Studio-Phoenix Blogspot

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Music now: Bei The Fish

This months cover,
version #3. Photo by K.K.W,
taken @ Central Park 2010.
Canon 28 40mm lens,
fujifilm 400

Music Now: Bei The Fish. Article by K.K.W with photos by Bojan Vasiljevic

An amazing flow of acoustic instruments, electronics, modern Macedonian vibes with a captivating versatility, range, and depth of feeling, Bei The Fish.

Poster for a concert, and the
cover to their latest album
"Just an Idea?"
Image courtesy of the band.

In 2003 "listen" makes its debut, and "The end" is awarded best single by Cross Radio listeners(www.crossradio.org ). 2004, their invited to compose music for the theatre play "The Graduate" by director Sinisha Evtimov. Arrangements, notes, scales, beats, words, vocals, a sublime fusion, Bei the fish. 2006, "What are you fighting for?" is released on PMG records. "Bare Naked" is awarded best single by Cross Radio listeners. 2007, "Look up", released on Go East records, is awarded best Macedonian album(www.plagij.at/). At its core Bei the fish is Ognen Anastasovski-graduated double bass player, Nenad Tonkin-the programer, the brain, Valentina Minovska-Key boards, percussion's and offering the voice of a hauntingly cool angel, and the one, the only, Vladimir Nastevski-Drummer of drummers, an all around cool kat. They have been managed for the last 4 years by Vasquez Della G, whose obviously doing a great job. Within some of their sound's you can hear a laid-back, harmonized groove thats like electronica/'alternative rock' and Bosa-Nova-"Crazy people" & "I'm on my own". They twist you up and bring you round, with meaningful lyrics that resonate with the delights and hardships of life. The sound(s) float around in your mind like the wispy left-behinds of a warm bong. Tracks like "So beautiful love is, is.." offers so much more than a clever line and well placed words. Its a good time spent, regrets dispelled, and something found, Bei the fish. B.T.F's power comes out of its versatility and understanding of music(in many forms), filtered through their minds emotions, and obvious talent. "Livin' in box"(the first track I heard through Ana Piponska)off 2009's "Time to make things right"-PMG records, is a pulse-pounding, electronic, dance inducing hit(giving you what Kylie Minouge never can). The lyrics meld with the well-placed sounds forming a potent song thats hard to resist. Two music videos were made from the album, "True story" and "Livin' in a box", both produced in the U.S. The groups latest release "Just an Idea?" on PMG records, is a stunning array of musical creativity. "Its over"(with Ola Dioss) starts off with a statement then questions not only the listeners, but themselves, "what should I do, my lord? Lord what should I do?" While the keys on the piano starts it off, hard then elegant and classic(a thing of the 90's. A period of great music). Then the groovy, R&B-like chorus with a phat beat enters the fray, Bei the fish making your day. Hip-hop, R&B, Rock, Pop and electronica, its all there. "...come to us at a time when you need us most, when you need me most." Not just lyrics but words you need to hear sometimes, often you don't. "I'm on my own" is light, high-spirited track with an amazing feel(Valentina's wonderful voice), Its all the seemingly kooky, playful sounds that come with it. The song starts off like a perfect day then subtly changes, gets dramatic and drastic before you know it. Very Bosa-Nova/Operatic; its Macedonian, and a beautiful thing. Bei the fish is amazing. Without a doubt they are part of the progressive sound of the new Macedonia, and I'm feelin' it. All the way from N.Y.C, Nazdravje! If you would like to know more, go to:www.beithefish.com "Art is the reason, art is the way".

Poster for European shows in Slovenia
and Serbia. Image courtesy of the band.

Bei The Fish @ the "Atlantis fest" in Croatia.
Photo by Bojan Vasiljevic.

Bei The Fish @ the "Atlantis fest"
in Croatia.
Photo by Bojan Vasiljevic.

