Concert
Organum: The Human Voice Explored
Seth Augustus,
Aurora Josephson and Kid Beyond
New Langton Arts presents The Human Voice Explored, a concert by three vocalists from wildly different genres and styles, who each explore the farthest reaches of vocal techniques and sonic possibilities. Beatboxer Kid Beyond, experimental vocalist
Aurora Josephson and Tuvan-style throat singer Seth Augustus present solo sets of music showcasing the highly specialized ways they have developed their voices, conjuring rumbling drones, electronic sounds and percussion instruments. The concert is presented as part of Organum, an interactive week of programs exploring the human voice through sound, image and technology.
Singer-songwriter Seth Augustus sings in the style of Tuvan throat singers, who sing two or three tones at once, conjuring low rumbling drones from the depths of their vibrating chests and flute-like, ethereal overtones from their resonating heads and throats.
Aurora Josephson explores sounds and textures in her vocal improvisations that seek to extend her range of expressive and interactive possibilities as a vocalist. Rather than singing melodies or clear, unaltered pitches, she develops an arsenal of sounds that mimic electronic bleeps, blips and fizzes, overtones and pointillistic textures that could be produced by string or woodwind instruments.
Kid Beyond (Andrew Chaikin) loops and multitracks his voice live onstage to create his own backing accompaniment tracks, layering sung lyrics over his own rhythmic beatboxing that conjures the sound of drum kits, hip-hop loops, techno beats, turntable scratches and synthesizers.
Organum premieres the week-long installation of Organum: The Game (2005), a video game by digital media artists Greg Niemeyer, Dan Perkel and Ryan Shaw, in which gamers navigate through the human voice box using their own voices as game controls. The installation culminates in a day of activities on Saturday April 23, from noon to midnight, including a brown bag lunch with the artists; an evening reception; and the performance The Human Voice Explored.
The Performers
Seth Augustus is a San Francisco based singer-songwriter who has been studying Tuvan-style throat singing since 1998. He traveled to Tuva in 2000, where he began playing the igil, a traditional Tuvan 2-stringed fiddle. His recording Incarnation Blues (2004) is a series of original songs influenced by American folk, blues and ragtime music as well as Tuvan folk music. He has performed with Jolie Holland, Paul Pena, and the Bay Area jazz group Mushroom. Augustus was artist-in-residence at the Asian Art Museum as part of Asia Alive! (2004).
Vocalist and improviser
Aurora Josephson has performed with Henry Kaiser, Gino Robair, Myles Boisen and Bob Boster, among many others. She has also participated in large ensemble performances led by Wolfgang Fuchs, George Lewis and William Winant. Josephson studied voice and composition at Mills College. She lives in Oakland.
Beat-boxer, songwriter and vocalist Kid Beyond (Andrew Chaikin), voted "Best Beatboxer" in the SFWeekly¹s Best of 2004 Awards, has shared the stage with James Brown, Ray Charles, LL Cool J, Spearhead, the Neville Brothers, Crosby Stills & Nash, Run-DMC, KRS-One and Blackalicious, at venues as diverse as Carnegie Hall, Bangkok nightclubs, and FOX-TV. He co-hosts The Vowel Movement, a beat-box showcase that travels to venues throughout the Bay Area, and teaches vocal percussion at the Jazzschool in Berkeley. Kid Beyond lives in San Francisco.
Cost: $8