Showing posts with label Wilco Botermans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wilco Botermans. Show all posts

[S06E02] July 2024 - Shueh-li Ong



In this July 2024 edition of Theremin 30, host Rick Reid plays new theremin music from Peru, the Netherlands, Finland, and Singapore. Rick's guest is Shueh-li Ong, who has a new album out called MissOriented Metaphor.

FEATURED MUSIC*

*The full-length recordings featured in this show were used with the knowledge and permission of the artists and composers. Please support the artists by visiting their websites, purchasing their recordings, and attending their performances. 

ADDITIONAL MUSIC

INTERVIEW GUEST

CALENDAR OF THEREMIN EVENTS

MEDIA LINKS

SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

CONTACT

CREDITS 

Copyright 2024 Rick Reid 


--------------------------------------------

TRANSCRIPT

Please note: This transcript was created with the help of speech-to-text AI.  It may contain some errors.

David Brower  0:00  
Rick, this is Theremin 30. 30 Minutes of Theremin, music, news, events and interviews with a new episode about every 30 days. Now. Here's your host from Chicago, Illinois, Rick Reid.

Rick Reid  0:18  
Hey. Welcome to the July 2024, episode of the theremin 30 podcast. This time around, I've got new Theremin music from the Netherlands, Peru, Finland and Singapore. My special guest is Shelley Ong here to talk about her new album called Miss oriented metaphor. And if I sound a little spaced out today, I'm just having trouble getting back into a good sleep schedule. I recently traveled to Denmark to spend a week with a bunch of Theremin playing friends from I think, 11 different countries. And between jet lag exploring Copenhagen late into the evenings and the very short nights in the Scandinavian summertime, I didn't get much sleep, at least not at the right times. Even a week later, I'm still feeling it, but I think I can manage to stay awake for the next 30 minutes. I hope you can too. So let's get started.

In just a bit, I'll play a track featuring Wilco Botermans on Theremin first though, I have new music from veronik When I interviewed her for the october 2021 episode of the theremin 30 podcast, she told us about a new album she was working on at the time. She's released a couple of singles from the project since then, but now the full album, illusionist pelagrossas is out on her Bandcamp page, Spotify and other streaming outlets in my poorly pronounced Spanish, this track coming up is called concione para un regress, and according to Google Translate, that means song for a comeback. 

We started the show with the Peruvian recording artist Veronica with song for a comeback. It's a track from her new album, illusionist pellegrosis, or dangerous illusions. If you go to this month's show notes at Theremin thirty.com and click on her name, you'll go right to her band camp page where you can listen to and purchase the full album. And after that, I played a track called opti stool, or on this stool from the eclectic Dutch band overlanders, featuring guest musicians, vilko bodermans on Theremin and Joris Vermeulen on a double Reid instrument called tenora. To hear more music from overlanders, click on their name in this month's show notes. It's time now for the theremin 30 calendar of Theremin events. Lydia Cavanagh continues her online group Theremin classes on most Sundays on July 18, modulate featuring thereminist Chris Conway and sound artist Jez Creek, will perform at the Church of sound event in Nottingham, England. July 23 is the birthday of the late great Dr Samuel Hoffman. Commemorate the day by watching a movie featuring his Theremin in the score. On July 25 noritaka ubukata performs with his custom made there sin in Tokyo, and Stephen Hamm has a gig in Vancouver, BC, Canada. For details about these events and more, check out the full calendar at Theremin thirty.com and if you have an event you'd like me to place on the calendar, contact me through the website. Let's get back to the music now, with a single from Kepa Lehtinen that came out about three months ago, but I haven't had a chance to play it until now. This is called Unet in Finnish or dreams in English. 

That was Unet or dreams by Finnish composer and thereminist Kepa lechtinen. You can see the official music video for that song on the theremin 30 YouTube playlist. Just. Search for Theremin 30 on YouTube or follow the link in this month's show notes.

