Gold Panda brought his exotic beats to Brighton Music Hall Saturday night, playing to a sold out crowd of head bobbers, hip swayers, and a handful of less inhibited dancers, indicating his ability to cross over the indie and electronic music scenes. His set was reminiscent of Four Tet’s at the Middle East on Tuesday, but higher energy, more dreamlike, and with more obvious hip hop and dubstep influences.

At monthly dance night Sweet Shop at Good Life in Boston, techno maven Mathew Jonson schooled the crowd with his live set. With so much equipment that would barely fit in the DJ booth, Jonson spent the night bopping back and forth between controllers, crafting tracks on the fly. Jonson fulfilled high expectations and kept the audience moving straight through last call.

The post Recap: 5/18 Gold Panda at Brighton Music Hall and Mathew Jonson at Good Life appeared first on Together.

This Friday, the Together Central Stage hosted one of the highlights of this year’s festival: a Turbo Recordings showcase featuring Duke Dumont, Nautiluss, and Bordello, plus local artists Doctor Jeep and General Motor. This show was the final segment of Together’s partnership with Turbo Recordings, which also included a remix competition and a performance by label founder Tiga at the kick-off party on Sunday.

The Turbo talent certainly heated up the Middle East on Friday, culminating with an outstanding headlining set from Duke Dumont. We don’t even have to tell you which song he saved for the end that earned an overwhelming reaction from the crowd.

The post Recap: 5/17 Turbo Recordings Showcase with Duke Dumont at Together Central Stage appeared first on Together.

Museum of Fine Arts

12pm: Screening: We Are Modeselektor

Rowes Wharf (SOLD OUT)

2:30pm: Dancing On The Charles presents: Crew Love Boston Boat

Middlesex Lounge

7pm: Crew Love after party

Zuzu

10pm: Boston 8Bit, League Podcast & Together Fest Present: RYGAR II: RAGNAR

The post What To Do: 5/19/13 appeared first on Together.

Polar Seltzer Presents: Does Genre Matter?
Moderator: Peter O’Karma, Good Karma DJs and The Law Offices of Peter A. O’Karma; Speakers: Shawn Conte; Eartha Harris, Psylab; DJ Leah V; Wiggz, Moduloktopus; Peter Colombo, Rewrote and M|O|D

This discussion featured a panel of local musicians who examined the idea of genre, especially in relation to electronic music and its endless categories of genres and sub-genres and sub-sub-genres. Panelists agreed that genre can be useful when trying to describe or classify a certain kind of music, but it can also be creatively limiting for artists who are pigeonholed into a specific genre and for fans who do not look outside of a certain genre for new music.

“It is convenient to have classifications. Genre is a tool to make the music more accessible and to make digging easier.” -Shawn Conte

“Without a genre designation, how can I as your manager sell you as an artist – how do I establish [what audience] we’re going to sell you to?” -Peter O’Karma

“A lack of designation [can be] your sales pitch – I can play any party. [Avoiding] sticking to one thing helps in the long run because you can play to more than one audience.” -DJ Leah V

“You want to be searchable and findable but at the same time you don’t want to be pigeonholed. Key words and hashtags make it easier for you to be more discoverable.” -Wiggz

“Genre is a reference, not a requirement.” -Shawn Conte

Can’t Knock the Hustle: Econ 101 for the Independent Musician
Moderator: Max Pearl, Cluster Mag; Zo E.Ling, Nightlife & Community Organizer with PVRPLE at Good Life; Dan Hirsch, Independent Music Curator; George Machado, NYC-based artist manager; Matt Shadetek, Dutty Artz

It can be a struggle for independent musicians to make enough money to survive on a day-to-day basis. This panel discussed how artists have (or have not) made money, and why. Independent artists are responsible not only for their creative work but also for managing their brand and their own economic well-being. Especially due to the rise of digital technology and the ability to manage one’s own online presence, the term “independent musician” is not black and white; even if you’re on a major label, you’re still doing a lot of work for yourself. In this sense, it is important for artists – regardless of how “independent” they may be – to educate themselves about the business side of being a musician. Artists should take advantage of technology and social media to cultivate their own persona and build an online presence to engage with fans and generate opportunities.

