102 - Owen Gardner (Horse Lords)
Now and Xen
“Here we are in J.I. July!” Owen Garnder, guitarist of the iconic experimental rock band Horse Lords, gives us a rundown of the band’s philosophical and aesthetic visions, influences over time, and a first-person account of what playing polymetrically and microtonally in this band entails. In the latest album, “Demand To be Taken Into Heaven Alive!” we see more guests than usual as well as harmonic ventures into new areas. Music heard in episode is from the new album: Before the Law (Horse Lords) After the Last Sky (Horse Lords) Owen’s music: Horse Lords: Support us on...
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101 - Catherine Lamb
Now and Xen
“Here we are in J.I. July!” We sat down for a talk with esteemed composer-performer Catherine Lamb about navigating justly tuned systems, writing in high-limit systems using low-numbered concordances, her 10 Hertz system, and individual approaches towards intervals. Catherine Lamb’s website and bandcamp: We discuss a few pieces here (the music example is from the last piece here): Support us on Patreon! Follow Subscribe RSS: iTunes: … Spotify: … Stitcher: Twitter: Facebook: YouTube:
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100 - Lost and Found Things
Now and Xen
In this historic 100th public episode, we celebrate and catalogue the creation of Christopher Bailey’s monumental choral work “Lost and Found Things” in 17-TET. In the first conversation, Stephen Weigel, Thomas Scheurich, Jacob Barton, and Christopher Bailey discuss the process, and in the second conversation, Stephen Weigel and Christopher Bailey dive into the sound of the finished project and some of the thoughts behind the piece. Lost and Found Things: (all music examples are from “Lost and Found Things” 17-TET) Support us on Patreon! Follow Subscribe RSS: iTunes:...
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099 - jUNe-TWELVEing
Now and Xen
In this episode we talk about UnTwelve Microtonal Recording Retreat (formerly known as "praxis sumer camp") with Jacob Barton, Vito Sicurella, and Ian Blaylock (phlub) in an initial conversation, and then with Thomas Scheurich in a secondary conversation. Most of our topics are on how music making practices and the camp itself is changing significantly over time. (At the beginning of the episode, I also mention the “UnTwelving” conference held by Positionen in Munich, Germany)! UnTwelving program (will we see it again?) UnTwelve Microtonal Recording Retreat: Lost and Found Things (by...
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098 - Neptune (the band)
Now and Xen
“Join us for Experi-MAY-ntal music MAY!” We interview Dan and Jason of the 32-year old instrument-building band “Neptune” (minus Mark) about their new album releasing June 5, “Play Some Music,” in which they fully commit to microtonality. These legends have been exploring found sound, electronics, and scrap metal for years to refine their distinctly jam-based, noise-inspired aesthetics. Among others, the xenharmonic instruments featured on this album include ~10-TET guitar, bass keyboard, feedback organ (in Glass Masque / Oarsmen), oscillators with potentiometers, untuned drum...
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097 - Sononym (Max McCargar)
Now and Xen
“Join us for Experi-MAY-ntal music MAY!” Today’s episode features Max McCargar, a guitarist, performer, teacher, and polysystemic explorer. In this philosophical episode we touch on what it means to play music live with others, and upon the natural benefits to improvisational approaches. Music: Intro: Ethernet Flirtatious (from snake and slug, rejected) - Sononym Alternate Soundtrack to the Seashell and the Clergymen - LDY BTTRFLY Outro: 二百五 Śūnyatā (from Avant-Orientalism) - Sononym Sononym: LDY BTTERFLY: Support us on Patreon! Follow Subscribe RSS: ...
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096 - XENTAR (microtonal guitar app)
Now and Xen
“April WEATHER… ahem… I mean… April XEN-ther, rain and sunshine all together!” Here we have XENTAR, right after we had XENPILLED! Xentar is a free online tool where you can interact with microtonal guitar tablature, connecting a host of features many had long since given up on. You can create your own guitar songs and share them (with playback), explore scales and EDO’s (even harmonizing within that scale!), loop patterns on other instruments, and even collaborate with other musicians! Music: Living Ghosts (24edo) - Liz Graham [xentar rendering] Suite for guitar in 15-note equal...
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095 - XENPILLED (Gordon Wery)
Now and Xen
”April WEATHER… ahem… I mean… April XEN-ther, rain and sunshine all together!” Here we have XENPILLED, and next, XENTAR! Gordon Wery, who runs the YouTube channel “xenpilled,” joins us to talk about cool microtonal scales using sharp 5ths and dual fifths, tuning choices and benefits of focused approaches, streaming and simulcasting, synthesizers, and practicality. We get a demo of the Linnstrument, and Gordon performs one of his new songs in 22edo for us! Also, be sure to check out Gordon’s interview series on xenpilled amongst his near-daily livestreams about xen! (I was there...
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094 - LAMPLIGHT
Now and Xen
Join us for a conversation with the mad conlanger and electronic musician “Lamplight!” We create Lamplight’s unique style from the ground up, joining them in the DAW, and muse about the possibilities in their composition, tuning, and music. Lamplight’s conlang and microtonal thoughts are highly connected to their color-based synesthesia and phenomena they have experienced about the world for years and years. Correction: at 1:07:07, Lamplight meant to say “7edo” instead of “5edo.” This has been marked onscreen in the YouTube video. Music: [00:00:00] Intro: (41-TET) -...
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093 - Peter Jung (PitchGrid software)
Now and Xen
Peter Jung demonstrates his microtonal software for us - it has a lattice interface that allows one to visualize regularly constructed scales, perform operations related to them that are intuitive, and connect that to synthesizers. The working title is “PitchGrid” - but if others have suggestions feel free to comment! This is an extremely visual episode, so one might get some mileage out of the YouTube video as well. Check out Peter’s work on the app: Website - Discord - peterjungx Support us on Patreon! Follow Subscribe RSS: iTunes: … Spotify: … Stitcher: Twitter:...
info_outlineComposer Alyssa Aska stops by Now and Xen to talk about her microtonal compositions for fixed media and various combinations of electric and acoustic pianos and organs. She draws inspiration from video game music and early music, and often shifts the tuning system used over time for deliberate effects. We talk about software and setups.
Exciting opportunity: Alyssa invites you to submit abstracts and/or pieces for the “Enharmonic interfaces and controllers for keyboard instruments.” Here is the link!
https://zeitschleife-verlag.com/Verein/organon/symposium/calls/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLzeBRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFRaXlyTHNSNEhSQWQ3Rzc4AR4YBapTV6wEs3az4zbp-DSBNooKAMQNis1sOxZMs2DE9Dv8WDCU4cn_KOL5HA_aem_Igj-ROuHCAp47lhrrvlgvA
Intro: Tune Up - Alyssa Aska
𒉌𒋾 (iti) - Alyssa Aska
𒉡𒉌𒋾 (nu-iti) - Alyssa Aska
Tune Up - Alyssa Aska (comparison of beginning and ending e-piano)
Tune Down - Alyssa Aska (comparison of beginning and ending e-piano)
Outro: 𒉡𒉌𒋾 (nu-iti) - Alyssa Aska
Check out Alyssa’s music:
https://www.alyssa-aska.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@AlyssaAska
https://soundcloud.com/alyssa-aska
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