I had the pleasure of doing visuals for Shibui #9 in Denver at the Mutiny Information Cafe. Here is a video with some excerpts from my GoPro footage of the amazing Pythian Whispers set with Victoria Lundy sitting in on Theremin.
For this set I improvised in real-time using visual synthesis with live camera input as my only source using Resolume with Novation LaunchPad X for my control surface. The Laucnhpad has a custom controller layout I made for Resolume.
Here is a cockpit view.
Happy New Year! I’ll be doing visuals for Shibui #9 at Mutiny Information Cafe in Denver on January 26th. Here is the official Facebook event.
This is the 9th edition of Shibui Denver, the last Sunday of the month showcase of underground music curated and hosted by local music historian/commentator Tom Murphy. This show will be one of the few with three acts including Pop Grunge band The Vanilla Milkshakes, experimental indie rock group Lazarus Horse and ambient psychedelic project Pythian Whispers. Synth composer and digital artist Mark Mosher of the Rocky Mountain Synth Meet-up will provide the visuals. Donations appreciated for the bands. 7 p.m. start.
Saturday Dec 21st, 2019
1-3pm
Little Horse Vintage, Books, Vinyl
820 Main St.
Louisville, CO
I’m happy to announce a special event at Little Horse Books, Vintage & Vinyl in downtown Louisville. I’ve arranged with the owner to do a record store takeover with the Synth Patrol. It’s a perfect chance to do some holiday shopping and listen to some experimental music.
On this mission, the Synth Patrol squad will be meetup members The Aefonic (aka Brian Horsfield), Cold Future (aka Victor John), monoscene (aka Christoph Scholtes) and Newecho (aka me). We will be live sampling random needle drops on random or shopper-selected vinyl to improvise a live soundscape. I’ll accompany all this with psychedelic visuals. Here are some sample visuals.
This is an improvisational session and we’ll be performing from 1-3 continuously so feel free to come late or wander in and out.
Here is a walk through video of the space.
There is free parking downtown on the streets and at the Library. Within a two block radius you can grab lunch or drinks at one of many restaurants, shop for vinyl and vintage at Little Horse, listen to the performance, grab a beer at 12 Degree Brewing (which is in the same building), stroll about and buy local, wander over to Tilt Arcade, and/or finish off your afternoon at the amazing ice cream at Sweet Cow.
Brian Horsfield (aka The Aefonic) – Modular
Victor John (aka Cold Future) – Elektron Octatrack
Mark Mosher – Interactive Visuals with live camera input, Ableton Live & Push 2
Christoph Scholtes (aka monoscene ) – Modular
Mark Mosher – Director, Graphical Score, Opening Film, PR
Brian Horsfield – Rehearsal space
Victoria Lundy of Cuttlefish Arts – Synth Patrol brand identity consulting and logo
Little Horse Vintage, Books, Vinyl
Rocky Mountain Synthesizer Meetup Members.
This video is made up of some GoPro footage from Rocky Mountain Synthesizer Meetup #74 – “Special Event: Beat Cypher Halloween Collaboration + Intro to SP-404”.
I’m performing two songs from my album I Hear Your Signals https://markmosher.bandcamp.com/album/i-hear-your-signals.
First up is “I Can See Them” performed on Percussa AudioCubes and Ableton Live.
This is followed by “Resolute” on keys, Novation LaunchPad X with AudioCubes providing interactive lighting via automation from Live dummy clips.
This event was a collaboration with madelife in Boulder, CO who hosts a monthly madelife BEAT CYPHERS. Event link https://www.meetup.com/Rocky-Mountain-Synth/events/264878800/.
I Hear Your Signals is album #2 in a series of alien invasion concept albums containing original electronica, dark ambient, and experimental tracks. This second album in the series, released in 2010, is a retelling of Album #1 – but – from the alien point of view inverted emotional curves!
Below is a live recording of the Mosher-Deane duo improvising with two MicroFreak synthesizers as their primary tonal source. This live session was recorded at the Rocky Mountain Synthesizer Meetup on October 8th, 2019 in the Renaissance Room at La Vita Bell in Longmont, CO.
First up just under a minute of some live footage from the show.
Here is a 12 minute audio recording of the full performance.
All tonal elements are from one of the two MicroFreaks which were being performed live as well as processed and live sampled with further mlusical mainpulations. Samples were used for percussive elements.
MicroFreak: (synth), audio out to Octatrack MKII
Octatrack MKII:
MicroFreak: (synth), audio out to UCA202, usb to HUB
UCA202: (audio i/o) audio out – main output usb to HUB
QUNEXUS: (keyboard) usb to HUB
HUB: (usb hub) usb to iPad
IPAD5:
I’ve also created a new landing page with more pics and audio recordings of our work here http://MarkMosherMusic.com/MD.
