Tag Archives: podcast

Podcast Review: Sound Matters- Bad Vibrations

This podcast begins with a flurry of out of tune sounds clashing together, only lightly audible in the mix as the attention is on the narrator. Immediately, a soundscape that reflects the title and theme- Bad Vibrations- of the podcast is set. The narrator explains that this podcast is an exploration into how sound and music actually physically affect us, providing rhetorical examples such as “can music control your nervous system” and if it can ”turn you into a knife wielding murderer”. Whilst the topic of the podcast has been drawn out, an entire summary on the points covered has not been laid out, instead a passage of an interview which he has conducted is played. The flow feels more natural and conversations like, whilst information isn’t being repeated- all the information given feels fresh and interesting.

Exploring ideas laid out in James Kenneway’s book Bad Vibrations, the podcast explores claims throughout history about the idea of music making one ill- which Kenneway regards as “just plain nonesense”. Despite this opinion, the podcast somewhat gives credit to these claims (considering the time periods and science of those times) by detailing where music has an effect on health. The phenomenon of musicogenic epilepsy leads to those affeted having siezures induced by music. However, the difference between inducing and causing is made clear- the condition is not as a result of music, but once an individual suffers from it, music will beome a point of sensitivity for them, the same way light is for epileptics typically. The speakers use this point to take away credibility from the historical claims, and move onto their next point. I find this interesting, as I would have loved to be given an insight into the modern science behind musicogenic epilepsy, so as to gather my own opinion as to whether music has a negative effect on health. The podcast goes on to detail other phenomena of music inducing ill health and death, such as conductors dying whilst conducting works by Wagner, and Benjamin Franklin’s glass harmonica.

The idea of pathological music is explored- music as a catalsyt for disease, and music as a dangerous nervous stimulant. The discourse around this focuses on women, always with a focus on womens’ fertility. With a growing interest in psycohology, there too was an emphasis on analysing composers’ mental weakness. With 20th century psuedo scientific racist theories about music, the arguments around pathological music become futile, however, polotical weaponisation of music continues. This includes torture using music in the war on terror, and in CIA interrogation methods (totrture).

The podcast concludes by letting the reader know that research into the harmful effects on music on health is vague and inconclusive. I would have liked to hear examples of Wagner’s work, or even the CIA interrogation music within the podcast to add aesthetic quality. It would have also been nice to hear more than one person be interviewed. As this is a podcast series, however, it is understandable that there is a sole focus on one interviewee. I enjoyed listening to this podcast.

Introduction to Sound Studies and Ethnographic Modes

With sound art being a range of practices rooted in audio and sound culture, it would make sense if there was a way of presenting worded information sonically- which there is: audio papers. An audio paper is an academic publication which is presented as an audio document. It allows for information to be relayed with added expression and detail which just written words, even just word themselves, can’t do on their own. In addition to this, they may be more accessible to people with visual impairments or who generally struggle to grasp a written document. Audio papers may also be preffered to a written document, as they may have the opportunity to be presented in exhibition spaces.

Before looking at and reviewing a few audio papers, it is important to be aware of the ‘Audio Paper Manifesto’, outlined below:

  1. The audio paper affords performative aesthetics
  2. The audio paper is idiosyncratic.
  3. The audio paper is situated and partial.
  4. The audio paper renders affects and sensations.
  5. The audio paper is multifocal; it assembles diverse and often heterogeneous voices.
  6. The audio paper has multiple protagonists, narrators and material agencies.
  7. The audio paper brings aesthetics and technologies together in mediation.
  8. The audio paper is a constituent part of larger ecologies.

Maria Chavez live performance: As a turntablist, I was fascinated by the way Maria Chavez uses “abstract turntablism” to create soundscapes- she describes the art of turntablism itself as audacious, as the performer touches the vinyl during playback, unlike it was designed to be. “Abstractifying” this is to just take it one step further in breaking conventions. Chavez foregoes the use of record sleeves and allows her vinyl to be stored in her record box, touching one another, creatin scratches. With other records, Chavez breaks them, using them to create sound collages. She uses a specially designed double needle cartridge to be able to stack the fragments of vinyl on top of each other.

As a turntablist, Chavez’s practice has inspired me to take my musical practice into the sound art realm in order to understand what it is she does. Being involved in abstract turntablism requires a good technical understanding of turntablism, so that one is able to break the conventions of how a turntable is meant to be used without damaging equipment / cuasing safety hazards.

It would be important to to talk about abstract turntablism in the form of an audio paper, as it would give the opportunity for demonstrations to be made on how works created within the practice sound. To be able to draft a script for an audio paper on abstract turntablsim, the historical context of turntablism must be understood and discovered within the audio paper, without making the listening experience consuiming for the consumer of the audio paper. To go about this, I would have to carry out interviews to provide information in a way that feels new and fresh.

Thinking forward, I believe talking about abstract turntablism in an audio paper would make for a great gallery exhibit, as it can be pressed onto vinyl to be presented in the form that it discusess.