We are coming to Finland in Nov! On the 22nd I'm playing a dungeon noise set as Disgusting Cathedral, and on the 24th we are running an Isn'tses electronics workshop where you can build our Fort Processor or Chernobylizer noise synths!
Both are at Äänen Lumo / Sonic Arts Event Space, Nokiantie 2-4, 2nd Floor, 00510, Helsinki.
Full details below:
GIG:
https://aanenlumo.com/2024/10/24/22-11-2024/Quote22.11.2024 / Ääneen : NNJA RIOT + Disgusting Cathedral
Lisa McKendrick and Tim Drage present an evening of music which pushes the boundaries of noise songwriting and fringe genres such as Avant Pop and Dungeon Synth. Both approach music as an arena to explore ideas relating to electronics, circuit bending and uncouth approaches to sound exploration. They do this by creating and designing their own synths, making field recordings and integrating open source technology. They share a somewhat rebellious nature when it comes to music/noise and also perform together under the project Isn'tses. They each have a solo project where they take quite a different approach to music.
They will perform a solo set each from the projects NNJA RIOT and Disgusting Cathedral.
(Note: They will also hold an electronics workshop, 24th November) (link)
7:30pm – doors open
Performances:
8pm – Disgusting Cathedral
9pm – NNJA RIOT
NNJA RIOT
NNJA RIOT is the solo project of New Zealand-born artist and composer Lisa McKendrick, now living in the UK. Based in London, she is a multidisciplinary creator, working as a graphic designer, painter, musician, and synth designer. Her creative drive is to push against established norms and to celebrate music which is visceral, intense and energetic.
Her music is a journey into the potential of electronic beats and song composition using musical instruments recorded as samples, modular synthesis, auditory fragments, and vocals. Her live performances incorporate an amalgamation of textures, beats, melody and noise. On stage, she likes to approach the concept of art as a ritual, employing custom-made costumes and headdresses. When playing live she likes to allow the music to take on a new life for each performance, while maintaining a framework to create and improvise with. She incorporates visuals into her performance which are her own footage of forests, stone circles and land art performance.
She has recently released a new studio album "Violet Fields" in February 2024 with Cruel Nature Records. Using her skills as a songwriter and her love for noise she has crafted seven new tracks which hint at the shamanistic disharmony inherent in human evolution, the futility of war and the disconcerting horror of current global events. She explores these themes amongst disparate and poetic lyrics where she conveys her own feelings of being a human struggling to make sense of a fast changing world intent on its own destruction. As if a scholar of sound she records her memoirs through beats, field recordings, noises, rhythms of the city and nature. As if viewing the contemporary world through the eyes of an alien she observes and dismantles, then rebuilds through the fullness of sound, creating a story that can only be told within the realm of music.
Recent performances were at: Expanded Music, Until We Catch Fire, Baba Yaga's Hut, Berlin Modular Society, Tides/Gossamer Fog, Chaos Theory, Sharp Noodle Bristol, Weird Garden Lincoln, EVTV, Hot Freaks, Ealing Extranormal, IKLECTIKA, Plastic Infinite, Nosiemas, Earworm Presents, Skronktronic, Exit Points Canada, Corpora Aliena, Piksel Festival Norway, It's Her Factory, Dronica Festival.
She was featured/reviewed in Plastic Mag, The Quietus, Sun 13, Fighting Boredom, Resonance FM – Hello Goodbye Show/Bad Punk, Independent Music Podcast, Uptown Transmission, Loose Lips blog, MusicTech magazine, Noods Radio, Dronica Podcast, Female Pressure Radio Podcast and ZRadio.
Links
https://nnjariot.weebly.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lisa_mckendrick/
https://youtu.be/cNYcoTR2C1s
Disgusting Cathedral
Disgusting Cathedral is the dungeon synth project of UK-based electronic musician, animator and circuit-bender Tim Drage, who has been prolific in the UK and international noise scene. His projects have an absurdist approach rebelling against the often dour aesthetic of noise music and he makes extensive use of modified and home-made instruments.
Taking the most lo-fi and disjointed aspects of 'dungeon synth' to their extremes, Disgusting Cathedral mutates the genre's traditional black metal and videogame music influences with elements of harsh noise and doom. Ominous and disturbing fantasy soundscapes are created using handcrafted electronics, Casio keyboards, eurorack and Nord modular synthesisers, magnetic tape, open source hardware such as Monome Norns Shield, and obscure, esoteric music software on obsolete devices including Nintendo DS, Game Boy and Macintosh Plus.