Bei The Fish @ the "Atlantis fest"
in Croatia. Ola Dioss performing
with the band
Photo by Bojan Vasiljevic.

Bei The Fish @ the "Atlantis fest" in Croatia.
Photo by Bojan Vasiljevic.

Monday, December 19, 2011

First look: Derrick Adams

This months cover,
version #3. Photo by K.K.W,
taken @ Central park 2010.
Canon 28, 40mm lens
fujifilm 400

First Look: Derrick Adams. By K.K.W

When it comes to his art "...the world he creates reflects the relationship between man and monument coexisting in the landscape as representations of each other".

Derrick Adams.
Photo by K.K.W
taken @ "The February Show" 2011,
Ogilvy & Mather

The first time I met Adams was @ DD172(Dash Gallery, started by Damon Dash)back in September 2010. He was curating the D.I.Y(do it yourself)exhibit and I was an intern learning the ropes. He struck me as a talented artist whose art and view of such, are advanced to say the least. I couldn't help but be affected by this. Originally from Baltimore MD, Adams received an MFA from Columbia University. He taught at Maryland institute collage of Art and was the founding director of Rush Arts Gallery. When it comes to his art Adams is inspired by images of the past, his culture and that of others. However his, like certain others, is not a style or way of presenting his ideas that is always visually identifiable to everyone. Bricks, "hoodies", boxing shorts, and other examples of urban life may, or may not go into his art. At the MoMa on 12/16/11 I saw the work of Huma Bhabha(American born Pakistan, 1962)and Sanja Ivekovic(From Croatia). I quickly thought of the similarities in their work. Bhabha uses organic and industrial materials to make composite sculptures, Ivekovic as well to a certain degree. For Adams as well its those objects man creates, and comes to need, or feel as they are needed, that stir his imagination. He's driven to create and re-examine the elements of his world. His latest project involves "contact paper" used to create 100 drawings, to be exhibited at the Tilman Gallery. The project is centered around the male black figure, images that are not entirely representational, based on an idea, a way of looking at the subject. Each of the drawings are 2 dimensional with a geometric angled look, bordering on a cross-section of a 3 dimensional image. When I spoke to Adams he said "I really approached it from the inside out. Dealing with a set social group; intermingling concepts, an exercise for myself, I've never made 100 drawings. I'm trying to get inside the human body and architecture..." Pattern, texture, form, color, concept, towards and understanding that highlights the performative and often duplicitous identities of urban objects, iconography and architecture. Derrick Adams is one of the most interesting artists I've met in the last two years. Although our respective art-form(s) is different, conversing about it and life leads to certain similarities and ways of looking at it all.Nazdravje!(Cheers & good health) If you would like to know more go to:www.derrickadams.com "Art is the reason, art is the way" All photos were taken with a Canon EOS AE, 58mm lens & Walgreens 400 film.

One of Adams pieces. Untitled, brick, "hoodies",
and a small figurine. Photo by K.K.W
@ "The February Show" 2011

One of Adams pieces, untitled.
brick, boxing shorts &
a sports trophy. Photo by K.K.W
@ "The February Show" 2011

One of Adams pieces, Untitled,
brick, "hoodies",
and a small figurine.
Photo by K.K.W
@ "The February Show" 2011

@ "The February Show"
photo by K.K.W

@ "The February Show". Photo by K.K.W

Thursday, December 15, 2011

"Art & science" @ The Clocktower Gallery

This months cover, version #3.
Photo by K.K.W, taken
@ Central park, Canon 28,
40mm lens fujifilm 400.

"Art & Science": @ the Clocktower Gallery. By K.K.W

The Clocktower Gallery(founded in 1972 by Alanna Heiss) is also the home of AiR(Art international Radio). It was an open studio event for the artist's in residence featuring creative, interactive(some), and scientific art. The event was curated by David Weinstein(director of programs. Natalia Mount is in charge of Media & external relations, and Joe Ahearn is curator of performances and installations.