⏳FIVE days before this year’s Institute deadline!
In the meantime, we’re highlighting some of the collaborations that have grown out of past sessions. Today: composer Foo Jeng Wong ( @wongfoojeng ) shares his experience of meeting and working with performer, composer and improviser Matt LeVeque (@matt.leveque ) at the 2024 Institute!
Their collaboration continues to evolve, including a recent release on Bandcamp—go take a listen.
These kinds of long-term artistic relationships are at the heart of the Institute’s mission, and we can’t wait to see what this year brings.
✨ Application is free
🔗 Details + link in bio
My album SYMBOLS is now available for purchase on Bandcamp
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The music of SYMBOLS engages with the concept of erasure, using deconstructive electro-acoustic techniques to physically and compositionally deface sonic objects from their previous forms. Sounds are projected and re-projected through different mediums to examine the relationship between space and material.
Thank you to
@matt.leveque@yeahthisjimmy@richardanmusic@scholesstreetstudio@felixvoon
Immerse yourself in a world where rhythm meets technology in George Town, Penang. Sounds of the City at UAB: glitch/fractal is an experimental solo lecture-performance by pianist and composer, Foo Jeng Wong. Using acoustic percussion, sampling and digital manipulation, the performance creates an ever-changing sonic landscape in which sound glitches, fractures and transforms in real time.
The programme includes a pre-talk, performance and post-discussion, offering an in-depth exploration of how technology reshapes sound and performance. Drawing inspiration from Fred Moten’s notion that 'the conjunction of reproduction and disappearance is performance's condition of possibility', the piece challenges the boundaries between creation and destruction, sound and silence, and performer and audience.
Sounds of the City at UAB: glitch/fractal
📅 22 Nov (Sat), 7:30pm
📍 UAB Building, Georgetown, Penang
🎫 EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: First 30 tickets @ RM30 each
🎫 Regular: RM 40
🎫 Pair of 2: RM 70
🔗 Link in bio
Sounds of the City is a collaboration between Think City and Rondo, and through this series, we will be presenting a series of recitals set to take place at U.A.B. Building, George Town.
This project is part of our 2025 Season Open Call, which supports passionate artists in bringing their creative ideas to life.
#rondoproduction #rondo2025 #momentsthatmatter #thinkcity #mythinkcity #glitchfractal #foojengwong #composer #piano #experimental #soundsofthecityuab #liveartsmalaysia #penangevents #experiencethearts #art #mustsee #whatsonpenang #culturalexperience #penang #contemporary #electronics #music #creativemalaysia
Translasi is a post-industrial experimental noise duo by @wongfoojeng and @yeahthisjimmy . Our sound and practice are manifestations of a shared Southeast Asian experience, one that engages with the ever-evolving repercussions of colonial oppression in the region.
We perform structured improvisations using tape loops, electronic devices, and analog objects that processes sound sources with deconstructive and cross-modulatory techniques. It is through this process that we forge sonic experiences that contextualizes our heritage within a contemporary framework.
My new piece Nō for Alto Saxophone, Cello and Piano is now available on Youtube.
It was such a pleasure to work with my dear friends here on Baltimore again.
This piece was written originally as a part of reMusik.org festival in 2023, but I couldn’t listen to my piece in person due to the political situation between US and Russia.
I was really happy to listen to this piece finally in person for the first time here in Baltimore thanks to amazing friends of mine from New York and Boston❤️
Thank you so much for your amazing collaborations.
Saxophone : Stephen Tamas @stephentamas
Cello : Olivia Katz @olivia.katz.cello
Piano : Wong Foo Jeng @wongfoojeng
Recording : Ben Giroux @bengiroux9
This is dedicated to Beat Furrer and Nahyoung Kim.
Program Note
Nō( ) is a Japanese words that means brain. I was really inspired by how brain signal changes after it is exposed heroine that looks similar to Dopamine(which is the chemical hormones that is released in the brain to make a human feel good) in our brain. In this piece, the sonic structure is focused on neuron’s activity that is triggered by a stimulus from outside of sources such as chemicals or drugs. Because of artificial excess of methamphetamine which has a similar chemical structure as Dopamine, human experience the heaven, joy or happiness that they have never experienced in their lives. As a trade, after drug users are awake from meth, they often experience depression, fatigue and loss because brain cells cant produce Dopamine anymore by itself due to unbalance. I used the Japanese word ”No“ as a title since it also implies Nancy Reagan‘s Campaign slogan ”Just say no“ in 1970s regarding drug abuse and addicts.
The piece started from static, normal brain activities of neuron to complete ecstasy that increases its activity. While brain is still functioning, I wanted to increase the amount of outside stimuli that is gradually increased by drug users to alert and alarm how dangerous and severe this addiction can be.
https://youtu.be/b_9Vu2EpJOU?si=5HDGY0W-s6X6tQGv