Disgusting Cathedral has performed live at IKLECTIK, Earworm and Noise Shed events in London, and at Sharp Noodle events in Newport and Bristol. As well as a number of self-published albums the project's debut "Adventurers Despised and Rejected" was released on cassette by vaporwave label Rei Records.
Links
Bandcamp: https://disgustingcathedral.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timdragenoise/
https://youtu.be/qcZ1K8Q_BUU
WORKSHOP:
https://aanenlumo.com/2024/10/24/24-11-2024-aaneen-electro-synth-building-workshop-by-isntses/Quote24.11.2024 / Ääneen : Electronics Synth Building Workshop by Isnt'ses
Electronics Synth Building Workshop and presentation, hosted by Tim Drage and Lisa McKendrick (Isn'tses)
NOTE: Tim and Lisa will have their separate performances as Disgusting Cathedral (Tim Drage) / NNJA RIOT (Lisa McKendrick) on 22nd of November from 19.30 as part of Ääneen Festival organized by Äänen Lumo. See details here.
Workshop on Sunday 24th November
Confirm workshop entry by the 18th November 2024.
To book your place please fill in the required details and select the synth you want to assemble by 18th November from the form linked below.
Please fill in the Event Registration Form from this link.
If you only want to watch the initial presentation please donate at the door on the event date.
Location Nokiantie 2-4
Times: 12noon – 5pm
12 -12:30pm – Presentation
12:30-5pm – Workshop
Description
Our workshop will give the participants the opportunity to build and solder their own noise synthesiser from one of our synth kits which includes all components, Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and Build of Materials (BOM) instructions. The workshop will begin with a 30 minute presentation about the development of our noise synths The Fort Processor, Chernobylizer and 567 Piezo contact mic synth. We will cover the inspirations behind the electronics and sound as well as the psychogeographic aspects of the design and artwork. During the presentation the basics of electronics will be introduced, including identifying components, how to populate a PCB correctly, and reliable soldering techniques. (It's advisable that you attend the presentation as it will include some instructions on building the synths)
All materials and equipment are provided and participants may keep what they create. Usually participants leave the workshop with a working synthesizer, we can help with trouble-shooting and assist with any problems you encounter during the building of the synth. Basic soldering equipment is provided but we encourage people to bring their own soldering iron if they have one.
All three circuits have 3.5mm output jacks suitable for connecting to an amplifier, mixer or
recorder/sound card.
The synths all run on 9v DC power. (Power supplies / batteries are not included, we will have some for testing during the workshop but you will need to get your own for future use, we can advise what type is best)
Suitable for:
Suitable for anyone with an interest in experimental music and sound arts. No previous experience in electronics is necessary. Some soldering experience is useful but we also can teach those with no soldering experience.
Workshop Hosts:
Tim Drage
Lisa McKendrick
The hosts of the workshop are from the live noise duo Isn'tses (United Kingdom)
Times:
Presentation and workshop will run from 12 noon – 5pm
(some people may finish earlier depending on the synth chosen)
We have 3 different synth builds to choose from:
1. Light-controlled piezo contact mic noise synth
This is a small battery-powered PCB with a contact microphone and oscillator controlled by a light sensor and flashing LEDs. It's suitable for beginners as it doesn't have many parts. We supply all electronic components and PCB.
Build time: 1-2 hours
To see a brief demo of the circuit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-zBLsxIzD8
Price: €42 per person
2. Fort Processor
A psychogeographic noise synth and distortion/effect unit, controlled by knobs, light and touch.
We provide a complete kit of parts including PCB. It's suitable for beginners/intermediate. Build
time 3-4 hours.
To hear the Fort Processor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkvFA43upWE
Price: €65 per person
3. Chernobylizer
A psychogeographic noise synth controlled by knobs, touch and power-drain switch. We provide
a complete kit of parts including PCB. It's suitable for beginners/intermediate but has more
components than the Fort Processor. Build time 3-4.5 hours.
To hear the Chernobylizer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJmQmc_NITM
Price: €95 per person
Kits may be reserved in advance through the form or website, this will secure your place in the
workshop. Numbers limited to 10-12 people.
Note: Kits are at a discount from our normal prices on our Etsy store
