Sonic Mind Fields’ Featured Site: The Freesound Project

The Freesound Project
http://www.freesound.org

“The Freesound Project is a collaborative database of Creative Commons licensed sounds. Freesound focuses only on sound, not songs. This is what sets freesound apart from other splendid libraries like ccMixter”.

In this site you can listen and download free sounds from all around the world through its database under creative commons license. You can also interact with fellow field recording enthusiasts and sound-artists. It also aims to aim to create an open database of sounds that can also be used for scientific research.

If you are a musician who uses sound samples on your tracks, you will also find this site very useful. A lot of free sounds are released under Creative Commons Sampling Plus 1.0 where users are free to sample, mash-up, or otherwise creatively transform the sounds for commercial or noncommercial purposes. Users are required to register/log in to download the free sounds though.

By Blend:er
For Sonic Mind Fields

Sound Artist from Cebu visited E.X.I.S.T.’s HQ

Sound Artist from Cebu visited E.X.I.S.T.’s HQ

On October 17, 2009, Christopher “Chris” Murillo visited Espasyo Siningdikato creatiVenue in Dasmariñas, Cavite to check out the live performances of Lirio Salvador (Elemento) and the rest of E.X.I.S.T. (Experimentation in Sound Art Tradition) during the opening reception of Ros Veluz’s solo exhibit. Nyabinghi, Blend:er, Ugong and Lakbay Lahi also performed that night.

Chris Murillo is a furniture designer, sculptor and sound installation artist from Cebu. He mainly used different sounds from the machines and tools for making furniture and feed them into his electronic set up.

He is currently in town as a participant of ART:MNL, a foretaste of the upcoming Philippine International Art Fair 2010 at Manila Furnishings and Apparel Manufacturers’ Exchange (F.A.M.E.) International. He decided to check out the sound performances in Cavite before flying back to Cebu.



(sound installation by Chris Murillo)

Call for Donations of School Supplies

Call for Donations of School Supplies

According to Department of Education’s National Report (as of October 5, 2009), damage to the country’s public schools by tropical storm “Ondoy” (international name Ketsana) has reached P550,938,902.60. Such amount includes damage to textbooks, instructional materials, computers, equipments and other school properties and facilities.

“Students and schools affected by Ondoy may not have the materials and resources to begin again.” Tulong Kabataan, a youth network of volunteers, said. They are calling for urgent donations of school supplies such as notebooks, pencils and ballpens, school bags, old uniforms, and even chalk, paper and blackboard erasers for students and schools devastated by heavy rains and floods. Textbooks, educational materials and other school paraphernalia are also most welcome. Donations may be brought to the Tulong Kabataan Command Center and/or other drop off points (http://kabataanpartylist.com/blog/ondoy/#list).

Museo Pambata also accepts donations of notebooks, pad papers, pencils, crayons and other school supplies for children victims of Typhoon Ondoy. Bags, food items, clothes, etc. are also welcome. Please bring donations to Museo Pambata from 8am to 5pm. For more information, call 5231797 to 98, ask for the Programs Department. You can also email info@museopambata.org.

Supported by Sonic Mind Fields Bookstore: "ETNIKTRONIKARANETART": Mel Araneta's 3rd Solo Art Exhibit

"Undaunted by a recent diagnosis of Severe Lumabar Disc Bulge, Mel Araneta returned to his native town Bacolod for his 3rd solo exhibit dubbed as “ETNIKTRONIKARANETART”.

The exhibit will open on September 26, 2009 at 6:00 o’clock in the evening and will run until October 17, 2009 at Namit Namit Pagkaon Kag Taliambong (Resto Gallery) located at Artekalye, San Agustin Ext., North Drive, Bacolod City. The opening of his 3rd solo exhibit will coincide with the album launching of his sound art/circuit-bending group Etniktronika, with guest performances from sound artists and musicians Inconnu Ictu and Blend:er, who travelled from Marikina and Cavite, to show support.

Mel Araneta's medical condition commonly known as “slipped disk”, affects his spine and causes him pain and discomfort. He was constrained to leave his day job, and seek refuge and comfort in his art and faith.“At first I was shocked, but I know that God just gave me another trial in my artistic life. I am currently in an ongoing therapy. Art is my life and I will never stop doing this until my last breath. I know God is good all the time.”

Mel Araneta is a painter, sculptor and sound artist who was born on July 12, 1973 in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental. He finished his studies at TUP-VISAYAS in 1995. He is also the founding member of the Etniktronika, a group that employs circuit-bending procedures and ethnic instruments to produce their distinct sound. Many of their instruments are crafted from discarded objects usually found in nearby junk shops. His self-made instrument baptized as the "Uyabon" ( means "girlfriend” in Ilonggo dialect) appears as a half-body mannequin with built-in toy keyboard and tampered circuitry. He professes his gratitude to Lirio Salavador of Elemento for inspiration in circuit-bending and d.i.y. electronic instruments.

Inconnu Ictu a.k.a Roger Llagas Lopez a post-musician,experimental composer,improviser,multi-instrumentalist,visual art enthusiast who resides in the shoe capital of the Philippines. Inconnu Ictu means an unknown man's blow or a stroke. As a sound constructor he explores his interest by using obsolete electronic gadgets, pedal fx boxes, defective rhythm consoles, found objects, d.i.y mic and circuit bent materials. Inconnu Ictu has participated and is affiliated with SABAW and EX.I.S.T (experimentation in sound art tradition) sound art collectives, and is a multi-media and explorative art enthusiast.

