SUSTAIN x
CTM VORSPIEL
Sound and music have always had the capacity to create connections – between ideas, places, and people as well as within us. The interacting global crises we face are fundamentally rooted in the challenge of connecting across diverse perspectives and ideas, often set in opposition. It is more important than ever to explore the potential role that art can play in opening up imagination around possible just and sustainable futures and bringing these into being.
sustain.fm x CTM Vorspiel presents a full evening of live electronic performances and three days of hands-on workshops. Everything from how to perform live, how to take care of your mental health as an artist, to virtual modular synths, to building and soldering your own synths and modules.
19.01 CONCERT 18.00 - 22.00
drusnoise, Erbse & Miriam Taschler | Krach der Roboter & Aquarium
Freya Algiz | JacqNoise | Verónica Mota
€10
20.01 AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS - 13.00-18.00
€10 per workshop, €15 day pass
13h Sustainable live performance - drusnoise
Sustainability questions are in the middle of every part of the live electronic scene. Or at least they could be. How do artists and audiences get to gigs? How do clubs and venues think about electricity and water usage? About waste and recycling? What kind of materials go into synthesizers, drum machines, mixers, and all the gear that live performers use? Can sustainability themes be embedded into the music? At the same time, politics and justice – the social dimensions of sustainability - have always been a part of dance music. This brings up another set of questions like who is on the lineup? Whose music gets played? Who gets paid and how much? Who is in the audience? Where can music be played? And who gets to make those decisions?
This workshop dives into these topics through the concepts and practical tools you need to build and perform a killer - and sustainable - live set. Learn how to get the most from your gear in a live setting. Dive into storytelling in performance. Integrate the sounds and rhythms of nature, connect with plants, and make a green tech rider. Get tips on set design and structure, mixing and loudness for live sets, gear selection and FX, audio and MIDI routing, soundcheck tips, adding video, and more. For techno, ambient, experimental, and everything in between.
16h Thrive, not Survive: Mental Healthcare for Creatives - Paula Hakkaja
By working on ourselves, our mental health and creativity, we are making the necessary shifts within ourselves to create societies that are multidimensionally sustainable. This workshop will be discovering specific self-empowered actions, which we can incorporate into our daily lives as artists, to reprogramme our subconscious mind to help us overcome continuous obstacles and challenges we face as creatives.
The approach of this workshop tackles the pandemic of mental illnesses in the creative industry as “Geisteskrankheiten” - in other words the illnesses of the spirit. We will be discovering the theory and practice of tools for shifting perspectives; building confidence; manifesting desires; and programming the subconscious mind in order to maintain the health and wellbeing of our creative spirit and, through this, our ‘mental health’.
21.01 AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS 13.00-21.00
€10 per workshop; €25 day pass
Module/kit cost additional
13h Introduction to Sound Synthesis and VCV Rack - Paula Hakkaja
VCV rack workshop introducing types of sound-synthesis to beginners who want to make music and learn modular synths for free.
This event aims to introduce the basics of electronic music production and analogue synthesizers to those who have an interest in sound, but don’t necessarily have any previous knowledge or experience in the field of music production.
The workshop will take place in three parts:
PART I: Discover topics around the physics and philosophy of sound.
What is sound? How do we hear sound? What’s the difference between sound and music? Can we see sound? Discussion topic: The relevance of sound as an important factor during the current global discourse.
PART II: Get familiar with different types of waveforms and learn about various methods of sound synthesis (FM synthesis, additive synthesis and subtractive synthesis)
PART III: Get a closer look at the builds and components of analogue synthesisers. Learn about modular synthesisers and build our own synth using a free open source “VCV Rack” software, which opens the door for experimentation to everyone who is interested in modular synthesisers.
15h Building Error Instruments kits - JacqNoise
This workshop is a gathering for sound nerds that are new to the soldering and DIY scene and the ones who know their way around. We are soldering the DIY kits that are designed by Error instruments. In the workshops we focus on how to start a soldering project, how to solder and overstep the errors and finalise with testing. After the soldering session, we can hook up the solder kits in one set up to hear how it is to compose with these noisemakers.
In the soldering workshop we are soldering one of the Error Instruments kits. The following are available for this workshop Blind Noise, Noise Lab, Flower Drone, and Cloudbusting. See the link below for the sound demo.
