The wandering steps of PAPER NOISE/BRUIT DU PAPIER/RUIDO DE PAPEL: A review of Amanda Gutierrez’s residency at SBC Gallery, Montreal

Le 15 Avril, l’association des Éveillés publie son tout premier documentaire, L’Éveil. En 52 minutes bien dégourdies, on suit les les actions de ces « noctambules engagé.e.s pour les exilé.e.s », qui ont su convertir festivités en action sociale. Depuis 2017, ils viennent en aide aux réfugiés ayant dû se hasarder vers une meilleure vie, en générant des fonds par le biais de soirées électroniques

From the charm of their facades to the depths of their treasures, they are essential organs of our local culture. In the past weeks, they have faced unhealthy scrutiny and fines from the Ministère, who activated by-laws dating back to 1970, charging La Rama, Death of Vinyl, Phonopolis and Sonorama with up to $2,900 for store hours going past 5pm on weekends. The hours were extended for ‘Record Store Day’ 2019.

Since hip hop’s birth, samples of politicized words have resonated across genres, be it punk anti-establishment, jaunty new-wave experimentations, or EDM’s uplifting calls for unity. This article surveys sampling techniques where meaning of the sampled content is hijacked and rerouted, often taking the shape of danceable satire.

Street art culture often spreads in reaction to events and social culture, leaving its mark on the streets for passing eyes to inhale. Absorbing the street art of a city helps peek into what its undercurrents are expressing, from issues to aesthetics. As makers of this ongoing and regenerative artistic process, street artists are capable of swift and flexible responses to new information, ideas, events… Along this surreal stretch of events, from LA to Mumbai, Dakar to England, these artists are mobilizing as interpreters of the new abnormal, on their own or as part of awareness campaigns.

Ellen Allien is as creative and giving in her approach as ever, bringing massive energy to every track, twist, and transition. She sweeps up the set with her latest release, La Musica Es Dios, an uncompromising push forward in her label UFO Inc.’s exploration of new realms.

The Portimão beaches have been ripe with musical activity lately. After housing BPM in September, the Portuguese coastline greeted the MEETSSS conference, a multifaceted weekend honoring women in music. MEETSSS marked the 5th anniversary of Shesaid.so waking and shaking the industry through mentorship programs, events, talks and content focusing on female perspectives and inviting all genders to the table or dance-floor.

Mirror for the Sun is a 14-track cycle of tempos, moods, and hums exploring different facets of a softly solar energy. The compilation departs from the Souq’s signature sound, infusing it with a rotation of new elements. Niki Sadeki’s curation brings more of an uncanny Berlin-style voltage to the label’s earthy tradition, shaped by her own learned perception of deep house. The result is a cosmic and crunchy experimental blend, with mingling moments of downbeat drama and upbeat glow.

Sitting down with Calling Marian on the Portimão beach, during Shesaid.so‘s first ever conference, MEETSSS, was a laidback exchange with a self-made woman, genuinely possessed by what she does. Refreshingly blunt, Calling Marian emanates an inspired DIY no-nonsense, navigating what works for her and putting it out with sincerity. 

Creatively, what constitutes resilience? For the purpose of compiling this small list, I’m seeing it as the ability to surpass hostile conditions — internal or external — through heightened sensitivity, interpretation, creation and transmission. Below are some of the many, many bits and pieces of works and initiatives that inspire this sentiment.

Our new EP is a mandala of earthy and electric tones blended together with soft, driving drama. Two storytellers join the Souq ranks; Turkish Omerar Nanda and Russian Zuma Dionys complement each other’s worlds with ease, gifting us with an entrancing piece of work where traditional folk sounds are curbed by edgy electric ones. Hebele Hubulu comically refers to the language of those who speak with dogma and pretence, its cascading vocals emulating nonsense words in a jaunty march forward. It is a call to reflect on how you speak to and of the world, a call on not taking yourself so seriously. Berlin Based Zuma Dionys crafts cosmic landscapes in his work, this time serving us the zesty Belantash, rhythmically coiling and clapping, reaching a peak of electronic Oriental groove implosion. We hope you enjoy this peculiar beauty of an EP.

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