We’d like to thank all the artists who’ve taken time and energy out to make Wired into the event it is today, welcoming back many lineup regulars as well as brand new additions. We’re excited to be able to continue to support and experience the incredible amount of talent our scene has to offer.

RSVP on our Facebook event page, and let’s make this one BIG!

I created some of the static looks that were then combined with even more content by other artists like Kris D and used to create motion scenes by IVP’s team of animators. Using high-powered projectors, IVP will be manipulating this video content live onto 15,000 sq/ft worth of building facade of the Intercontinental Hotel in Miami.  Some shots are already trickling through from last night’s test setup, courtesy of IVP’s Brian Blessinger‘s I-Phone  on location in Florida.

Intercontinental Facade 'Mind Meld' shot by Brian Blessinger

The high powered projector rig, built by SennovA just for the Mind Meld project. (image by Brian Blessinger of Integrated Visions Productions)

I’ll be updating this post periodically with new content (hopefully some video) as it trickles through. Shout outs to Bryan Dodson and Michelle Dodson for including me in this massive project. Too bad I can’t make it to Miami this year to take it all in live.

***Update***

There’s a mention of the project in this short “behind the scenes” video on Ultra Music Festival on MTV!

Here’s some more images I culled from the Integrated Visions Twitter feed.

Haven’t see any good quality video yet, but I’ll post once I do.

**update*** Here’s the video recap of the project. Courtesy of Bryan Dodson at Integrated Visions Productions.

Red Bull Mind Meld – 3D Video Mapping the Intercontinental Hotel @ Ultra Music Festival 2012 from Integrated Visions Productions on Vimeo.

Soundtrack: “A Meaning” by Braille (http://www.braillesounds.com)

**update 3*** SenovvA, the company who built the custom projection rig just posted their own “teaser video” about Red Bull Mind Meld.

SenovvA Ultra Music Festival 2012 Teaser from SenovvA on Vimeo.

They approached me to create some artwork, riffing on the title ‘These Days’, providing keywords “2012, Occupy Wall Street, election year”. The result is some sort of pastiche of symbolic abstractions, commenting on the rising tension of being a world citizen alive today.

Check the cover art below, and make sure to head over to their Bandcamp page for a preview before February 14 when the release officially drops. You can also follow the band on Facebook and Twitter or visit their One Sheet page.

The whole thing came about somewhat unexpectedly when my friend (Athica Gallery board member and fellow Athens artist/designer) Michael Lachowski suggested I enter the ‘Mystery Selections Triennial Exhibit’ they were having at the end of the summer. The event was conceived as a clever way to raise funds for the non-profit gallery while at the same time bringing some attention to a very diverse set of local artists. All artists were encouraged to donate 2 or more small works (5.5″ x 8,5″) to be auctioned off at a predetermined price of $60, with all proceeds benefiting the gallery. At last count they had raised over $8000, with a lot of the pieces still available (including mine, haha!). The pieces I submitted were both adaptations of my commercial design / illustration work. Part of my aesthetic involves “sampling” and “remixing” my own work as a way to coax some more (or different) meaning through re-contextualization.

To my surprise, I got an email from the Athica Gallery a few weeks later, informing me I had been chosen to show some more work in the follow up show. Even though I jumped at the chance, the whole thing posed a bit of a problem for me. First, because of the various freelance projects I was already juggling and secondly, because I really had no “gallery ready” art to speak of. I took a few days to mull it over and came up with a plan. I wanted to show work that was in the same vein as the first two pieces, both of which were digitally created and riffing on pop (hip hop) culture, incorporating typography. Over the next week -after some ridiculously long hours- I managed to pull together some pieces I was happy with. They are all either brand new or newly updated from my vaults. I want to refrain from explaining the work too much, since I like to hear people’s interpretations of “what it all means”. I also want to emphasize that in my day job as a graphic designer, my aim is mostly to communicate a message or sell a product by developing a certain visual language. This show was a chance for me to do something where the message could be perceived as divorced from the medium, that is, without having to worry too much about clarity of purpose.

'Juicy' (8,5" x 24")

'Synaesthetic Time Machine' (8,5" x 24")

'Do You Have A Life?' (Custom print on T-shirt)

'They Shook' (30" x 30")

These pieces, alongside work by the other Selections Choice artists Jorie Berman, Will Eskridge, Cindy Jerrell, Missy Kulik and Rebecca Brantley are on display at Athica Gallery until November 6, 2011.

*For the people who inquired about buying art from the show: some have already been sold or reserved, but send me an email to check for availability. I will also be launching a web store on this site next month, with archival prints (and the one teeshirt design) available of pieces in this show, as well as some brand new stuff!*

Both these guys have been turning heads in their respective genres. Multi-instrumentalist and DJ Will Holland under his Quantic and Flowering Inferno monikers has been putting out album after album of quality latin and afro-cuban infused downtempo, funk and dub music from his Cali, Colombia studios. Bristol, UK based Phaeleh has been crafting lush and cinematic (post)dubstep and future garage soundscapes that have found wide support in this constantly growing worldwide bass scene.

