OUANEM by Glia

rbxbx · 2022-06-04T19:18:56.032Z

rbxbx:

Excited to dig into the sonics tomorrow :)))

got around to giving this a few rotations yesterday, albeit while working so the deeper listening session is still forthcoming.

that said, wow. it’s definitely a glia release as the dna and fingerprints of your prior body of work are sonically all over it, but it feels like an evolution of the form (not necessarily in the linear or “better” sense, maybe a parallel?). You wear the semi-ensemble approach very well

I feel like there’s a trope of predominantly electronic composers going on to work with other players and live/acoustic instrumentation that doesn’t always sit well with me. While I’m sure it’s not the intent, it can feel like a grab for legitimization/validation amongst the “institution”/old guard (“see, i’m a real musician too!”), and this release to me completely avoids feeling that way. Kudos.

I really love this, thanks for continuing to share your work with us

xidnpnlss · 2022-06-04T20:14:10.270Z

Thank you so much for sharing this tremendous work with us. It’s so darn good.

glia · 2022-06-06T15:01:22.850Z

rbxbx:

wow. it’s definitely a glia release as the dna and fingerprints of your prior body of work are sonically all over it, but it feels like an evolution of the form (not necessarily in the linear or “better” sense, maybe a parallel?). You wear the semi-ensemble approach very well

there are many reasons why this makes me happy so thank you sharing the thought

art can become almost a branding exercise where you know an audience expects one thing from you and you tick off boxes to ensure they know it’s “you”…also even when the intent is to reveal different facets of your artistry it can be difficult to follow-through and maintain authenticity and sincerity while displaying those facets

the more i’ve thought of this, showing different sides of myself has become a key artistic motivator and a core part of my spirituality…it was very important for me to try to let people see this part of me, which really has always been there

rbxbx:

I feel like there’s a trope of predominantly electronic composers going on to work with other players and live/acoustic instrumentation that doesn’t always sit well with me. While I’m sure it’s not the intent, it can feel like a grab for legitimization/validation amongst the “institution”/old guard (“see, i’m a real musician too!”), and this release to me completely avoids feeling that way. Kudos.

I really love this, thanks for continuing to share your work with us

Again
I’m quite touched by this comment and understand exactly what you mean

I’m in the somewhat awkward position: i consider myself a drummer 1st but shifted almost all my creativity toward electronic music over time. So my yearning to include acoustic drums and other stuff is natural (since i played those first) but terrifying (since i know i’m not very skilled as a drummer).

I don’t know if my initial desire to play all the drums on Ouanem live in a single take was a misguided attempt to gain validation or a legitimate let’s-see-what-i’m-really-capable-of kind of leap. The reality is I simply couldn’t do it with my current skills and abandoned the goal to go ahead with what you hear now.

There are still many parts played by hand on bells and my small kit but i did not pressure myself to play the rhythms as one drummer would, leaving the beat intact.

Also, I wanna use this as a springboard to continue answering @aeoner about how Ouanem was made…

I’m very keen to blend contemporary tech, new synthesis techniques, and freeform experimentation within the context of jazz and hip hop. As genres they are both built on an exploratory/experimental spirit but practitioners often stagnate in order to honor past traditions

I knew i couldn’t outplay some of my peers in the jazz world but took opportunities to imagine how modern sampling and non-standard synthesis (not simply a keyboard) could be used to create new textures and rhythms.

i encourage everyone to compare these two versions of the same composition:

it’s my favorite song from ouanem and the one which, for me, has no flaws…by blending a complex modern sampler (nisp for norns) with acoustic drums, flute, and feedback mixing, i really felt like i pushed myself forward in a new direction

glia · 2022-06-10T23:15:08.833Z

hey everyone

i’m still open to chat more if you have questions about this collection!
since last weeks release we got featured in a few places

most recently today on dublab’s weekly SOUND OF NOW playlist

on dntel’s dying songs radio show AND bandcamp’s new/notable stack yesterday

yams · 2022-06-11T12:11:43.905Z

DUDE, WHAT THE FUCK!?!?!? This first track is immense

The minute the drums dropped I lost my mind

this causes consciousness to fracture

I mean I gotta listen to the whole thing (immediately) but it’s already shining so so bright

just_visiting · 2022-06-22T02:15:56.879Z

Wonderful release. Absolutely love it.

eblomquist · 2022-06-22T12:51:32.305Z

Just getting around to listening to this on the morning commute.

A few initial thoughts.

I LOVE the percussion! The blend of organic sounds and electronic buffer mangling (I assume) is wonderful, as are the very slippy beats!

