Ben Vida produces electronic compositions that utilize analog and digital synthesizing technologies, with a focus on aural phenomena and sound localization. For the opening performance of his residency at ISSUE Project Room, Vida premieres a new solo composition followed by a talk with artist Michael Bell-Smith, and a new work for trio with Tyondai Braxton and Sara Magenheimer. Vida is well known as the co-founder of the group Town and Country, has produced three records of world musique concrete under the name Bird Show and plays in the band Soft Circle. In collaboration with Greg Davis, he creates cross control voltage integrated improvisations and real time automatic group composition. Most recently has has released projects under his own name on labels such as PAN and Alku.
Program:
Composition for digital and analog synthesis performed by Ben Vida
MiniLecture by Michael Bell-Smith
Composition for Two Voices and Gated Electronics (Tztztztzt Î Í Í ...) performed by Tyondai Braxton, Sara Magenheimer and Ben Vida
Ben Vida has worked with artists Siebren Versteeg, Meredyth Sparks, Marina Rosenfeld, Luke Fowler, Hisham Bharoocha, Nadia Hironaka and Mathew Suib and has played in ensembles led by Tony Conrad, Rhys Chattam, and Werner Dafeldecker. He has performed with with David Behrman, Tyondai Braxton, Nate Wooley, Ryan Sawyer, Chad Taylor, Eli Keszler, Yamatsuka Eye and C. Spencer Yeh among many others. He has released over twenty records on such labels as Thrill Jockey, Drag City, PAN, Amish, Bottrop-Boy, Hapna and Kranky.
In 2011 Vida was Composer in Residency at Diapason Space, NYC and at EMS Studios, Stockholm and was awarded a Swedish Arts Committee Travel Grant, ISSUE Project Room Emerging Artists Commission and Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona "Composing with Process" Exclusive Works Commission. 2012 he premiered a new composition for fixed electronics and small ensemble commissioned by the ACM/Palomar Ensemble in Chicago. In the spring of 2013 he will be an Artist in Residence at Clocktower, NYC and Issue Project Room, Brooklyn and will stage a solo show at Audio Visual Arts Gallery in Manhattan. As both a solo artist and in collaboration Vida has presented his work in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, South Korea and Japan.
Tyondai Braxton is an American composer and electronic musician. He studied music composition at The Hartt School of the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut with Robert Carl, Ingram Marshall and Ken Steen. His music incorporates electronic and modern orchestral elements, creating pieces ranging from solo pieces to music for large orchestra and electronics. Tyondai is also the former frontman of the experimental rock band group Battles.
Sara Magenheimer is an artist and musician based in New York. She was a founding member of the bands Flying and WOOM and currently performs in various projects, including Begonia Palacios Pekinpah, and in Free Paint, a duo with Greg Saunier.
Michael Bell-Smith in an artist and humorist based in Brooklyn, New York. His work has been exhibited and screened in museums and galleries internationally.
