Reverberations: Experimental Looping in Sound and Drawing

Reverberations: Experimental Looping in Sound and Drawing

In this class, we will learn how to use cell phone audio recording and a loop station to make a collaborative composition sourcing found sounds throughout the park. We will dive into the long history of looping, from heartbeats to bird calls to drum circles, and discuss how it has shaped contemporary music. Joining a long lineage of artists and musicians, we will work across disciplines, drawing from music and seeking sounds inspired by our drawings. By the end of the workshop, you will walk away with a copy of our unique looped park soundtrack and your own accompanying album art!

Co-Teacher

Oakland-raised songwriter, musician, and sound artist MJ Upstairs was obsessed with GarageBand as a kid. Inspired by her Dad’s introduction to the software, she immersed herself in looping MIDI instruments and layering her voice into original demos on the family computer. 

As a teenager, MJ pursued vocal music, attending arts school and gigging around the Bay Area with her choir. College brought her into the indie-rock basements of Philadelphia’s house show scene. Inspired by the grungier sound, she taught herself guitar and started performing and releasing songs under Mikaela Jane. Analogue recording classes fueled her fascination with ambient looped compositions and introduced her to the work of Pauline Oliveros. A serendipitous gift of a loop station reminded her of her early GarageBand days, and allowed her to weave lush soundscapes and catchy pop-rock anthems, all from the floor of her room.

She is in the thick of creating her second album, set to release later this year. Keep up at mjupstairs.com.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Occidental Square, 117 South Washington Street, Seattle, United States