Interface column

     Dream or nightmare? I dreamed about my modular adventures during Amsterdam Dance Event. How exciting it would be—the workshops I would give, the reactions from participants, the realization that I actually have a lot to share about my modular system. That explaining it doesn’t always have to be super technical and that people can, or even especially, learn something when you show them its creative potential. That I’ve reached a point in my life where giving these kinds of workshops is still exciting, but no longer nerve-wracking (a milestone!).   That the venue was amazing—up in the attic of Felix Meritis, organized by Studio Stekker and Secret Artists in Residence, where fellow musicians were jamming live, and everyone who came to watch was welcome to join in.   That there was a cool online educational game where you could learn the basics of modular synthesis.   That Amsterdam was buzzing, full of familiar faces from the industry, and ...

    A Musical Crush Raaf and I first crossed paths at Voltage Control in Paradiso, where we both made our debut performing with modular synthesizers. However, our real introduction happened during a trip to Superbooth in Berlin. What started as a shared passion for modular synthesizers and music quickly grew into a special friendship. Beyond our mutual love for sounds and melodies, we discovered that we also had a lot in common on a personal level. For instance, we both work in arts education at a university. After returning from Berlin, we couldn’t wait to make music together. Our first session was magical; from the very first moment, we felt something special happening. The music we created gave us both goosebumps. It felt as if all the puzzle pieces were falling into place. We decided to meet up more often, and these sessions quickly became a regular fixture in our schedules. The joy and inspiration we draw from our collaboration led us to decide to perform together more o...

   On the road again "Would You Like to Perform with Your Modular?"  My first thought is, *“No, I’m not ready for that.”* Followed by the agreement I made with myself not to say no to invitations. I want to gain experience by taking my modular out into the world, and that means stepping out of my comfort zone.   What follows is a period of intense preparation: thinking things through, testing patches, determining the structure and tempo, and so on. Lots of jamming and recording, listening back and analyzing—it creates quite a bit of pressure and tension. A positive side effect is that it helps me get to know my modules better and better.   By now, I’ve had the opportunity to perform a few times, and I’m realizing that too much preparation doesn’t work. So far, things have never gone exactly as I had envisioned. The trick is to think about what I want to convey and what I plan to do, but at the same time, leave space for improvisation. My goal is to dev...

  Optimism   It’s audition time at the conservatory. An intense period for both teachers and candidates. Due to the large number of applications, we have spread the selection process over three weeks. Three weeks in which the hallways are filled with nervous young people waiting for their chance to present themselves to us.   It’s a period where we, as teachers, feel the weight of our responsibility resting on our shoulders, knowing that each candidate deserves our full attention and energy. This means constantly being sharp, observing, and forming an opinion about the aspiring producers/artists who want to take their first steps into the music world within a short amount of time. My focus is mainly on candidates applying for the electronic side of the industry, choosing the Bachelor of Music or the Associate Degree in Electronic Music. They have various dreams and ambitions. Some aspire to achieve fame as producers/artists, bringing their productions to stages ...

Gear Acquisition Syndrome It has been a year since I started building my modular synth, and recently, I completed my first solo performance. Besides playing and experimenting, I find myself deeply engrossed in contemplating solutions, patches, and modules. Surprisingly, I enjoy the mental exploration just as much as the practical hands-on work. Having spent years working “in the box,” where the challenge lay in creating something concrete from the vast array of unlimited options at my disposal, the modular world presents a different kind of challenge. Here, I grapple with limitations, striving to create something creative and tangible. If I encounter a limitation, my approach is to either find a workaround or seek out a module that addresses the constraint. For instance, I recently searched for a module with functionality similar to Ableton Live’s Beat Repeat. The process of searching is somewhat addictive. There are countless problems to solve, multiple solutions, and a variety of mod...

  Respect to all performers (Dutch version below) Do not forget: headphones, recorder, patch cables. Streams of adrenaline through my stomach.  What if the modular doesn't work?   Go. Traffic. Rain. Garbage bag over my modular synth.  Maybe buy another case? Soundcheck: connect, extension cords, many extension cords!  It smells like the familiar scent of stale beer here.  Go. Mixer. Sound, luckily it works. Room sound on.  Shit, loud sound! Can I handle this volume?  Go. Chairs and tables. Screen for visuals. Yes, the video works. Set modular clock and reset. Yes! It works.  This is going too smoothly. Too smoothly? Break. Coffee. Room light off. Shit, too dark!  Need USB lamp, never realized so remember: buy for next time. How do I connect it? Module for the modular? Or just power via extension cord?  Go. Jam and test a bit. No problems.  This is going well. Dinner. Coffee. Coziness. Final check: Noise from our setup. Suddenly...