Shueh-Li Ong is a multi Continental, multi instrumentalist with not one, but two live streaming shows on YouTube, and she just released her fifth studio album, Miss oriented metaphor. I visited with Shelly recently to find out all about it. Shelley Ong, it's so good to see you again, actually hear you again on the theremin 30 podcast. 

Shueh-Li Ong  15:36  
Thanks, Rick. So good to see you and hear you too. It's been a few years, but always glad to see your smiling face.

Rick Reid  15:44  
It's been about three years since you've been on the show, and back then we talked about your musical history and how you got involved in the theremin. So I don't want to repeat that, but I do want to find out what you've been doing since then. 

Speaker 1  15:57  
Well, in the last few years, I've endeavoled to experiment with different ways in which I could articulate the voice of the theremin, and it was a slow kind of assembly, because there was a lot of playing around with until I got something that I went, Aha, I could use this. So it's been a while since I released an album. I thought, why not consolidate these experiments in new composition and then further develop them as I put them together as I went along? And I wanted to also create a repertoire of original music. You probably know this, I have a degree in piano performance, and I did study synth techniques during my post grad period. So I'm naturally inclined towards live performance. It's kind of like, you know, kids in the playground I like to play.

Rick Reid  16:53  
Yeah, I seen some videos on your YouTube channel where you collaborated with some of the musicians that I think are on the new album. Sort of the early development of some of these tracks. 

Speaker 1  17:03  
I was road testing these works for venue versatility and playability with live musicians again, because I wanted to make sure these could be executed live. And again, these pieces were really more for my live performance repertoire. But you know, people like to receive my fans and friends like to receive these finished works in a recorded version. So hence the album. That seems to be the way musicians do it. They write, they record it, and then they play it. So, but I wanted to play it and then record it a friend of mine, bassist Brian Mooney, who appears on the album, he had reached out to me to work with me in live performance. So he played the first gig with me on the New Jersey prop house music series in 2018 and I enjoyed working with him live and on my music video, so much. And I said to Brian, you know, these are new pieces. Would you like to play on the music video with me, as you know, version one? So I I had a, I had, like, a recording or a document of what I had done. And he said, Sure. And I enjoyed his working with him so much, he repeated his performance, so to speak, on the album. And guitarist Dean parks, he didn't appear on my music videos for this album, but he had worked with me before on my third album, which was written under my Monica zanovites. And when he record on my third album, Crossing Paths, I became such a fan of his excellence, and I'm not mad another musician like him, I plotted to have him appear on this fifth album, Miss oriented metaphor.

Rick Reid  18:50  
The album title is mis oriented metaphor. Yes. What does that mean? 

Speaker 1  18:57  
Miss oriented metaphor was nicknamed the concerto. So it began as a concerto because I had in mind it would be an instrumental with the soloists being the theremin the synthesizer, and I had a tin whistle in there as well, against luscious orchestration. You know, as you would imagine, a concerto would be the title plays on the words oriental, disoriented and the Cassandra metaphor, which in Greek mythology, Cassandra is the daughter of Troy, and she was given the gift of prophecy, but cursed With having her prophecies disbelieved. 

Rick Reid  19:41  
You play multiple instruments and you're playing with the band this time. Did you record together in the same room at the same time, or is this a multi track thing that was done remotely? 

Speaker 1  19:52  
I wanted this album to feature a few of my friends, and because of the nature of the genres. Yes, and the style in which the tracks, I call the movements, because it's supposed to be a concerto, they each movement has different sections to it and and they span several genres, so I wanted a real person's appearance to kind of tackle these changes, these transitions, but they would follow my written score, but in certain parts, they would imbue their lines with their own. What take on things for a drama it be feels for bass players, similarly, and of course, I had a guitarist, the one and only Dean parks, where lines were written for him, of certain guitar sounds that I was looking for, but others where I went, I said, Just do what you feel you hear in whatever genre it is that We're working in egy. I'd say this will be stadium rock in field, you know, but he's had six, almost seven decades of experience, so no big deal. And there was one part in the finale where I said, you know, this is your solo cadenza. I'd like you to be flamboyant dean. And I recorded remotely, but in real time. So he looked at me and he said, You asked for it. The other musicians recorded independently of me, but again, I had directions and I had my demo. So my method of writing is I write record straight into my door, and I play the instrumental lines the way I would want to hear it in my finished product. Bear in mind, these pieces must be playable live. All those things that you hear, those will be reproduced live.

