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by LaMont Hamilton
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In this episode of Ear Expansion, LaMont Hamilton and guitarist-composer Brandon Ross dive into his expansive musical journey. Ross recounts his early experiences, including self-teaching on the guitar and absorbing his brother’s musical influence, as well as his father’s jazz and classical tastes. He also shares accounts of his first professional recording with Archie Shepp and reflects on formative collaborations with artists like Marion Brown, Leroy Jenkins, Butch Morris, and Henry Threadgill. Along the conversation, Ross speaks about collective listening, generative silence, vibrations, cymatics, chordophones, and composing as affective experiences. He cites For Living Lovers with Stomu Takeishi as an example of a telepathic duo while traversing topics such as his band Harriet Tubman, his research into blues processes in Mississippi, and his later sound-world projects (Pendulum, Phantom Station, Dark Matter Halo).
In this episode of Ear Expansion, host LaMont Hamilton engages in a deep and reflective conversation with sound artist Nour Sokhon. They discuss Nour's journey from visual arts to sound, driven by a desire to capture and archive fleeting moments and memories through soundscapes. Nour shares her personal experiences and the impact of growing up in ever-changing Lebanon and Dubai, which influenced her fascination with capturing vanishing moments. The conversation delves into various projects, including 'Rectification of the Wretched' and 'Louder than Words,' which focus on collective memory and preserving narratives through sound. Nour talks about the emotional and cultural weight of her work, using everyday objects and recording techniques to create immersive soundscapes. They also explore her collaborative piece 'Onion is Definitely Tears,' which uses the onion as a metaphor for layered memories and emotions. The discussion touches on themes of migration and displacement, particularly in the context of the Lebanese diaspora. Nour's work emerges as an ongoing act of witnessing, processing trauma, and maintaining a connection between those who have left Lebanon and their homeland. The episode highlights Nour's innovative approach to sound, memory, and the power of collective narratives in reshaping identities and preserving histories.
In this episode of Ear Expansion, LaMont Hamilton engages in a deep and expansive conversation with interdisciplinary artist, musician, and theorist DeForrest Brown Jr. They discuss Brown's early musical influences, the integration of black history and techno within his work, and the critical intersections of race, class, and cultural history in America. Brown talks extensively about his major projects, including 'Assembling a Black Counterculture,' 'Black Nationalist Sonic Weaponry,' and 'Techxodus,' highlighting the themes of empathy, trauma, and the sonic futures of black America. Additionally, they delve into the intricacies of Brown's collaborations and his reflections on techno as a form of black cultural production, as well as his innovative blending of music, writing, and activism.
In this episode of Ear Expansion, host LaMont Hamilton speaks with multidisciplinary artist, DJ and theorist Ryan C. Clarke about his practice, which integrates sedimentology, coastal geomorphology, black electronic music studies, blues epistemologies, ethnomusicology, regional environmental history, and more. Clarke shares his early influences, from his grandparents' gospel radio to video games, and explains deltaic thinking, a framework connecting black music's social histories with geological processes. They discuss blues epistemologies, the relationship between blackness and ecologies under colonial pressures, and the deep time concepts in techno music. Clarke also highlights his work with the Dweller festival to support black electronic artists and foster community.
In this episode of Ear Expansion, host LaMont Hamilton engages in a conversation with artist and sonic explorer Bonnie Han Jones. They explore Bonnie’s artistic journey, particularly her experimental work in sound and language. Bonnie shares her unique approach to instrumentation, her experiences in diverse musical communities, and the conceptual frameworks that guide her exploration of sound and language. The conversation also delves into her interests in the materiality of sound and her projects that examine the complexities of transnational adoption and identity, the concept of sonic citizenship, and her ongoing engagement with sound and language as a medium for personal and cultural storytelling.
In this episode of Ear Expansion, host LaMont Hamilton converses with rhythmic tap explorer Melissa Almaguer. In this conversation they explore Almaguer's journey from her early tap dance experiences to her expansive work that spans improvisation, ensemble collaborations, and experimental forms. Almaguer shares how tap dance became her primary sonic language and a means of healing and liberation. The discussion delves into the historical roots of tap dance, its connection to African American history, Latin American, Caribbean and Indian analogs and its role in artistic and personal expression around the globe. Melissa also reflects on her collaborations with renowned artists and the importance of improvisation and community within tap dance. Themes of rhythm, movement, and sound are woven throughout the conversation, highlighting the transformative power of movement and sound.
In this episode of Ear Expansion, LaMont Hamilton engages in an extensive conversation with Giulia Loli aka Mutamassik, a multifaceted artist known for her work as a producer, multi-instrumentalist, essayist, and thinker. The dialogue explores Mutamassik's formative experiences with a culturally diverse musical background, her deep dive into punk, classical, and jazz genres, as well as the ethos syncopation, which she learned from her mother, guiding her approach to turntablism. Giulia shares insights from her experiences living with the Maasai in Tanzania, highlighting the cultural and historical connections between East Africa and Egypt. She discusses how resourcefulness and creativity are interlinked, especially in harsh environments, and reflects on her work's philosophical and spiritual dimensions. The episode also delves into the collaborative and improvisational nature of her project 'Rough Americana' with Morgan Craft, emphasizing a blend of ancient and modern influences in their music. The conversation concludes with reflections on the essence of sound and its deep connection to humanity and the natural world.
In this episode of Ear Expansion, LaMont Hamilton converses with Beans about his journey through the vibrant hip-hop scene in Westchester County. They discuss early inspirations and the significance of White Plains in Beans' musical formation. Beans reflects on his transition from being a DJ to forming his first band Treadin Measures, and the impact of famed venues like the Nuyorican Poets Café on his artistic evolution. They explore his unique approach to merging hip-hop with avant-garde poetry, the significance of his album titles, and his commitment to maintaining hip-hop's core principles while embracing radical experimentation. The discussion also delves into the macabre elements in Beans' work, his foray into crime fiction, and the influence of musical icons like Public Enemy.
Ear Expansion Podcast is a multi-part series of recorded, long form conversations between host LaMont Hamilton and various artists of color working in all aspects of sound. This podcast aims to highlight artists who are invested in the idea of making art that extends the listening experience. Traditionally this has been described as “sound art” or “experimental” work. Ear Expansion Podcast; however, hopes to advocate for a new descriptive language- aural art. Aural Art is a move away from less defined terms such as ambient or experimental in order to specify art made for the hearing body- both the act of listening and its somatic extension.
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