Emerging of new works

Icelandic Sound Artist Runar Magnusson makes a stop at the University of the Philippines Wednesday, January 23 at a Production Design Class taught by a friend, Yason Banal. His work is avant-garde and experimental; and watching his 20-minute concert can be quite alienating to a certain point. He starts off playing that sound of a muffled microphone on full blast projected onto the speakers, while simultaneously his visuals include a fast-blinking light bulb so erratic it makes you feel uncomfortable. Uncomfortable because you're in an auditorium with strangers and the natural light kind of makes you feel exposed but you can't really understand why it bothers you.
The sound then transgresses into high pitched beats and beeps and the light bulb picks up speed as it switches on and off frantically and all of a sudden you feel like some one or some thing is coming.
Light bulb switches off.
Sound gives off a vibe that is like a howl, and you start thinking if it's asking for help or if it's crying. At this point, you forget the feeling of being exposed and of being in an auditorium with strangers. I closed my eyes and the sounds transport me into a different place wherein I picture a lot of running and a lot of gasping and as the howling noises dissolve, I hear something close to like the sound of the waves, but electronically.
I open my eyes to a light bulb now swaying in a circle.
Then more noises filter over the other and towards the end he concludes with a muffled noise different from the introductory muffled noise. Then he reveals the final muffled noise came from the bad speakers in the auditorium. That statement stands strong and alone after being introduced to this world of sound art because you gain greater appreciation for the mundane sounds you hear if you pay much closer attention to it.
Although it may be hard to see it, but everything around you is art.
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New York based DJ Stretch Armstrong also stops by the Philippines to spin at Embassy Wednesday, January 23. He hardly spins hip-hop and mostly indie, electronic, house and trance, which is good because we definitely need to hear something new in the country. With a strong background in a wide range of music, in an interview he claims to love the 80s and 90s era because of its vibrant and rich scene, which he claims, "New York will never see again". He was fun, and his girlfriend was nice enough to entertain me in their room as we watched TV and spoke of the shocking death of Heath Ledger. The couple could not wait to try and see everything Filipino, it was cute.
Thanks to Mesh (left) for videotaping me and to Jon (right) for allowing me to have an exclusive interview with Stretch.***
Yesterday Thursday January 24, was the PRESS and VIP screening for film, "Cloverfield" at Gateway mall.
This is us squished at my car, lol. U.S. Record-breaker Cloverfield could not have come at a perfect time where raw footage is emerging king. Style was alright but the concept was ingenious and an appropriate wake up call to what the audience wants to see and consequently, where media is heading.
It starts off funny I must say, startling, and yes, the monster is revealed.