Blind Noise €80
Noise Lab €80
Flower Drone €65
Cloudbusting €95
If you have a specific module in mind, pre registration is recommended.
18h Building a "Little synth" and more - Ginkosynthese
The LITTLE SYNTH is an amazing entry level DIY kit. It is compatibe with eurorack or external cv sequencer due to it's cv/gate inputs... And fits in your pocket. The concept of the Little synth was easy: how to build a small synthesizer with the most fun to use while still being a DIY kit that can be build by anyone within a few hours.
The first DIY Little synths became alive during the famous Lowlands festival and since than these little monsters have been build on many soldering sessions.
Little synth: €65,-
https://youtu.be/Kh5FDFdGQUs?feature=shared
The Little synth was the inspiration for the Ginkosynthese SEEDS module which also can be build for the Eurorack heads among us. Seeds: €65,-
While the SEEDS was born out of the Little Synth this all started with the GRAINS, a module that saw light for the first time already in 2015 and became one of the most spread out DIY kits of Ginkosynthese. Now you still have the chance to build one! Grains: €60,-
Do you want to sequence things in your rack? The EZSQ is a small DIY kit based on the classic baby10 sequencer. Simple but worth building as this is one of the core utilities of any modular rack! EZSQ: €70,-
Do you have the courage to sing while you perform on your eurorack setup? In only 2HP this tiny module give you a little mic in your rack. MIC: €50,-
18h Building passive Eurorack modules - Krach der Roboter
*** NOTE: Krach der Roboter workshop now Sunday 21.01 at 18h ***
Krach der Roboter offers four full kits of passive Eurorack modules. Aided by Testbild, Krach designed a few partly uncommon tools that don't only help reducing the usage of electricity (since they are passive).
"HP": A simple stereo headphone output with attenuator. (10 Euro, full kit)
https://github.com/Testbild-synth/headphone
"4or": A gate combiner that only passes positive voltage. (15 Euro, full kit)
Combines triggers, gates, and positive sides of LFO's, each channel has a
manual on/off switch. There is a SUM output, as well as Group 1,2 and 3,4.
https://github.com/Testbild-synth/4or
"X-Switch": A dual attenuator with bypass function, as well as pushbuttons
for killing the audio signal (cut) or passing it through (connect). The output
channels can be interchanged with a switch, which allows playing with CV
pattern combinations or sending audio into effects paths. (20 Euro, full kit)
https://github.com/Testbild-synth/Krach-X-Switch-Eurorack
"Vac CV": A module that enables you to equip modules (or other devices) which
do not have CV-inputs with a kind of pseudo-CV. If the device has a potentiometer
or a trimmer, you can connect that with two cables and will get a (one sided, up or
down) movement. Works with Eurorack modules, video mixers, guitar pedals,...
You can bring a device you want to pimp to the workshop and we attach it together.
CV Vac has four channels, that transfer a gate, LFO or envelope signal into such
control movements. Depending on whether you use a Vactrol or Optocoupler,
response shape and direction of the movement will vary. (25 Euro, full kit)
https://github.com/Testbild-synth/vac_cv
SPECIAL BONUS OFFER:
I will bring a few "dummy" faceplates for passive Fader/Slider Modules and some
slider potentiometers of various ranges and characteristics. With a few cables
and resistors they can be turned into stereo or mono volume faders or crossfaders
with 2 inputs being distributed to 1 output (or the other way around) (10 Euro)
All builds are easy and suitable for beginners. A few soldering irons and tools will be provided, but if you own some, please bring them.
ARTISTS
An amazing collection of artists giving workshops and performing live
JacqNoise
In her compositions, JacqNoise is looking for the spot where rhythms cross each other’s paths. She is deconstructing sounds in order to understand the symphony and the themes that are reflected in it. During live performances JacqNoise synchronizes with her surroundings. She finds her main source of inspiration in cultural cross-pollination. In the past years, JacqNoise has collaborated with musicians from all over the world. This is leading her curiosity to experiment and adapt new methodologies. Jacky is curator at Berlin Modular Society, founder of Berlin Noise Festival, initiator of Hijack parties.
