Libsyn Directory

090 - Maddie Ashman

Release Date: 07/31/2025

Now and Xen

Cellist, guitarist, vocalist, and compositional viral icon Maddie Ashman joins us on the Now and Xen podcast to discuss her work. Topics of choice include musical influences, feeling microtonal colors, hurdles when playing such music, and how to find your way. Instagram clip of “dark” (Maddie Ashman) from otherwordly Instagram clip of hocket type beat (Maddie Ashman) Instagram clip of cello notes from “Toffee” (Maddie Ashman) Carol of the Bells (microtonal cover by Maddie) Toffee (by Maddie Ashman) - Stephen Weigel and company 22-TET cover All other music from then on is from...

089 - Alyssa Aska

Now and Xen

Composer 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! Intro: Tune Up - Alyssa Aska 𒉌𒋾 (iti) - Alyssa Aska 𒉡𒉌𒋾 (nu-iti)...

088 - Kari Ikonen (Maqiano)

Now and Xen

Finnish jazz legend Kari Ikonen joins us on Now and Xen to go over the specifics of his new invention, the “Maqiano,” a clamp system that allows pianists to retune individual piano keys microtonally, and quickly, without needing to call a piano technician. For a good idea of what it sounds like in practice, check out his latest album “Al-Bahr” with the jazz fusion ensemble “Wishamalii.” Music: La Eterna Paz [from “Al-Bahr”] Find Maqiano tuners here! New album and other works: Support us on Patreon! (If we get 60 patrons, episodes will be...

087 - Chris Kline (Projective Tuning Space)

Now and Xen

Chris Kline and I discuss his Projective Tuning Space app and constructed instruments. The app allows one to visualize various connections between temperaments, Lumatone layouts, and microtonal sources for whichever tuning you choose to work with. His self-made instruments involve 3D printing and range from flutes to ukuleles to death whistles. Atlantis Theme [from Banjo-Tooie] Atlantis Theme [from Banjo-Tooie] - Chris’s cover in 34-TET Atlantis Theme [from Banjo-Tooie] Outro - Dungeon Theme (and others) from Legend of Zelda in 15-TET (Chris’s cover) Projective Tuning Space: ...

086 - Phillip Golub and Joseph Branciforte

Now and Xen

Come check out Phillip’s new composed album with us, “Loop 7,” featuring his characteristic style but infused with 22-tone equal temperament. Grammy-award-winner Joseph Branciforte joins us as well to share how the acoustic pianos were recorded and treated as “one instrument” in the process. Find “Loop 7” here: Sites for Phillip and Joseph (label “greyfade”): Support us on Patreon! (If we get 60 patrons, episodes will be released regularly instead of sporadically) Follow Subscribe RSS: iTunes: … Spotify: … Stitcher: Twitter: ...

085 - Julian Woods

Now and Xen

Microtonal jazz extraordinaire Julian Woods shares with us his methodology for re-tuning classic standards into JI and what it’s like playing in a live band. Topics include playing songs, composition directives, microtonal setups, and guitarists’ advantages for frets, fretlets, and fretless, Philipp Gerschlauer has collaborated with Julian on his own work “Every swing has a silver roundabout” and on microtonal “Angel Eyes,” reharmonized in 13-limit JI (with mostly 5 and 7 limit vertical relationships in the triads). Some notes about our analysis: when Julian is showing the sheet...

084 - Subhraag Singh and Infinitone 2

Now and Xen

Subhraag Singh, creator of the Infinitone, graciously agreed to discuss the updated software with me! The update uses many new features such as dynamic re-tuning, visuals, LFO control, key triggers, and more. We go on a magical quest to discover Stephen’s xenharmonic tomato, and dissect the ethics of advertising radical new microtonal morphing software using the intellectual property omnipotence of Santa. SANTA CLAUS IS BRINGING MICROTONES TO TOWN (14-TET, 37-TET spectrum using Infinitone 2) In the Bleak Midwinter - Jacob Collier arr, played by Stephen Weigel (piano) Jacob Collier plays the...

083 - Richie Greene

Now and Xen

Richie and I discuss phonorealism (pioneered by Peter Ablinger), 41-tone equal temperament, and his collection of instruments and live performances, such as “Six Monologues.” Sam Reflecting on the First Time He Heard Her Sing (2017) - phonorealism ludus vocalis (Burp) - Felipe Tovar-Hevao Dream Hangover - !mindparade Six Monologues (mvt. 3 - Tragedy Begins at Home) - Long Drive Theatre (41-TET) Six Monologues (mvt. 6 - This space looks like any other) - Long Drive Theatre (41-TET) isoharmonic etude (41-TET) without difference tone - Richie Greene isoharmonic etude (41-TET) with difference...

082 - Microtonal Guitar Method (Tolgahan Çoğulu)

Now and Xen

We have regular guest Tolgahan Çoğulu back to discuss upcoming projects such as collaboration with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (including their secret new microtonal guitar, sheet music transcription), classical/flamenco guitar ideas, the new fretlet guitar design, microtonal bends on electric guitar, and the Anatonlian rock scale. King Gizzard uses four scales, one of them being F sharp Husayni. The prize for the upcoming 9th International Microtonal Guitar Competition is… an adjustable microtonal guitar! Be sure to check out the Microtonal Guitar Method book, the competition, and...

081 - Dave Fiuczynski

Now and Xen

Check out our episode with iconoclastic guitar legend Dave Fiuczynski. He wields a double neck fretless guitar, and plays a bunch of cool microtonal riffage for us! We talked about two tracks from “Flam! Bam! Pan-Asian Microjam!” and two from “Mikrojazz.” In “Flam,” there are a variety of compositional methods used, and the vocabulary is almost entirely derived from motivic bird calls. The uirapuru call in particular has an extremely distinctive contour. Many of these works express a desire for exploring continuums and representing sophisticated Eastern articulations. We also...

More Episodes

Instagram clip of “dark” (Maddie Ashman) from otherwordly

Instagram clip of hocket type beat (Maddie Ashman)

Instagram clip of cello notes from “Toffee” (Maddie Ashman)

Carol of the Bells (microtonal cover by Maddie)

Toffee (by Maddie Ashman) - Stephen Weigel and company 22-TET cover

All other music from then on is from “Toffee” (Maddie Ashman)

Check out Maddie’s music!

instagram.com/maddieashman

https://www.youtube.com/@MaddieAshman

https://maddieashman.bandcamp.com/album/otherworld

https://www.tiktok.com/@maddieashmanmusic?lang=en