Distribution of Power

Synthesizing Space May 23-25 @ztgee from distribution of power will be co-leading SSTRAPP’s three-day weekender after the success of the very first event we co-facilitated in October 2023 (Synthetic Disruptions). We are very excited to be working in collaboration with the incredible @iklectikartlab . Edu and Isa from Iklectik Art Lab will demonstrate how a spatial sound system can be used and will also be installing some of the Iklectik soundsystem in the amazing decomissioned astronomical observatory and artist research project @bid_obs Inigo (@sstrapp_boarc ) will lead the theory sessions there will be presentations about space, synthesis, spatial perception in auditory cognition, and spatialized composition and sound diffusion. We will use our usual diagramming method for discussing and working through the ideas together in groups. Zara and Maeve (SSTRAPP) will lead us on a practical exploration of spatialized sound synthesis. There are no requirements for attending, everyone is welcome, whatever their knowledge, abilities, etc., and the theory and practice should be accessible for those with no background in them. Workshop fee: On a sliding scale from £20-£30 per day, or £60-£90 for the total three days. Please pay more if you can, the lower end of the scale is for those who really couldn’t afford it otherwise. Accommodation fee: On a sliding scale from £30-£40 per day, or £90-£120 for the total three days. If you’re struggling financially, e.g. on benefits, get in touch and it may be possible to reduce the cost. Meals fee: £15 per day If you’d like to join, please DM or get in touch by sending an email to [email protected]

A huge thank you to Pattern Club facilitated by @eye_measure and @yaxupaxo for inviting us to Sheffield to explore what our workshop programmes would look like together; intuitive hardware synthesis learning with live coding practices. Collaborative exploration is so much fun and finding ways to facilitate community learning programmes feels truly experimental and there are so many of us doing the thing…. With every workshop we get to travel to incredible community, diy spaces and meet collectives who are working so incredibly hard to make spaces for us and @gutlevelsheffield is a prime example of this. Thank you @club.rush.party for looking after us. Thank you to everyone that joined, what a generous group of humans. 🧡 you Sheffield and special thanks to @_dannylynn @charles

Making music with synths and code Pattern Club & Distribution of Power workshop @eye_measure @nat__sharp @gutlevelsheffield @ztgee Come and learn how to make music using synthesisers and live coding in this workshop hosted by Pattern Club and Distribution of Power Live coding is where people make music by executing code in real-time (we will be using Strudel.cc) . Synthesisers are electronic music instruments. Synths can also be controlled using live coding which is fun and cool. In this workshop, we’ll show you how to Get started with live coding using Getting started with synths How synths and live coding can work together. This workshop is open to beginners and those with some experience alike. The ‘Distribution of Power’ programme is open to all but specifically aims to carve space and prioritise participants who identify as having visible and invisible disabilities, being neuro-divergent, female, LGBTQI+ identifying and carers. This workshop therefore aims to diversify access to both synthesisers and live coding.

Making music with synths and code Pattern Club @eye_measure & @distributionofpower workshop Come and learn how to make music using synthesisers and live coding in this workshop hosted by Pattern Club and Distribution of Power Live coding is where people make music by executing code in real-time (we will be using Strudel.cc) . Synthesisers are electronic music instruments. Synths can also be controlled using live coding which is fun and cool. In this workshop, we’ll show you how to Get started with live coding using Getting started with synths How synths and live coding can work together. This workshop is open to beginners and those with some experience alike. The ‘Distribution of Power’ programme is open to all but specifically aims to carve space and prioritise participants who identify as having visible and invisible disabilities, being neuro-divergent, female, LGBTQI+ identifying and carers. This workshop therefore aims to diversify access to both synthesisers and live coding.

