Tag Archives: Loop Station
Adam Page’s influence on my musical creation
When it came to creating this looped song, I thought it would have been much simpler than it actually turned out to be. When faced with learning how to use this loop pedal (something I’ve never used before), it was a daunting task, made even more daunting with the knowledge of a live audience. But over the last couple of days I’ve turned to my most influential solo performer for some guidance, Adam Page. During the beginning of this process a lot of my work was influenced by Laurie Anderson, which subsequently allowed me to form the basis of my show. However, as my ideas and concepts have developed, I have found my work steering away from the constant avant-garde musical underscoring of Laurie Anderson and more onto narrative and musical storytelling artists such as Adam Page.
I watched numerous of his performances, and gathered performance acting techniques, as well as musical techniques.
What I’ve learn from Adam
He is a great storyteller. He structures many of his shows around a single event or story, tells that story, then improvises a song about it. I would like to use this structure within my performance. To use the song as a commentary on my situation and story, rather than the song as the main focus like in much of Laurie Anderson’s work.
All of his musical work is completely improvised. This therefore makes the performance seem raw and slightly rugged. I really like this and think this honesty could be quite endearing in my performance. As the performances are all improvised, the objects he chooses to make music from are randomly picked from the objects around him. I like this a lot, and although my objects will be pre-chosen, I will perform it as though they are spontaneous decisions. I think doing this will be more in keeping with the relaxed, chilled out atmosphere, rather than being structured and pre-planned (which is completely contrasting to my cocoon).
My attempt at looping
Below is an example of one of many first attempts at looping. It was not as complex as I wanted the final song to be, but it was one of many stepping-stones towards the final piece.
After many days of experimenting with sounds and rhythms, below is a recording of the final song. Also, if the worst happens and it all goes wrong in the performance (as is often with live music), this is proof of what it should have sounded like!
My day of experimenting
I’ve begun to play around with the musical side of my performance. I felt that the script and the themes were forming nicely so I began to experiment with the loop box and making rhythm and music from everyday objects. Below is a short video of my day.
Adam Page & Stomp
Adam Page
Musician and solo artist Adam Page has provided me with an abundance of ideas for my show. He is an Australian solo performer that specialises in music looping. He performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2013 and it was that performance which drew my attention to him. He is an insanely talented guy who can not only make music out of the most random and bazar objects, but he can also hold the audience’s attention throughout.
(Adam Page, 2013)
The following performance shows his ability to create music out of everyday objects that were lying around, including a sweet potato. I really like the idea of using lots of items and it has influenced me to slightly alter my performance. I originally wanted to make music only from the restraints themselves. Although after watching Adam Page use a multitude of objects to create a layered soundscape, I realised this would create more depth.
(Adam Page, 2012)
Whilst watching how he uses different object it made me realised that I could use objects that remind me of my relationship with my parents, sister and boyfriend. I would have them laid out around the tv screen to create three separate areas of objects that represent the three people I speak about. This would allow the music I create to represent the whole of my relationship with them rather than only the negative restraints. I want to portray how much these relationships mean to me and portray them in a good light, rather than portraying them as a burden as that is not how I see them.
Stomp
After researching Adam Page, it reminded me of Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas’ show Stomp (1991). I have always loved this show and I jumped at the chance to incorporate something similar within my own performance. The whole show consists of the actors creating beats and music out of everyday objects such as bins, sinks, brooms, newspapers etcetera. After watching both Adam Page and Stomp I have been experimenting with beats and sounds from everyday objects in my house, for example, photo albums, mugs, letters, pens etcetera. I hope that with the involvement of a loop box, I could create a detailed soundscape similar to theirs.
(Show & Stay, 2013)
Work Cited
Adam Page (2012) Adam Page Solo in Wellington 2009 – Kumerwah. [online video] Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkRTj6YeqLY [Accessed 25 March 2016].
Adam Page (2013) ADAM PAGE at the Edinburgh Fringe FULL SHOW. [online video] Available from http://youtu.be/ivZQFIGwX4E [Accessed 25 March 2016].
Show & Stay (2013) Stomp Show Trailer. [online video] Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-KDj0AHymU [Accessed 25 March 2016].
Layout and materials
I want to be sat in a sharply defined white spotlight with several representations of my goals dimly lit outside of the spotlight e.g. traveling backpacks, dance shoes, microphones, maps, stage lights, costumes, music scores etc. I want to be sat on a Cajon drum throughout the performance and have a loop station by my feet.
Each restraint is made up of different material that I will use to create a beat or noise. I think that realistically I will have to choose materials that I can make a decent sound from, however at the moment I would really like to chose material that has something to do with the aspect I would be talking about. Below are some ideas:
Handcuffs (boyfriend) – My boyfriend is in the police force. This has always been a dream of his. This means that he has a permanent job at home, and although I’m over the moon for him, it does alter my dream of traveling with him after university.
Nuts and bolts (sister) – Last year my sister had major back surgery to re-correct her spine. She had to have metal plates put into her back to keep her spine in place, and so I gave her the nickname ‘Bolt’. For me, this operation was the turning point with my relationship with my sister. She matured a lot from this experience and so the 4 year age gap shrank, meaning I saw her as more of a friend than a little sister. This new relationship is something that I am reluctant to move away from.
Paper chains (mum and dad) – Ever since I was little, we made paper chains at every possible occasion. My parents are understandably reluctant for me to grow up and have always placed a lot of importance on spending lots of good quality time together. Although they are extremely supportive of my aspirations, being brought up in such a tight-knit family, it places a lot of pressure on me to stay locally and carry on these family traditions.