Rick Reid  21:55  
Now, speaking of live performance, the way you're releasing this album is non conventional, non traditional, as well. 

Shueh-Li Ong  22:03  
Well, I've been running this live stream that features friends and friends of friends in the music and entertainment industry called music and chat. And Rick you and I talked about that previously, so I thought, well, you know, I have my viewership there already, and these are the people who've been supporting my work and supporting me in this live stream situation. So why not use the live stream and thank my friends and fans at the same time in the release of this album, end of June on the 29th and 30th of June, that's the weekend before Fourth of July. And I will release the album in two parts. The album is in digital form, so first part will be the first three tracks, and the second part will be the next three tracks, and I'll feel questions live as well. So, yeah, live stream. So anyone can put in questions in a live chat, and I will respond to them. The album, again, is in digital form. But if I have what I call YouTube chat, my youtube channel donors. It's a PayPal, you know, donation, little spot, if you donate 35 and above, I will actually hand assemble a physical CD, autograph it, and mail it to you, US residents only, because postage overseas is quite exorbitant.

Rick Reid  23:36  
Okay. Well, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me about your new album. You have such an interesting and unique take on the theremin, especially, and really all the genres that you draw from. It's really fascinating to listen to. 

Speaker 1  23:51  
Thanks, Rick, thanks so much for having me. It's always a pleasure talking to you.

Rick Reid  23:56  
 If you missed the live streamed album release event on Shelley's YouTube page. It's still available to watch anytime there's a link to it in this month's show notes on Theremin thirty.com and you can stream and purchase the full misoriented metaphor album on her band camp page. I have the link for that too. Now let's finish the show with a track from Miss oriented metaphor. This is called calor, which is the Spanish word for heat. Shelly tells me this part of her concerto was inspired in part by flamenco music. 

It's time to thank Veronik, overlanders, Kepa Lehtinen, and Shueh-Li Ong for sharing their music with us this month. Please support these artists by following them on social media, streaming or downloading their music and attending their live performances. Also, thanks to Shueh-Li Ong for being my guest this month, and as always, a special thanks to the listeners who helped me cover my expenses with small one time or monthly donations. If you'd like to help out, go to the theremin 30 website and look for the tip jar while you're there. Check out the library of past episodes for more great Theremin music from around the world. I'll be back soon with another episode. Until then, I'll see you somewhere in the ether.

David Brower  29:50  
You've been listening to the theremin 30 podcast. Visit Theremin 30 on the web at Theremin three zero.com.
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[S04E05] October 2022 - Wilco Botermans and Thierry Frenkel

 



In the October 2022 episode of the Theremin 30 podcast, host Rick Reid plays theremin music from the USA and the Netherlands. Rick interviews Wilco Botermans and Thierry Frenkel, instructors at Theremin Academy Lippstadt, November 11-13, 2022.

FEATURED MUSIC*

  • "I am the Zephyr" - preset1 (Seattle, WA, USA)
  • "Get Out, Get In, and Drive" - Darth Presley (New Bedford, MA, USA)
  • "Live in Amsterdam" (excerpt) - Electric Storks (The Hague, Netherlands) 
*The full-length recordings featured in this show were used with the knowledge and permission of the artists and composers. Please support the artists by visiting their websites, purchasing their recordings, and attending their performances. 

