since.

After, we dropped by the gallery across the street where one of Erica’s friends worked and explored the exhibit; a number of conceptual art by two different artists, one of which a structure of how some artists were able to imitate a bird simply by using a glove.

Eh, I couldn’t possibly do the evening justice with my ramblings. You simply had to be there for yourself to witness what we did. I enjoyed it a lot. I’m looking forward to Friday.

– SM

Earlier today, my sister and I both visited the boardwalk down the block. I thought it was an ideal time to do some recording for the class; it was late in the afternoon, many of my neighbors were outside where it remained bright, and the air had a summer feel to it. There, sitting on one of the benches with my pair of Binaural headphones over my ears, listening to my sister occasionally mention something in regard to her coworkers or day in general, and the seagulls and many voices heard in the background, I began to do some reflecting.  

I’ve concluded that one of the most enjoyable aspects of this project, besides learning from DP and exposure to all the amazing equipment and technology, is that we’re allowed to view our neighborhood in a different manner. Suddenly, I’m not so familiar with the streets or the boardwalk, or even the people. Its as though this light has been cast over the area, and I’m no longer apart of the scenery but an observer and critic.

Its truly surprising, and fascinating, how much you may notice with those headphones over your head; sounds you daily ignore and pay no attention to because they’ve become a constant in your memory.

I’m just thrilled to experience my neighborhood in this new perspective.

– SM

Listen Now:

Listen Now: