If you know anyone between the ages of 16 and 24, then chances are their computer is full of music, and some of it may even be their own. But whether it's racking up thousands of plays on Soundcloud or nestled in a very hidden folder, the best thing for it is feedback and exposure, and a trip to Band on the Wall this summer could be just the right environment to assist on it's way into the big, wide musical world.
Returning for a second residency in Manchester, Modular Music School is a fresh, inventive scheme funded by Arts Council England, in association with Band on the Wall and Brighter Sound, aiming to encourage young musicians in the North West with unprecedented access to their own computers. While that might not seem so revolutionary at first glance, Modular Music School is about taking readily available software and creating something fascinating and unique within a group, creating a network among other young laptop producers and establishing fruitful creative relationships and worthy feedback, aided by stimulating and open-minded mentors. Applicants need to be between the ages of 16-24 and available between both August 3rd-7th and October 26th-30th 2015, and able to travel to Band on the Wall between these dates. The residency is completely free to participants, but they will need to make their own travel arrangements to and from the venue.
Potential participants can apply for the programme at this link. The closing date for all applications is 28th June 2015. Currently preparing for this year's residency and eagerly anticipating the forthcoming musical applications to the group, we caught up with Modular Music School founder James Booth to discuss his plans for 2015 and to reflect on what makes Modular Music School such a unique and worthwhile venture in Manchester.
What is Modular Music School and where did the idea emerge from?
'We formed last year and we design artistic residencies around collaboration and electronic music. The idea is simple really, it's fun to make music with computers and electronic gear, and it's fun to make music with other people, it's lonely and not so fun to sit on your own in your bedroom in front of a computer and move blocks of midi around. There's an inherent thrill when you're a small part of a huge sound and a collective consciousness can create something really special! So we want to give people that kind of excitement and that kind of experience. So when they go back to their bedroom and sit in front of the computer to make music, they might make something more interesting and have more fun doing it. Our next residency is called Modular Music Lab and is for 10 artists at Band on the Wall from August to October.'
What sort of facilities will the participants have access to?
'Well, the idea is that the participants learn new ways of using the gear they have in more interesting ways. Rather than giving them access to a lot of fancy equipment that they'll never see again we want to show them that a laptop has endless possibilities. This idea that you need to go to big expensive recording studio in order to make something worthwhile is completely redundant these days. Everyone has a high end recording studio if they own a computer. What they will have access to though is other people, which is infinitely more valuable and increasingly harder to come by because there's not much precedent for collaboration amongst bedroom producers. They also get the chance to plan and deliver a live performance at Band on the Wall. What we want to emphasise is that the computer is a tool that allows you to create music that could not have existed at any other time in history, so rather than just using it to record instruments, or to create sounds that a drum machine or a synth could make, lets see how we can break it, or lets see how we can make music that sounds like it's from another planet!'
Who are the mentors this year?
'For our last residency we had some excellent facilitators, like Caro C, who showed us the history of artists such as Delia Derbyshire and the different ways of making electronic music. This time we have the guys from Rainer Veil who know more than most about collaboration and translating electronic compositions into a live experience. We also have Josh Horsely and Danny Saul, both of whom are accomplished composers and do things differently to most!'
What are you looking for in the submissions?
'We're looking for people aged 16-24 who have some experience of making music on a computer. We don't care what kind of music they make in terms of genre but we want people who are interested in collaborating with other people and who are open to growth. The form has some very basic questions and we ask for some music links. We usually look to the written answers just as much as the music.'
What were the highlights of the first edition of the residency, and what do you want to see more of this time?
'The main highlight for me has been watching our participants' musical development since the residency. We were so lucky to have such a talented and open group and another major highlight for me was seeing how supportive of one another they all were. It was really great to see that we can have 5 laptop musicians playing together and it can sound amazing! The gig at Band on the Wall was a proud moment for everyone involved, they really pulled off something special under immense pressure. This time I really want to see our participants go further in terms of operating outside of their comfort zones.'
You can find and like Modular Musical School on Facebook.