GRANULÄR
During the last 12 months, I've been combining acoustic instruments with granular synthesis.
Most often traditional instruments like vevlira, säljflöjt, koto, frame drums, and vocals.
It’s a process where I compose and record something on these instruments, mix and master it, decompose it with granular synthesis, and rebuild a new composition.
For me, it’s sound sculpting and experimenting with timbre. Asking myself how much the new timbre should resemble the timbre of the original acoustic instrument.
FIRST PARTICLE
A collaborative work between Mårten Hillbom & visual artist Erik Natanael Gustafsson. Released 27th November 2022.
Sound & mix: Mårten Hillbom
Visuals: Erik Natanael Gustafsson (eriknatanael.com/)
Dolby Atmos mixing & mastering: Gabriel Lundh (instagram.com/gabrielundh/)
The percussive instruments are recorded with a contact microphone and then modified in Logic.
There are samples that are humbly borrowed from a Kecak performance in Bali.
After being recorded and mixed for stereo i decided to bring the work to my friend Gabriel Lundh who is a mixing and mastering engineer working with Dolby Atmos.
Together we transferred my stereo mix to Dolby Atmos and then did a binaural processed version as well. Both versions are available on all streaming platforms and is for sale on bandcamp.
The visuals are created using bespoke particle system software. Millions of particles are following a fragile combination of mathematical functions.
DARBUKA PHRASES
A short composition for clay darbuka, grouse whistle, gran cassa & brushes.
Being surrounded by hundreds of different percussion instruments every day, i tried to set some limitations by only using
four different instruments.