I recently bought the Arturia MicroFreak Hybrid Synrhesizer – yay!. I really like the design and it’s an amazing value for only $299.
In this post I’ll share some resources I’ve been using to learn it so you too can wrap your head around this featured packed and mobile synth.
I’ll include some cheat sheets I’ve made for a an upcoming presentation and performance at the Rocky Mountain Synthesizer Meetup on Tuesday, October 8 as well as recommend some videos.
Heads up, I’ve also created a new category on my blog dedicated to theMicroFreak https://markmoshermusic.com/category/synth-micro-freak/.
David Soto (Sinemountain), organizer of the Colorado Modular Synth Society, is starting a new concert series called the Synthesizer Science Fiction Book Club. I’ll be performing along with some other local synthesists at the first event in the series on Saturday September 14th at Mutiny Information Cafe at 2 S Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80209. Event starts at 8PM.
Artists are asked to write a score for their favorite science fiction book using synthesis. A brief explanation of the book and the score to follow after each performance. Book reports have never sounded so good.
I selected the amazing 1954 novel “I am Legend” by Richard Matheson for my performance.
I Am Legend is a 1954 science fiction horror novel by American writer Richard Matheson. It was influential in the development of the zombie-vampire genre and in popularizing the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease. The novel was a success and was adapted into the films The Last Man on Earth (1964), The Omega Man (1971), and I Am Legend (2007). It was also an inspiration behind Night of the Living Dead (1968).
The paperback is 159 pages and Audible edition which is very good is around has a running time of 5h20m. This book was an inspiration to Stephen King, George Romero, and the creator of the video game Fallout to name a few.
While the book was adapted into films, the films diverge quite a bit from the essence of the book – and of course the book is much better as is often the case.
One very strong theme in the book while I’ll be incorporating into my score is loneliness.
“… despite having vampires in it, [the novel] is not a novel on vampires, nor even a horror nor sci-fi novel at all, in the deepest sense. Instead, it is perhaps the greatest novel written on human loneliness. It far surpasses Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe in that regard.”
– Dan Schneider from International Writers Magazine: Book Review wrote in 2005.
Some fun artists in the books in this first event of the series so I hope to see you at the show.
For more information visit the official event page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/441742416432990/.
This month we’ll feature a presentation on the amazing Elektron Analog Rytm MKII analog/digital beat making dream machine by Eddie Corcoran. Eddie will also perform a set using the Rytm. He performs under then name Méchant Métrique
Details and RSVP here https://www.meetup.com/Rocky-Mountain-Synth/events/264543333/
The Colorado Modular Synth Festival (CMSF) will have live music and interactive hands-on activities for kids and adults interested in synthesizers and electronic music.
The event will take place at Belmar Plaza (464 S Teller St, Lakewood, CO 80226) from 2-8pm and then 8-10PM at Crazy Mountain Brewery at Belmar.
We have over 18 performers and speakers scheduled. Artists are playing outdoors with a modular only or hybrid synth setups.
Korg, WMDevices, BlipBlox and Colorado Modular Synth Society will have family-friendly synthesizers to learn with and play!
Checkout the Facebook event page for more info https://www.facebook.com/events/2289165391178448/.
Talks discussing synthesis 101, sound design and composition will take place at the adjacent Colorado Media School.
At 2:30 I’ll be giving a talk with my fellow Carbon Dioxide Ensemble members Victoria and Tom Lundy called “Theremin, Musique Concrète, and Live Sampling, Oh My!
The Carbon Dioxide Ensemble is a collaboration with Thomas Lundy, Victoria Lundy, and Mark Mosher. We focus on live improvisational performance of Musique concrète. In this unique act Mark uses the Elektron Octatrack dynamic performance sampler to live sample Thomas Lundy as he manipulates a Copper Heart and other objects with dry ice. Victoria Lundy accompanies on Theremin. The only audio source for Octatrack other than drum samples is the input from the contact mic on the Copper Heart. We then support the show with interactive visuals with live camera input.
Check out this recent performance behind-the-scenes performance video in collaboration with filmmaker Taylor Dunne.
Learn more at CarbonDioxideEnsemble.com
This week I composed a new pieced called “Press 3” which starts of at 80 BPM and makes it all the way to 764 BPM 😯. He
Here is a video snippet where I’m clocking along at 382 BPM.
Thanks J.L. Kane for hosting and Mechant Metrique for shooting this on his phone.
Soon after I did a live studio recording of the piece and released as the first episode in Season 3 of the Sonic Encounters Podcasst.
I’m using Ableton Live 10.1 Suite, Push 2, Novation Launch Control XL, Suface Laptop 2, Outer Spaces reverb (Max for Live), and U-HE Zebra 2 and Hive.
