I’ve been listening to Drum & Bass for over a decade. It’s an upbeat, complex and highly technical genre that features a signature rhythmic syncopation between the kick drum and the snare. Inspired by music production software (like the one below), I have translated this syncopated rhythm into a pattern of lines around the edge of each piece, creating an object that symbolises a core component of a unique genre of electronic dance music.
Repeat One
LOUSWIRES
Known for it’s searing drums and rolling basslines, Drum & Bass is one of the noisier sub-genres of electronic dance music. In her work, Emma takes a second look, beyond the boisterous party atmosphere, to find the precision and craftsmanship in every track. The meticulous attention to sonic detail and calibre of sound that lies at the core of every producer’s expression of creativity is what speaks to her the most and inspires her to create her jewellery from the same perspective.
POLYRHYTHMIC (2018)
For my masters degree I wanted to create a wearable form of musical notation. I focussed my research on two things: traditional musical notation and how it has developed, and artists who have historically let music influence their art. This research led me to discover the infinite variety of alternative scores and writing systems used to communicate music in a visual way. I learned about artists who have played with the rules of traditional scoring, as well as those who invented completely new ways of transcribing music. In terms of visual artists and painters who have directly attempted to transcribe music in their work, I looked at painters such as Paul Klee, Kandinsky and Jackson Pollock for inspiration.
Following a masterclass in writing systems, I created a system for transcribing electronic dance music using shapes and symbols based on the visual elements of music production techniques. I then used these shapes in my work to create wearable scores for my favourite songs. Some forms represent an element of the music, such as the percussion, harmonies, and vocals. Other forms were inspired by "hidden" elements of music production such as ADSR curves, automations and FM synthesis.