Artist of the Week
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Artist: Hayley Suviste
Artform: Sound Artist What do you do and what are your main focuses? I consider myself to be a sound artist. My main focus is acousmatic composition, which is a form of electroacoustic music that is specifically composed for presentation using speakers. I am interested in the exploration of space through multi-channel composition, sound design, live-interactive composition and improvisation. |
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I enjoy sampling ordinary, everyday sounds and creating abstract and otherworldly soundscapes from them. I am also interested in how traditional instruments can be incorporated into electronic music, using transformational techniques to extend the instruments beyond what they are naturally capable of.
Where have you studied?
I studied my undergraduate music degree at the University of Manchester and I am currently undergoing a part-time masters in electro-acoustic composition at the NOVARS research centre in Manchester.
Tell us a bit about your piece 'Kinesis'.
Kinesis is the final piece of my undergraduate composition portfolio. It is an exploration of the sonic characteristics of spinning objects, both embracing and subverting the processes in which the objects naturally follow. All of the sounds in this piece are recordings of spinning objects, including: spinning coins, bicycle wheels, motors and the ringing of Tibetan singing bowls. Through the use of transformational processes, I explored and manipulated the aural energy of the spinning objects.
Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/hayley-suviste/kinesis
Where have you studied?
I studied my undergraduate music degree at the University of Manchester and I am currently undergoing a part-time masters in electro-acoustic composition at the NOVARS research centre in Manchester.
Tell us a bit about your piece 'Kinesis'.
Kinesis is the final piece of my undergraduate composition portfolio. It is an exploration of the sonic characteristics of spinning objects, both embracing and subverting the processes in which the objects naturally follow. All of the sounds in this piece are recordings of spinning objects, including: spinning coins, bicycle wheels, motors and the ringing of Tibetan singing bowls. Through the use of transformational processes, I explored and manipulated the aural energy of the spinning objects.
Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/hayley-suviste/kinesis
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Why do you compose?
Before I moved to Manchester, I never considered myself to be a composer. I had previously tried to write instrumental music but was never happy with the results. However, in the first year of my degree electroacoustic composition was a mandatory unit and it opened up a whole new way of thinking about music and sound. I began to think about music in the same way I thought about painting – which made a lot more sense in my mind. My sound library of field recordings became a palate of different colours and textures that I could combine, layer and manipulate to create sonic pieces of art. What are you influenced by? My main influence is nature and our environment. Most of my compositions begin from being drawn to a particular sound in an environment or an object, and from there concepts and ideas begin to take shape. |
What excites you about the art world today?
The art world in Manchester is very exciting. It’s such a wonderful network of creative individuals that are open to collaboration and experimentation. Art is being created from the bottom up. People are opening art galleries in their basements to combat the current lack of funding to the arts. They are starting up their own collectives to help drive the creation of new music and art. It’s wonderful to feel a part of this scene.
What is one of the most exciting projects you've done to date?
One of the most rewarding projects I have been involved with was the artistic residency and performance series ‘Push: Music’ organised by Modul: Projects and Brighter Sound. Myself and another five emerging electronic musicians were selected to explore methods of collaboration within electronic and experimental music, resulting in a live performance at Texture and a live session on Reform Radio. My creative practice is usually very solitary, spending months on my own recording sounds and editing them in the studio to create a new work. However, this project completely challenged my way of working. I went from being on my own and spending months working on one individual piece, to collaborating with a group of artists and creating music live in an improvisational way.
The art world in Manchester is very exciting. It’s such a wonderful network of creative individuals that are open to collaboration and experimentation. Art is being created from the bottom up. People are opening art galleries in their basements to combat the current lack of funding to the arts. They are starting up their own collectives to help drive the creation of new music and art. It’s wonderful to feel a part of this scene.
What is one of the most exciting projects you've done to date?
One of the most rewarding projects I have been involved with was the artistic residency and performance series ‘Push: Music’ organised by Modul: Projects and Brighter Sound. Myself and another five emerging electronic musicians were selected to explore methods of collaboration within electronic and experimental music, resulting in a live performance at Texture and a live session on Reform Radio. My creative practice is usually very solitary, spending months on my own recording sounds and editing them in the studio to create a new work. However, this project completely challenged my way of working. I went from being on my own and spending months working on one individual piece, to collaborating with a group of artists and creating music live in an improvisational way.
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What advice would you give to anyone wanted to become a sound artist?
Listen. Every environment, whether urban or rural, is comprised of an array of interesting sounds. Whether this be the clicking sound of a bicycle as it passes you on the curry mile or the sound of the water on the canals. You should always actively listen to your environment and make sure to carry a zoom recorder with you so that you can capture your findings. |
Anything interesting coming up soon?
Yes! My piece Kinesis is going to be performed in a free lunchtime concert on the 9th March at the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall as part of the MUSICA festival, in celebration of International Women’s Day. It is also going to be played on 28th April at BEAST (Birmingham ElectroAcoustic Sound Theatre) FEaST, one of the leading systems for the presentation of electronic music in the world. I’ll also be performing at Texture on the 18th April with the Push: Music crew, re-creating our live-electronic set from the end of last year. Other things that are in the pipeline include a commission from Under Gallery for the opening of their new exhibition space and I will also be continuing to work with my friend and artist Carys Wall on her podcast series ‘Stories for Cigarettes’, creating scores that enrich the art of storytelling. Check out the latest one here: https://soundcloud.com/storiesforcigarettes/27-gouge-it-out
Further links:
https://soundcloud.com/hayley-suviste
Yes! My piece Kinesis is going to be performed in a free lunchtime concert on the 9th March at the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall as part of the MUSICA festival, in celebration of International Women’s Day. It is also going to be played on 28th April at BEAST (Birmingham ElectroAcoustic Sound Theatre) FEaST, one of the leading systems for the presentation of electronic music in the world. I’ll also be performing at Texture on the 18th April with the Push: Music crew, re-creating our live-electronic set from the end of last year. Other things that are in the pipeline include a commission from Under Gallery for the opening of their new exhibition space and I will also be continuing to work with my friend and artist Carys Wall on her podcast series ‘Stories for Cigarettes’, creating scores that enrich the art of storytelling. Check out the latest one here: https://soundcloud.com/storiesforcigarettes/27-gouge-it-out
Further links:
https://soundcloud.com/hayley-suviste
