Digital audio art using speech and/or music as raw materials
MUTILAUDIO is an appropriative art form, using existing recordings as source materials. The tradition goes back centuries in various media, but the technological advances of the modern age have opened vast new realms. I started creating these works in 1985, using analog tape in various formats; since December 1992 I’ve been using a Sonic Solutions digital audio workstation, which has greatly expanded the creative possibilities.
There’s a collection of pieces on this page – enjoy!
And here’s an article I wrote for Wired about John Oswald, who calls his amazing audio art plunderphonics: The Man Who Stole Michael Jackson’s Face.
Hi David-
When I saw the title of the post I was hoping you’d made some new pieces, since I like the ones you have up already (“I, Flagpole”, especially). Ah, well, reality is strange enough these days.
I’ve wondered if the bits that introduce the GDH can be considered mutilaudio pieces? And also, what was the inspiration for you doing mutilaudio? Having fun in the studio?
Yes, the GDH intros are mutilaudios.
I was inspired by a great radio newsman named Wes “Scoop” Nisker at KSAN – he used short cuts of music to illustrate his news items. And then I met (through Henry Kaiser) John Oswald – see the links in my post above.
I keep thinking it would be fun to do more mutilaudio pieces, but my creative energy seems to be going mostly to songwriting these days.
Very cool work. On another note do you ever play in Oregon?
Peace,
Ahavah