Phaeleh – Caustic Storm off his ‘Cold In You’ EP.

I am beyond excited to have been added to the lineup on opening duties. There’s so much good music out there -beyond what’s trendy- begging to be exposed, and I’m elated to have the opportunity to warm up the room with some melodic goodness along the lines of my last mix. It also happens to be my birthday at midnight (October 9th). If you’re reading this, you’re invited to the celebration

Also check out the Neumachina artwork for the show. I’ve been immersing myself in Japanese design and had to go minimal on the vibe for this one:

This year’s performer list includes:

Charlie P, Ployd, Sorted, Rel 1, Kryptonite, Captain Crunk, Section 8, Organic Variance, D:RC, Wonky Kong, Feral Youth, Ideal, Decepticron, T8r(tot), Envader, Trogdor, DJ RX, andyredrum, Thump & Hustle.

Neu:Machina – designed poster:

This one came together quite organically; while copying files over from a crashed hard drive I found this folder I forgot I had put together of deeper future garage tracks. I decided to combine those with some current selections, and had it nailed down in one try. I feel like the era of sweating and laboring over mixes is over – mixes are a dime a dozen nowadays – but it’s always nice to have this documentation of music you’ve enjoyed at a specific time for future playback.

D:RC – Cyan Mix – Tracklisting:

01. Arkist – What Do I See
02. Phaeleh – Soulfunk
03. Sclist – Mirrored (Gyu Remix)
04. Late – Losing You
05. Atlantic Connection – No Explanations
06. Indigo – Fallen (Synkro remix)
07. xxxy – You Always Start It
08. Josif – Numb
09. George Fitzgerald – Don’t You
10. Dfekt – Dark Sunday 1st Jerome
11. DJ Rum – St. Martin’s
12. Jack Dixon – With You
13. Versa & Rowl – G’d Up
14. Salva – Baroque
15. Distal ft. Hxdb – Typewriter Tune VIP
16. Epworth & Hackman – Mrs. D
17. Maddslinky – Further Away Featuring Tawiah (NDV Even Further Mix)
18. Glitch Mob – Bad Wings (Kastle Remix)
19. Von D & Riskotheque – Like A Bird
20. Ill-Esha – Black Ice
21. Gravious – Cascade
22. PTR1 – Comatose
23. Phaeleh – Memories
24. Illum Sphere – Blood Music (Indigo Remix)

Download

The site is built on the WordPress platform for that ease-of-use and update-ability that’s a requirement for a band that’s on the road a lot. I took their existing logo mark and created a look around it that’s part gritty and part minimal.

With a few exceptions, regular opportunities to hear upfront dance music in a friendly environment have been far and few in between, after the one “real” dance club we had, Boneshakers, shut it’s doors on East Hancock 5 years ago. The idea with the Knock Knock night is to try to bring back some of that same accessibility we enjoyed (and admittedly, started taking for granted) back then. Every first Thursday of the month throughout the school year we’ll be showcasing some homegrown Athens DJ talent. We’re mixing veterans with new players, wax with digital, old school with future beats, in an intimate, no-frills environment aimed at pushing quality dance music in Athens. We’re shooting to have nice, comfortable sound, with some decent low end courtesy of Matt Soundboi with Dash Productions, while local celebrity vocalist/bartendress Star Scott (of local electro-jazz-fusion band Sursievision) will be on hand to slang some dranks. Best of all, it’s completely FREE!

Concurrent with the launch of the night, we’ll be curating a series of mixes by our rotating crew of DJs. If you’re a DJ or electronic artist who’d like an opportunity to perform at Knock Knock (or have your mix featured), please head over to the official Knock Knock website for instructions on how to submit your entry. We’re excited to get this going and to meet and network with new talent. Please take the time to invite your friends who might enjoy dancing or generally having a good time.

Here’s the lineup for the first event (flyer by Neumachina below):

10-11: MITCHEL MONTES (French House / Nu-Disco)
11-12 – D:RC (Future Garage / UK Funky)
12-1 – WONKY KONG (Tropical Bass)
1-2 – LEXUS LUTHOR (Electro)

Edit: here’s a mix as well of the kind of stuff I intend to play that night.

Between the 20 acts scheduled to appear on 2 stages, nearly all beat-based dance genres will be represented, from experimental hip hop, to electro-house music, dubstep to drum & bass.

Athens is no stranger to the “late night dance party” phenomenon, but Wired is the only large scale event of its kind to reach out to festival goers with a day component; the opening acts are scheduled to go on at 4pm, with a different act appearing every hour on two separate stages until the closing time of 2am.

Neumachina is responsible for the art direction and design of promo materials in addition to collaborating with video artists Integrated Visions Productions on visuals for the event.