ADDITIONAL MUSIC

INTERVIEW GUEST

CALENDAR OF THEREMIN EVENTS

MEDIA LINKS

SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

CONTACT

CREDITS 

Copyright 2022 Rick Reid 


--------------------------------------------

TRANSCRIPT

This transcript was created with an AI speech-to-text system. It may contain errors.

David Brower  00:25

This is Theremin 30. 30 minutes of theremin music news events and interviews with a new episode about every 30 days. Now here's your host from Denver, Colorado, USA, Rick Reid.

 

Rick Reid  00:39

Hey there. I'm your humble host Rick Reid and welcome to another edition of the Theremin 30 podcast this month. I'm actually not in Denver, Colorado. I'm on vacation on one of the Azores Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. My rental apartment here is kind of echoey so I decided to record out on the patio and just let the background noise do what it does. In this episode, I have Theremin music from the USA and the Netherlands. My special guests are filco boater mons from the Netherlands and Thierry Franco from France. They will be hosting the next Theremin Academy and Lipstadt Germany November 11 through the 13th. To start the show I have a new track from preset one a music project of my longtime friend Ron Allen from the Seattle Washington area. Ron and I recorded that Theremin 30 theme song in his basement studio many years ago. I played Theremin and keyboards and Ron played everything else and handled the editing and mixing. Since then Ron has built probably the last most ether wave plus kit ever sold. And the track I'm about to play is his first new song to feature that Theremin. Here is I am the Zephyr.

 

Rick Reid  11:19

We started the show with I am the Zephyr by preset one, a project of Ron Allen. Ron and I were college buddies way back in the 20th century, and we recorded that Theremin 30 theme song years before I ever decided to start this show. If you happen to be in the Seattle area, you can catch Ron onstage as the bass player for the wonderful Celtic folk band called C star. After that I played get out get in and drive by Darth Presley music project of James Bond from New Bedford Massachusetts when James isn't playing Theremin, and sometimes when he is he is a music professor at Stonehill College. To hear more music from both of these artists. Click on their names in this month's show notes at Theremin thirty.com. After the break, I'll take a look at the Theremin 30 calendar and I'll visit with filco voter months and Thierry Frankel about the Theremin Academy scheduled for Lipstadt. Germany in early November. So stay tuned

 

Rick Reid  13:12

It's time now for a look at the Theremin 30 calendar of Theremin events. On Friday October 14 Arman Rouge will perform in Bogota Colombia. Dora at Chrysler has performances in The Netherlands on October 21 and November 4, as part of the orchestra for the new dance opera Ginko. The next RCA Theremin evening, a YouTube live streaming recital from Japan is set for Saturday, October 22. Also on the 22nd Steven Ham has a gig and Roberts Creek, British Columbia, Canada. cineplexes synthesizer convention returns to Burbank, California October 27 through the 30th and itchy Oh performs a couple of Halloween concerts in Denver, Colorado, October 29, and 30th. Also, Lydia Cabanon continues her online workshops on most Sundays. For details about these events and more, check out the interactive calendar on Theremin thirty.com. I am way behind on posting some individual club shows around the world. So give me a reminder if you'd like to get your particular performance on the calendar. Send me all the details through the website, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. And of course one of the big events coming up is the Theremin Academy and Lipstadt, Germany on the weekend of November 9. A few weeks ago I visited with Theremin Academy instructors velco boater months and tre Branko to find out some of the details. Wilco and Thierry thank you so much for being on the Theremin 30 podcast.

 

Wilco Botermans  14:42

Hey Rick, good to see you.

 

Thierry Frenkel  14:43

Thank you for inviting us.

 

Rick Reid  14:45

You guys are involved in something called Theremin Academy. Tell me a little bit about how it got started.

