leafcutterjohn.com

Chekhov Challenge now on BBC iplayer

Just a quick one to let you know that the BBC programme I took part in recently is now on iPlayer. More info here.

It’ll be there for just under a week. Not sure if you can listen to it outside the UK – anyone?

Click here to listen to the show.

Best,

Leafcutter John.

Tags: BBC, breaking string, Chekhov, leafcutter john, Radio 3

Radio News

Broadcasting House

Bit of a radio update…. On Wednesday I visited one of my favorite buildings in London. It’s BBC’s Broadcasting House an amazingly ship-like Art Deco beauty a couple of hundred meters from Oxford Circus tube station.  

I was there to record an interview about the recent commission between Shetland poet Jen Hadfield and myself for Radio 3′s poetry show ‘The Verb’ presented by Ian McMillan. The show actually aired last night (Friday 20th) but it’s available to stream here for another week. 

In other radio news the drama / documentry ‘NINA BLACK’ which uses my last album ‘The Forest and the Sea’ for it’s sound FX and music has been shortlisted for the New York Radio Festival and is currently featured on the Third Coast Festival where you can hear the programme. It’s an amazing story of a woman plagued since childhood by complicated neuropsychiatric disorders.

Take care radio lovers,

Leafcutter John x.

Tags: BBC, disorder, Ian McMillan, Jen Hadfield, leafcutter john, neuropsychiatric, Nina Black, Radio 3, The Forest and the Sea, The Verb

Gigs this weekend and project Updates.

Hello!

I’ve been super busy the last few weeks hence the complete lack of posts here. I have a couple of gigs coming up this week (sat/sun) which I’d like to let you know about. I’m also involved in some great projects at the moment which i’d like to share.

1. The first gig – Sat 20th June – is at the Cross Kings Pub, York Way, London N1 0AX. I’ll be doing some new tunes, old ones and some improv bits. Also playing: Liberez, Benjamin Wetherill & the Trumpets of Death, B¿Layachi Cousins Duo. Cost:£6, adv £5 

2. The second gig - Sun 21st June - is an early one 6:00 > 7:00pm, Royal Festival Hall ballroom, London. This event is on the closing day of Meltdown 2009 and is before this years curator Ornette Coleman takes to the stage. I’m really looking forward to this, I have managed to get a group of amazing musicians together to play some of my animated graphic score pieces. We’ll be premiering a new one where the audience suggest words and phrases which will make up the score. It’s a free gig too! 

3. I just finished a BBC commission for Radio 3, I was asked to work with Shetland poet Jen Hadfield on a new work. I’m not sure exactly when it airs but i’ll let you know when I do. It should be available to stream from the BBC website so you can have a listen even if you miss the original airing. 

4. I have spent some very pleasurable days with my friend Tom Haines playing about with hydrophones in a little pink paddling pool. We are working on a new piece which will actually be performed (and listened to)  in a public swimming pool using an underwater sound system combined with a regular air speakers.

Paddling pool, hydrophones, and sound objects

If you want to come and experience the first and probably only performance of this piece it will take place on July 22nd at Clissold swimming pool 63 Clissold Road,London, N16 9EX. Bring your swimsuit! More Info.

5. Last but not least I have been tinkering with Forester II and have come up with the beginning of a lovely new interface. Here you can see audio files rendered as circles.

Yum

I’m still some way off having finished software for you so please be patient. 

See some of you this weekend!

take care,

Leafcutter John x.

Tags: BBC, Benjamin Wetherill, B¿Layachi Cousins Duo, Cross Kings, Forester, Hydrophone, leafcutter john, Liberez, Max/MSP, Meltdown, Ornette Colema, Radio 3, RFH, Royal Festival Hall, Software, Trumpets of Death