DISTRIBUTION OF POWER - SYNTH WORKSHOP During our day at @kingsplacelondon on 19th November, collective @distributionofpower will be holding a 2.5 hour workshop in synthesis play. Distribution of Power is a collective workshops that prioritises space for individuals who identify as female, non-binary, LGBTQIA+ and people of colour and carers. They are inclusive of disabilities and neuro-divergent access needs. Their focus is to diversify access and learning probabilities for those who are curious to learn how synthesisers sound and behave and access resources, research and reading materials connected to themes of community, identity and sound. The workshops offers a place for adults to play, listen and take away any knowledge relevant to participants and their practice. Facilitated by d.o.p. collective members @nat__sharp & @vivienne.griffin (both recipients of the Oram Awards) and @ztgee they will discuss what synthesisers are and how we use them in our individual and collective practices. You will be introduced to your very own synthesiser from the d.o.p. library and encouraged to learn how these instruments behave and sound with guidance and support from d.o.p., working towards a group improvised display towards the close of the session. You do not need to bring any synthesisers to this event, we will supply them. Please bring headphones with a jack if you have these (we will also have spares to supply) and if you wish to take a recording of your practice on the synth you are very welcome to bring your recording device with any necessary cables you might need for this. This workshop will be filmed/photographed Book now at link in stories, limited space. #distributionofpower #synth #workshop

🎫 Link in Bio. Workshop times : 1:00pm - 3:30pm @theoramawards Awards 2023 | Kings Place | Distribution of Power Synthesiser Workshop Facilitated by: @nat__sharp @vivienne.griffin @ztgee Please get in touch If you would like to join. Spaces are limited. £15 - £7.50 for tickets. Distribution of Power will be holding a 2.5 hour workshop in synthesis play. Facilitated by d.o.p. collective members Natalie Sharp & Vivianne Griffin (both recipients of The Oram awards) and Zara Truss Giles. We will discuss what synthesisers are and how we use them in our individual and collective practices. You will be introduced to your very own synthesiser from the d.o.p. library and encouraged to learn how these instruments behave and sound with guidance and support from d.o.p., working towards a group improvised display towards the close of the session.  You do not need to bring any synthesisers to this event, we will supply them. Please bring headphones with a jack if you have these (we will also have spares to supply) and if you wish to take a recording of your practice on the synth you are very welcome to bring your recording device with any necessary cables you might need for this.

Yesterday we met the amazing founders behind @worm_rotterdam @soundstudio.worm and visited their synth lab, if you find yourself in Rotterdam we reccomend a visit. Thank you to Lukas and Mariette for the welcome and the invite to the live synth improve night - Electric Umbrella.

Distribution Of Power have been invited by @inigowilkins to co facilitate the workshop programme with @quieting_sounds on SYNTHETIC DISRUPTIONS (OCT 23-29) @bid_obs there are a few spaces left if you’d like to participate. Focusing on synthesis and synthesizers, the practical sessions during this week will address the basics of sound synthesis and DIY synth-building, led by two sound artists who have knowledge of synth-making. The theory sessions will discuss a wide range of topics, including the physics of sound and the history of sound analysis and synthesis; cymatics and Lissajous figures; the representation and technical mediation of sound and the auditory processing of sound; ecological psychology, deep listening and phantastic sound; the spectrality of the auditory percept, sonic phenomenology and neurophenomenology, and the synthetic philosophy of perception and mathematics. Throughout the week, you will develop your own synth projects in small groups to learn the basics of sound synthesis and synth-making, with the last day being devoted to presentations and performances that have been constructed throughout the week.

The very lovely and incredibly talented @petefowler has loaned this beautiful synthesiser that he built with @nervoussquirreldotcom so we can play and explore in upcoming @distributionofpower workshops and sessions. It’s called Electronic Van Orlax. This splendid creature was originally created by Pete Fowler, who lent David Cranmer a vinyl sculpture with a view to turning it into an unusual musical instrument. This was made with two musicfromouterspace.com "Weird Sound Generators", allowing bleeps, filters and drones to be manipulated by a number of chest-mounted knobs and switches. The original Van Orlax antlers were replaced with machined aluminium 'electrodes', inspired by the shape of high voltage ceramic insulators. The new horns are connected to one of the WSG oscillators, allowing you to control the pitch by touching them. THANK YOU! We can’t wait to share them with you!