 

Thierry Frenkel  14:51

Basically, he got started with different events, settlement related events gatherings, here and there in Europe, but there was no central The organization they were granted the famous hands off festivals in England there were the without touch festivals which were started in Lipstadt. The time by Baba boo quits with the Kubota months and will have come to tape though the former director of the reputed Music School and over the time by the idea which basically Karolina I and I had, we tried to formalize everything and to get a common organization because before events would happen or would not happen if there were volunteers to organize or to not to organize. And we tried to set up a kind of system which allowed us to reproduce the organization in different times in different locations, but everything with a common structure. And so it has come that we started with the first event of this kind in 2010, in Coloma with Karolina and myself as teachers. Later we added regular events every spring in Leipzig, data and Berlin as Codina moved over afterwards, we were asked by will of contributo if we could also take over the organization of his with our touch festivals because he was no longer the director of the music school but he became the culture referendum of the town of leapstart as an assistant of the mayor, so we did that too. And at the end Coover, the aina, who was organizing more general electronic music festival every two years in Lausanne Switzerland, asked us if we couldn't install also a regular Theremin corner inside this note festival. And so we have a fourth event since 2016. in Luzon, Switzerland, winter Academy.

 

Rick Reid  16:51

So a lot of people who listen to the podcast are familiar with the Theremin Academy online that happened last year, but we haven't had any in person events for a while because of COVID, of course. So the next one coming up is in November. Tell me about that one,

 

Wilco Botermans  17:07

the Thurman Academy and Lipstadt will be from the 11th to the 13th of November. And there will be several ensemble groups that all the participants are following. So they are either in Karis Group practicing classical ensemble playing, or they are in my group. And we will do the sonic stuff the experimental group sets where there's a moment to do things with Theremin and different electronics. So it's a bit more experimental than the other ones, where the focus is more on classical Theramin. Playing Jimmy himself, you make these great arrangements, classical music for therapists to play them in ensembles,

 

Thierry Frenkel  17:54

we decided to set up a program which comprises lots of group workshops, seminars, and Theremin orchestra or thermal ensemble classes. So that people get, again used to make music together, people would really play together, would listen together would study together,

 

Wilco Botermans  18:18

there will be the possibility to book individual lessons with Jerry and with me,

 

Thierry Frenkel  18:23

and or throw him care and service. But this will not be the priority in this event.

 

Rick Reid  18:32

And then there are some performances as well, right? Yeah, this

 

Thierry Frenkel  18:35

year since we restart or reboot everything. We didn't plan a public concert for the Academy. But as for all academies, there will be an on Sunday afternoon and eternal students concert, where the groups who have worked together improvisation or gender music workshops, will present the result where people who have acquired new things during their individual lessons can also present the result. Normally, it's thing of about one and a half hour or two hours, where everybody plays at least once and all the others listen. And everybody normally is happy about the progress which has been made in these three days.

 

19:22

Now is this something that is open to beginning Theremin players? It's open

 

Thierry Frenkel  19:25

to everybody, and also the group workshops and everything our planet to accept players of every level. So from the beginner to the advanced player, there is a place for everybody. There's a role for everybody and everybody independent of their current playing level. Everybody's important to contribute in a very constructive and positive way to the common feeling.

 

Rick Reid  19:54

I assume people would bring their own instruments does it matter which model they have if they have an open Theramin or a mug, or burns or whatever

 

Thierry Frenkel  20:02

we are open. That means that people can bring their own instruments. Sometimes we have students which travel from very far, and who can't perhaps not take their instrument with them. In that case, this vehicle or myself will bring one or more expense from our stock. And to the people. Usually, there

 

Wilco Botermans  20:24

are many to wage standards. And plus, I'm hoping that somebody brings a new eat away. Well, I will, I won't bring one. But, of course, me clarify, of course, there are probably many people who would like to try that out.

 

Thierry Frenkel  20:36

Basically, we can deal with everything out of the ether wave Pro, either a Pro has so much radiation and creates so much interference, that if you have one in a room, all other instruments are highly distorted. And so you really can't do chamber music or orchestra passes, if in one room, or on the same floor. If there

 

Rick Reid  21:02

isn't either way through Well, I did not know that.