Verónica Mota
Verónica Mota is a professional sound artist currently working in Berlin. Her works encompass analogue and digital synthesis, field recordings and Musique Concrète techniques, often displaying her proficiency at playing a variety of instruments. She has produced a large body of soundtrack work for Radio, film and performance, and, with Cubop & Espectra Negra, as a solo artist in her own right.
Born in Mexico City, Mota explores sound as a fundamental inherent human experience. She works conceptually researching the political and social impact sound art has. Her research moves around sound as a collective experience as well as an individual expression. She also researches sound as a force provided by nature better known as bioacoustics. She talks about the physics and the metaphysics behind sound.
Erbse
Erbse (no/ all pronouns) is active in the fields of visual arts, music, dance and philosophy, is queerfeminist, is learning, exploring and experimenting. A reason for all these descriptions point to a cornerstone in Erbses's work: researching power relations and fixed labels, about demarcation through categories, anthropocene perspectives. At the same time Erbse is attempting to create interconnectivity and a blurring of boundaries as resistances. Erbse is based in Berlin and Bremen and currently prefers to work with dance and social sculptures.
Miriam Taschler
Miriam Taschler is a dancer and choreographer for contemporary dance. Miriam co-founded the interdisciplinary association KunstKartell and the dance collective lux&auma. Miriam uses their art to address socio-political issues and asks themselves, for example, how shame and power acts on the (dancing) body (project “INTERFERENZ” and “Manufaktur Caring”), how public spaces can be used differently (project “(dis)connect!”, "Urban Movement Research Project"). Miriam’s theoretical knowledge is drawn from research in social psychology and gender studies (e.g. Taschler & West, 2017).
Krach der Roboter and Aquarium
Krach der Roboter and Aquarium, the analogue visual synthesis wizard, are teaming up another time. After their dreamy show at the legendary ShoxxxBoxxx gallery they developed the
idea of using Krach, the old fashioned, walking, talking and music making vintage-steampunk-AI, as a literal projection surface to benefit from the high reflection potential of the metallic body. The plan is to create a symbiosis of flickering 3-dimensional patterns of sound and light.
Paula Hakkaja / Freya Algiz
Paula Hakkaja, aka Freya Algiz, is an electronic musician whose sound exploration is inspired by experimentation with ambient soundscapes, breakbeats, IDM and Techno. Born in Estonia, based in Berlin, her musical journey started with experimentation with modular synthesisers as a creative therapy to heal and connect to herself. Her mission is to explore sound as the connection of our inner worlds to our reality as we perceive it. Freya’s work embodies the recognition that the only limitation to ourselves is ourselves and that stepping out of the conformist expectations is the necessary empowerment that everyone deserves.
With a background in Human Rights, her focus is to research restructuring social and economic systems to enable the development of self-sustainable artist communities. Her interest in spirituality, philosophy, and physics of sound and its power for societal transformation have been her drive for self-discovery as the essential element for sustainable community building.
drusnoise
Steve Williams aka drusnoise is a live, electronic music producer, sound artist and co-founder of Berlin Modular Society and is curator of sustain.fm. drusnoise integrates analog modular synthesizers with digital FX and organic samples to create a style that flows from lush ambient tones to gritty techno. drusnoise also releases and performs experimental sound art works incorporating field recordings, sonified climate change data, and feedback loops. Known in the outside world as Dr. Steve Williams, his academic work includes conducting and publishing research on sustainable energy transition in Canada, Germany, and Sweden.
Liebig 12
Born in 2011 somewhere in the core of Berlin Friedrichshain, Liebig12 is an Atelier & community oriented_initiative run by Allegra Solitude in collaboration with numerous and diverse local and international Actors. Inspired by empirical approaches, Liebig12 acts as a cross disciplinary laboratory encouraging the exchange between artists, curators, re#searchers, cultural activists & flaneurs. A work in progress Wunderkammer within a private & public identity, individual & collective, interacting with_in its surrounding social-urban context.
Ginkosynthese
As an electronic musician I have firsthand experience with the gap between the feel of playing live on stage and the more controlled environment when working in the studio for productions. Therefore all of my products are designed with a focus on the immediacy of live performance, but of course they can be easily integrated into a studio environment.