More on Beat Cypher here https://www.facebook.com/groups/1980133178941598
We had a crazy fun time at Tilt arcade on Tuesday night at our 7th anniversary celebration! Event description here. Of course the meetup is http://RockyMountainSynth.com.
Here is a small gallery of some of the photos of the event. There are many more (60+) photos here https://www.meetup.com/Rocky-Mountain-Synth/photos/30099553/482997226.
Mike Metlay, Dino J.A. Deane, and J.L. Kane I performed arcade inspired sets. I created a Vimeo showcase gallery for the videos here. Individual videos below.
Thanks again to all. I’m planning the next meetup for September or October. Join the meetup at http://RockyMountainSynth.com for updates.
I’m excited to announce that I was a guest on the by the minute podcast Open the Podcast Door, Hal.
Chris and Rudi discuss Stanley Kubrick’s science fiction masterpiece, “2001: A Space Odyssey,” one minute at a time. They are occasionally joined by guests from other movie-by-minutes podcasts, as well as film enthusiasts, musicians, and other deep thinkers.
I’m on Episode 126: Plausibility Stellar where we discuss the transitional moments in the Star Gate sequence from the 2h4m7s to 2h5m7s mark of the film.
When Chris told me which minute we were going to discuss I was super excited as it’s one of my favorite parts of the film. Use the links below to tune in and listen to hear us geek out hard on science fiction, film, sound design, and visual effects! I also talk about how to use modern visual software to approximate some of the star gate effects. Show notes below that.
Thanks again to Chris and Rudi for inviting me, taking the time to put this podcast together on such a compelling film. Also a big thanks for them including one of my 2001: A Space Odyssey inspired soundscape this episode at the 45m12s mark of the podcast – Sonic Encounters Podcast SO1-E09: I’m Completely Operational, and All My Circuits Are Functioning Perfectly.
A post to spread the word. After a brief hiatus, the Beat Cypher returns on June 27th at a new location. Here is Justin’s note on this from the official Facebook Group.
“Hey everyone! Beat Cypher update: Madelife has officially moved to a new location. I will be holding the next cypher here on Thursday June 27th. We are now located at The Studio Boulder 3550 Frontier Ave Suite A. Its a bit of a different vibe but I think you all will dig it! Same time, new place. 7:30pm-10pm. I’ve had a busy month and some fun travels and I’m excited to get the crew back together for a sesh! Let’s rock.”
All styles welcomed and invited. The purpose of this event is to gather music producers/performers in the Boulder/Denver area and build community. Each performer gets a 10 minute time slot. Sign up is FIRST COME FIRST SERVE so get here on time to get a spot. “
I’ll be performing and extended remixed version of my sing “It Doesn’t Have to Hate You to Use Your Molecules” on Octatrack MKII and Norse Lead 4. This song is available name your price on bandcamp, and you can stream it on Spotify, Apple Music or just about any other music service 😀.
See you there.
On Thursday March 28th I performed a set at Beat Cypher at madelife in Boulder. Here is an Instagram video with some snippets of some of the performances including mine which is first. Thanks to https://www.instagram.com/eddiecii/ for footage.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Mark Mosher (@markmoshermusic) on
I’m playing lead synth parts on “Gonna Rise” up from the album Fear Cannot Save Us (Spotify, iTunes).
It’s a custom synced oscillator preset from init on the Elektron Analog four.
Speaking of Elektron, this was a shakedown voyage for my Elektron trinity rig with Analog Four + Octatrack MKII + Digitone + Xkey Air 25 (Kentron USB Host) which I’ll be using for Mountain Skies electronic music festival in Asheville, NC in May.
[UPDATE] Here is a recording of the show if you missed it. Tony picked out a really nice cross section from my music catalog going back to 2007.
Tony Gerber is featuring artists who will be performing at the Mountain Skies Festival in Asheville in May. I’ll be performing at the fest and I’m the featured artist on tonight’s Space for Music Show.
Tonight, Wed March 6th at 8pm PST is my 2 hour show, Space for Music on RadioSpiral.net. I will feature the innovative electronic music of Mark Mosher from Colorado…. RadioSpiral.net
I’ll be performing an improv experimental set at the Beat Cypher event at madelife in Boulder using my trusty Elektron Analog Four with some outboard FX from iPad with hands-on control with Launch Control XL. I’ll also be live sampling all that into iOS Samplr but all source sounds will be from Analog Four.
madelife
2000 21st St, Boulder, CO 80302
Thursday February 28th, 7:30-10pm
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/KAnNfvaWWBL2
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1980133178941598/
For those not familiar with Beat Cypher.
“All styles welcomed and invited. The purpose of this event is to gather music producers/performers in the Boulder/Denver area and build community. Each performer gets a 10 minute time slot. Sign up is FIRST COME FIRST SERVE so get here on time to get a spot. “
The event is always a lot of fun with some super interesting sets – so come on down.