Introducing distribution of power Image 1 - Vivienne Griffin (they/them) Vivienne was born in Dublin, Ireland. Griffin studied fine art at Hunter City University New York supported by a Fulbright Scholarship. Moving between digital and physical worlds Griffin is an anti-disciplinary artist who uses video, sound, metal, stone and drawing. Griffin explores the emancipatory prompts that technology can offer us through the voice and the digital. Recent shows include and events include Quantum listening, Camden Arts, Centre with Ignota books, 2023, Transmediale, Berlin, 2023 Poet Slash Artist at Manchester International Festival. They won an Oram Award in 2021, they are a resident at Somerset House Studios, London and are represented by Bureau NYC. They completed a one year DPhil at the Royal College of Art, where they are now an Associate Lecturer. Image 2 - Zara Truss Giles (they/them) Zara is a cross-disciplinary artist, community/ workshop facilitator, artist producer and a technical engineer apprentice. Their personal practice is a project called W.H.Y. , rooted in the hidden and untold histories of individuals and community movements, through extensive research projects and conversations with those with living memories, stories and experiences.
Their work is focused on community action and organising and they are a founding collective member of distribution of power.

Image 1 - Introducing distribution of power collective Image 2 - LAIMA LEYTON  Laima Leyton is a  London based Brazilian artist, activist, musician, mother, and performer. After many years spent working at the Museum of Modern Art in São Paulo, Laima dived fully into music, whilst continuing to connect with arts and education via producing exhibitions and workshops. In the past 15 years she has DJed around the globe, produced music, and been on tour playing keys and backing vocals with Soulwax. In 2019 she released her conceptual album “Home” addressing issues of motherhood and domesticity. From there she became represented by Richard Saulton Gallery and started a practice with video, installations, and ready mades. Laima is also a resident artist at Gasworks Gallery. Image 3 - Natalie Sharp  I am a disabled artist whos practice focuses on presenting live music in non-conventional settings, challenging existing frameworks and expectations. I explore issues around gender and sexuality, pain and the body, pushing the parameters within a live setting.  I find it hard to categorise my work so I end up calling myself an octopus artist or a janitor of art. I have created moving image work as a director, editor, makeup artist, costume maker, lighting tech, sound designer and actor.My work straddles; dada maximalist surrealism somewhere on the edge of magical chaos and entropy.

When the concept and idea for distribution of power were being formed in 2020, it came from a place of feeling quite alone, vulnerable and invisible in regards to conversations and explorations around synthesisers, experimental sound and sound art, and an awareness that this is a very familiar place for other people. For some of us, we are kept on the outskirts of so much and distribution of power looks at how disabled/ neuro-divergent/ working-class/ immigrant/ people of colour/ trans/ non-binary/ LGBTQIA+ and female identifying individuals and groups face barriers accessing instruments/ space/ support and facilities to explore the ideas, projects and learning probabilities that are often more easily available to those that come from particular places of privileged.  The goal was to build a collective that was inclusive and accessible and develop a programme which aims to carve space open to all but prioritises participants that are mostly under-represented. The focus is to diversify access and learning probabilities for those who are curious to learn how synthesisers sound and behave and access resources, research and reading materials connected to themes of community, identity and sound. In 2021 distribution of power ran its first workshop and has been going all over the U.K. since.  d.o.p. wouldn’t be what it is today without the support of so many, particularly the following artist/ engineers & producers who are collective members of d.o.p..  Laima Leyton @laimaleyton Margo Broom @margotronics Natalie Sharp @nat__sharp Vivienne Griffin @vivienne.griffin Zara Truss Giles @ztgee Please get in touch with us if you have any questions or would like to support or learn more about our work. We are very excited to announce the up coming programme of events we are planning for 2023 and beyond. A very big thank you to @joe_hot_chip @arthurknock @williamaverage @state51factory @sara.sassanelli @phedavies @icalondon @thelubberfiend @theoramawards @soundgas @quieting_sounds and everyone else for all of the support, care and help to get us to this point. 📸The lovely @rostoksmirnov can been seen exploring the synths in this image.