Multi-talented Japanese musician / sound artist / composer Haco joined us as one of four artists in residence at FON 2009. Haco’s multi-channel installation piece ‘Barrow Vibrations’ made use of field recordings from around Barrow Docks and the surrounding area and invited listeners to add bass tones from a vintage electronic organ. Haco also gave a talk and demonstration of her ‘Stereo Bugscope’ piece at Lanternhouse Ulverston as part of her residency. Haco is a composer, vocalist and electroacoustic performer, and a founding member of After Dinner (1981-1991) and Hoahio. Haco has created numerous recordings both as producer and engineer. As a musician, she has given performances throughout Japan and internationally. With her unique sensibility, Haco has developed a practice based on principles of post-punk, electroacoustics, the avant-garde, improvisation, post-rock, environmental sound, and technology. In 2005, her CD “Stereo Bugscope 00″ was awarded a prize in the digital music category at Prix Ars Electronica in Austria.

www.japanimprov.com/haco

Susan Matthew joined us in Barrow as one of 4 artists in residence at the festival, working towards a live piano and electronics set with Cumbria based sound artist Shaun Blezard (Clutter). The resulting piece, Silence Alight, has since toured the UK.

Susan Matthews is a UK based avant-garde experimental composer,  known for her intense, ambitious, hypnotic harmonies and industrial noise creations. She began composing experimental music, described as ‘…dazzling abstractions of grace and beauty’, in 1999 and has developed a comprehensive CV of achievements, including gallery works, festival inclusions and radio airplay, both home and abroad.

In 2005 she founded the independent record label Siren Wire Recordings through which she has released nine commercial albums and seven eps. She has also recorded music for Earth Monkey Productions, Tursa and DA/73. An ardent collaborator she has successfully worked with many artists including Tony Wakeford (UK), Clutter (UK), Rainier Lericolais (FR), Alistair Crosbie (UK), Yokna Patofa (JP), Nick Grey (Monaco),  Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo (IT).

She is the accompanist for the Kidwelly Festival Choir and performs regularly with them in official town ceremonies and fund raising events for local charities. She recently completed a soundtrack for the feature film ‘Grasp’, contributed guest vocals to ‘Not All of Me Will Die’ by Tony Wakeford(Eastern Front) and is currently putting the finishing touches to a remix album of her work to be released by Tursa.

Hear more of Susan’s work at:

sirenwire.com

Clutter works between the fields of electroacoustic improvisation, ambient electronics and music concrete and has been doing this since 2001.

He has produced work for albums as well as installations, films, dance and theatre under the Clutter name and as Shaun Blezard.

cluttermusic.com