Blend:er (a.k.a. Cris Garcimo) electronic music composer/producer, analog synth player and soundscape/field recording enthusiast based in Cavite, Philippines His music has appeared in Mood Swing Theater Compilation (2004), Atlanta, U.S.A. One of his tracks was also chosen for S.A.B.A.W. Anthology (2006) – the first anthology of sound art, noise, electronic, and experimental music in the Philippines, and recently in EXperimentation in Sound Art Tradition 3 CD Album. As a performer, he has been invited to various electronic music performances, art galleries and music/sound festivals such as Media Art Manila's Field Trip (Green
Papaya Art Projects) and Ear to Eye Festival (Asia-Europe New Media Art Symposium 09). He has also collaborated, both live performances and studio/remix projects, with musicians and sound artists from E.X.I.S.T., S.A.B.A.W. and Electronica Manila Collective.

Brought to you by NAMIT NAMIT Resto Gallery, Mel Araneta’s family, relatives and friends

Supported by Espasyo Siningdikato, E.X..I.S.T. (Experimentation in Sound Art Tradition), ANIKcessories and Sonic Mind Fields Bookstore.

For more information please contact Mel 0939-4362050."

Ugong's Morca Pika now available at Sonic Mind Fields!

Morca Pika (Audio CD)
by Ugong
Philippines, 2007
File under: experimental music, sound art
(rare/limited copies only)

Morca Pika is Ugong's first experimental sound art project album. It is a collection of improvisation, ambient, noise and sound art materials, produced and manipulated electronically using circuit bent toys and other electronic instruments and effects. All tracks were recorded live using a Tape Recorder to preserve its rawness and organic sound. Ugong is an Experimental Sound Art project and brainchild of Erick Calilan.

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Erick Calilan: "In 2005, PJ Soliven and I, together with some other musicians and artists, formed and founded 'Sound Existence' a conceptual sound and poetry group. Eventually, after knowing that the name 'sound existence' has already been existed as a band somewhere in the states, we changed the name of the group to Ugong (in Tagalog it refers to a 'roaring sound') on the following year. And later became a pure experimental sound art project.

Currently PJ Soliven has his own experimental group called 'Nyabinghi' and Ugong is still in a loose collaborative state."

http://earthmedicine.multiply.com/
http://www.myspace.com/ugong

Sonic Mind Fields on TotalPhilippines - Philippines Expat and Travel Blog

Thank you very much to TotalPhilippines Blog for the encouraging words:

"When Espasyo Siningdikato, the creative arts haven in Dasmariñas, Cavite opened last July 18, it also opened another store that will surely be of good use to everyone specially to the arts and book lovers in the area. It is the Sonic Mind Fields Bookstore which is located inside the Espasyo Siningdikato building.

The bookstore is not really what you are thinking right now. It does not have the wide space like what you are used to seeing in any National Bookstore. It does not have the luxurious cards and books like those in Power Books, Rex and Expressions.

However, since it is one of the few independent local bookstores in Cavite, I have a feeling that I will be a regular at the store. Its proximity to the De La Salle University - Dasmariñas will also become the key reason for Sonic Mind Fields' success."

- Philippines Expat and Travel Blog
http://blog.totalphilippines.com

To read more visit: TotalPhilippines Blog

Sonic Mind Fields Night @ Espasyo Siningdikato

Sonic Mind Fields Night @ Espasyo Siningdikato creatiVEnue & Art Space, Dasmariñas, CaviteA night of improvisation, electronic music, noise, and sound art at Espasyo Siningdikato creatiVEnue and art space. August 26, 2009, Wednesday

Thanks everyone! It was a fun night! Great music and superb food! Thank you to Shey, Espasyo Siningdikato, Sir Lirio Salvador, Ma'am Mean, Jonjie Ayson, Alger and Orvin of Dighay Gulay (Food Trip: Vegan Pasta & Korean BBQ Tofu), Heidi of ANIKcessories, Nadz, EXperimentation in Sound Art Tradition (E.X.I.S.T.), to all the performers, Crucio, Stan, Ros Veluz, Mel Araneta and Etnikronika, Erick Calilan/Ugong, Elemento, Jon Romero, Roger, Inconnu Ictu, Xeontresh, Joven Garcimo, Charlie, Rob Cruz, Natiaz, Martin, Nyabinghi, PJ, Erich, Jen, Valerie, Espasyo Blues Explosion, SABAW, Media Arts Manila, Electronica Manila Collective/Mailing List, students and professors of DLSU-Dasmarinas, Dasmariñas community and to all our friends, families and colleagues. See you all on the next Sonic Mind Fields Night @ Espasyo Siningdikato! Cheers!

(Top to Bootom: Elemento, Etniktronika, Ugong, Blend:er +Inconnu Ictu, Jen of Nyabinghi)

For more photos visit http://blendermusika.multiply.com/

Feel free to repost all the pics. Photo credits: Shey Garcimo

Sonic Mind Felds on Modisti.com, Spain

Thanks to our friends from MODESTI NEW MUSIC ONLINE, Madrid, Spain, for reposting the news about Sonic Mind Fields Night. We really appreciate your support!

Modisti is an interactive virtual environment for new music. It is also an online directory with information with regard to experimental music, it’s performers and enthusiats, thru lists promotion activities such as concerts, festivals, record releases, etc. For mire details check out http://www.modisti.com/.