Next, I’m curious about the bass on a number of tracks. It sounds like an electric bass guitar, not a synth …

Still listening but definitely digging it maximally

ParliamentLite · 2022-06-22T16:55:56.261Z

I still have many more listens to go, but after listening to it a few times, then returning about a week later, I was absolutely blown away. I was thoroughly impressed on the first couple of listens, but after returning to it, I’m hearing completely different instrumentation than what stood out to me the first couple of go arounds. Very beautiful release that I’m looking forward to being surprised by for years to come <3

glia · 2022-06-25T10:37:23.471Z

Thanks for all the comments and feedback
I truly appreciate you taking time to listen and share some thoughts!

eblomquist:

Next, I’m curious about the bass on a number of tracks. It sounds like an electric bass guitar, not a synth …

Bass guitar was only used on Sidequesting

Everything else was done with vst plugins
(mostly Madrona Aalto)

eblomquist · 2022-06-25T11:56:05.003Z

Very cool!

I love Aalto but had no idea it could sound that much like an electric bass!

Wonderful work

shellfritsch · 2022-06-26T19:49:56.191Z

i’m a bit late to this thread, as i waited to make time to give it a proper listen - but now i have, and i’m really digging it! congrats @glia

i included Tema Ouanem in my NTS mix

NTS Radio

TouchThePlants w/ Cool Maritime & Emily A. Sprague 13th June 2022

Playing Ambient, Indie Rock, Psychedelic Folk. Composer and modular synth expert Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith presents TouchThePlants on NTS' Los Angeles studio once a month for a round-up of favourites and inspirations from her label TouchThePlants.

crunchydrums · 2022-06-27T16:28:30.072Z

Got the chance to listen yesterday in the car. Have been listening to Bennie Maupin’s “The Jewel in The Lotus” a lot recently, and diving in to this project just felt pretty natural with that album and other fusion stuff making up a lot of my recent listening.

As always, super lively and novel rhythms. Enjoyable listen, and it was cool to see the perspectives of so many collaborators woven within your own inclinations - it sounds like a glia project through and through. I don’t have much in the way of any criticisms but I do wish some of the tracks were longer - this is more of a selfish thing though, I understand the artistic intentions with short pieces and that some ideas are best left in their most potent form.

Highlights

Flute playing on the one who sees - such a cool riff is this you playing?
Sidequesting gave me nostalgia for the Bojack Horseman intro music
tema ouanem shakers/bells are amazing

glia · 2022-06-28T22:29:38.753Z

i really love how specific you were so i’ll reward you by revealing some easter eggs:

crunchydrums:

tema ouanem shakers/bells are amazing

most of the percussion was played live into ableton using opz as a usb mic
the main underpinning bell loop was adapted from an old instagram post of mine
one of the rattles that’s pitch shifted and reversed throughout the song was flipped from a Kount sample pack

crunchydrums:

Flute playing on the one who sees - such a cool riff is this you playing?

it’s Andre 3000

also i’ve taken note of how many people wish the tunes were longer and it will give me a bit of confidence to make some lengthy improvised pieces for my next few albums

thanks for listening & letting me know which parts you liked!

Justmat · 2022-06-30T13:06:59.880Z

i just keep on coming back to this one. really great work @glia

WilliamHazard · 2022-06-30T16:05:17.855Z

agreed. I just revisited this yesterday, and I’m still blown away by it. I think I’ll be returning to this one for a long time

Shalenka_The_Singer · 2022-08-14T02:39:04.371Z

this is amazing, brother
it has just connected me to a part of the Universe which I haven’t met before until now,

the subtleness of the textures and the variety of musical landscapes makes your music a pleasure to listen to,

and that makes me happy and excited,
thank you so much!!!

looking forward going through more of your art,
blessings and peace

glia · 2022-08-27T17:05:22.576Z

thanks @Justmat @WilliamHazard and @Shalenka_The_Singer

i’m very happy to share this chat w/ @randy about my creative process while making ouanem
enjoy!

madronalabs.com

Madrona Labs Forums - News - Artist profile: Glia

Madrona Labs - hardware and software for electronic music

Glia makes a very refined music that explores what looping and synthesis can do in a jazz context. Though Fela Kuti’s funk is one of many influences he cites, there are no freight-train sized grooves here—think instead of an intimate Blue Note or ECM trio with acoustic players and friendly AIs.

A drummer first, glia has shifted more and more creative effort towards electronic music over time. His latest album, OUANEM, ties together a variety of fruitful collaborations recorded over the last two years into a cohesive whole…

WilliamHazard · 2022-08-27T17:28:21.984Z

lovely interview! Thanks for sharing this

2197 · 2023-06-28T08:12:07.361Z

finally got around to fully listening to this, and i absolutely love it! such a uplifting and mind expanding experience, so full of ideas and life and movement, like fresh air coming in to a stale room making all the plant leaves dance and wiggle. both eclectic and centered at the same time. cassette ordered!

hnnng · 2023-06-28T08:33:24.490Z

also still very much enjoying this.
only wish it was a wee bit longer
beautiful nonetheless!