In contrast to the noisy soundscapes of most parts of South Asia, which tend to become a massive wall of sounds, the composition’s minimalist approach plunges the listener into various meditative states (or let’s hope so!).

The piece emphasizes the contrast between sounds of Southeast Asian instruments, which are usually made to be performed in a collective ensemble, and the isolationism of the listeners (and performer), an unusual concept in Southeast Asian societies, in which social and cultural activities are usually made or attended collectively.

The project seeks to analyze, document, and describe the diversity of the noise scene in this region, which receives little international attention. At the same time, it is a book about art, politics, identity, gender, and global capitalism. It contains political, historical, and sociological essays, exclusive interviews with artists and organizers, as well as an extensive bibliography of popular music from South East Asia and a thorough discography of noise and experimental music artists. The book is published together with a CD compilation. The project is the result of a journey halfway around the world. It is the attempt of two artists to present an “anti-sexist and anti-colonial” definition of this field of music.

* Noise refers to a genre of music, which replaces classical elements of music (tone, sound) sometimes completely with noise and dispenses with structures such as melodies or rhythms.

Credits

words.hushush.com
syrphe.bandcamp.com/album/not-your-world-music-noise-in-south-east-asia