 

Thierry Frenkel  21:06

The owners of either wave Pro are asked to bring either an other instrument, or we then one just for the workshop, so everybody can can partake.

 

Rick Reid  21:19

Have you had any experience like that with declara? Vox does it have the same problem?

 

Thierry Frenkel  21:24

I don't know yet. I have not enough experience with excetera works, I have this assembled already too. But I have have never had more than one in a room together with under instruments. So it will be it will be a new experience this November. And in case of I will have some spare instruments looking for,

 

Rick Reid  21:49

say you have a mug ether wave, and it's got an electrical cord for England. Will that work in Germany? Or do you need to have some sort of adapter or

 

Wilco Botermans  22:01

in Germany, we have 240 volts on the mains. So if you're not from Europe, and you are used to 120 Falls, then sell this to charity, and we will make sure that there is a suitable power supply for you. Oh, what

 

Rick Reid  22:17

are some of the fun things that people can do in Lipstadt while they're there for the event?

 

Thierry Frenkel  22:24

That is a relatively small drum town. And it has nothing of particular interest besides of the very big music school where we have 80 other conditions, a nice team, many rooms and big rooms to help our Thurman Academy. That's why we organized the food program in the music school. And we have naturally also a social program. That means there is traditionally always one evening where all participants met in both consoles, and to eat wreck that together. So one of the two nights is already covered with a social event. And usually the other night, people will also gather together in a restaurant or have some beer together at least. So basically, besides of the night, the stay covered from morning to evening.

 

Rick Reid  23:16

Thank you very much for taking the time we visit with us about the Theremin Academy. I have not been to with air and when Academy but I did go through a hands off festival back in 2011 in Scarborough, England. And for anybody who hasn't gone to an event of this type, I gotta tell you, it was a once in a lifetime event for me to be able to be surrounded by other Theremini players and enthusiasts and meeting some of the most skilled Theremin players in the world was just just really a wonderful experience. And so if you have a chance to go to either this Theremin academy or the ones held in other cities around Europe, I definitely recommend it. I wish I could be there this year. But hopefully I'll get to go to one soon.

 

Wilco Botermans  23:58

Yeah, that would be great. Would be good to see you again.

 

Thierry Frenkel  24:01

Thank you for having invited us again.

 

Rick Reid  24:04

To sign up for the Theremin academy or to learn about the other Theremin Academy events around Europe throughout the year. Visit their website at Theremin dot Academy. I also have a link in this month's show notes. After a quick break I'll wrap up the show with a brand new release from electric storks featuring Theremin Academy instructor Phil go boater months, so don't touch that pause button.


Rick Reid  25:10

Electric storks is an experimental music project of keyboardist Jean Carl and their minister Philco boater months. On September 7, they released their first album. It's a compilation of three extended improvisational recordings. 100 vinyl copies are available from Bandcamp. Or you can download the digital album there. Wilco told me the band chose September 7 as the release date to commemorate the birthdate of his late wife Jessica Hummel, who I'm sure many of you knew through Facebook. The album is also dedicated to her Let's listen now to just a portion of the nearly 21 minute third track here are electric storks with live in Amsterdam?

 

Rick Reid  29:47

That was an excerpt from live in Amsterdam by electric storks, featuring one of my guests Ville co boater months, he'll be teaching at the Theremin Academy lips docked in early November. I want to take a final moment now to thank reset one Darth Presley and electric storks for allowing me to play their music. Also, thanks to my special guests Bilco boater munch and tre Franco for sharing information about the Theremin Academy in Woodstock. And the big thank you always goes to the listeners who support the show that small one time and monthly donations or by purchasing T shirts, bumper stickers and other logo swag from the merch store. If you're new to the show, every previous episode is available to listen to at your leisure. So check them out. Until next time, and when I'm back in North America. I'm your host, Rick Reid. I'll see you somewhere in the ether.

 

David Brower  30:41

You've been listening to the Theremin 30 podcast. Visit Theremin 30 on the web at Theremin 30 dot com

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