“Understand how the infrastructure works. Have autonomy and the capacity for self-reliance.” -Matt Shadetek

“Artists make the most money from touring and licensing deals rather than record sales.” -George Machado

“Get your game plan in place, build a team around yourself, and inform yourself what you will do when a certain situation comes up. Maintain clarity and communication and spell it out in writing.” -Dan Hirsch

“Be very judicious – what I will get out of it? Is this going to take me somewhere in the long term, or is this someone taking advantage of me? Pick your battles.” -Dan Hirsch

“If you’re not making money up front, have a plan to make money in the long run.” -Matt Shadetek

“Having the business skills allows you to preserve your independence.” -Matt Shadetek

The post Panel Wrap-Up: May 17 appeared first on Together.

Ableton Friday kicked off at MMMMaven with a demo from Eli Goldstein of Soul Clap. Eli walked us through how he uses Ableton Live collaborate and capture ideas the way you would in a traditional studio setting with several other musicians, then go back and use the arrangement view to tie together all of the best ideas. Some advice from Eli: just hit record. You don’t want to miss any good ideas.

At 2pm Ben Cantil (AKA Encanti) talked about creativity and interpretation when it comes to writing original material and remixing. During the demo Ben took “Isla Margarita” by Sunny Lax that one of his students chose to remix and showed us his remix of it. He extracted the harmony using Ableton Live 9′s new audio-to-midi features, then he slowed it way down and introduced a dub step inspired ending, completely transforming the song to the point where you couldn’t recognize it. He also showed us his go-to virtual instrument for bass sounds called Z3ta+2.

At 3pm Loudon Stearns gave a brief demo of about 1/1000th of what Ableton Push can do. Some of the key features Loudon demonstrated were the different pad modes, choosing harmonic scales for note mode, automation recording, repeat, and how each pad has velocity sensitivity not only when you hit it, but also hold it and press. This feature in combination with the repeat feature was demonstrated with keeping a steady 16th note pattern on a hi-hat and changing the velocity over time.

At 4pm Clint Sand (AKA Synnack) and video collaborator Jennifer McClain showed us how to create an audio-visual experience using a combination of out-of-the-box tools and software designed from scratch using Jitter and Max For Live. Clint and Jennifer showed how everything in Ableton can be a source to derive information that can then be interpreted in countless ways by Max and Jitter. Crossing the chasm of “$2 VJ” to professional doesn’t even require you to be a technologist as there are thousands of patches already created using Max and Jitter. Some are cheap, many are free.

At 5pm Leon J used some new features in Ableton Live 9 to reign in muddy or meandering bass. One key feature is Ableton’s EQ 8 which now comes with built in spectral analysis. Using this tool can help balance your mix and get the tonal qualities out of your tracks while taming those that are too prominent.

And at the end of the day Wigbert Caro (AKA Moduloktopus) showed us the infinite possibilities behind Ableton’s unique way to blend sounds together out of basic instruments, MIDI, and audio effects to create mind blowing and complex sounds and flexible tools.

The post Recap: Ableton Friday 5/17 at MMMMAVEN appeared first on Together.

This Thursday, weekly Middlesex Lounge party Make it New hosted Detroit house guru Andrés. After residents Coralcola and John Barera opened up the night, Andrés took to the decks with his impressive vinyl collection. He blended elements of house, hip hop, funk, and R&B, dropping classics from the likes of A Tribe Called Quest. Local producers and music fans alike gathered around the DJ booth to admire his mind boggling technical skills. It’s safe to say that this performance from Andrés will be one for the Together record books.

The post Recap: 5/16 Andrés at Middlesex Lounge appeared first on Together.

Copyrights and Copywrongs
Moderator: Andrew Sellars, Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University; Speakers: Chris Bavitz, Cyberlaw Clinic at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society; Eve Brown, Suffolk University Law School International Property Clinic; and Jessica Silbey, Suffolk University Law School

The first panel of the day explored the ins & outs of copyright law, especially as related to music, aiming to explain the basics and clarify common points of confusion. Andrew Sellars explained that copyright was written into the Constitution to promote the progress of science and art. Congress has since developed a framework to regulate copyright law, which has recently become more and more complicated with the rise of digital technologies. The intention of copyright is to act as an incentive for people to get out and create things, not to discourage people from doing so.

When recreating or editing a copyrighted work, the key to avoiding a copyright violation is transformativeness, or how much the original piece has been changed to make it into something new. Responding to an audience question regarding copyright and DJ mixes made available online for free, the panel explained that, technically, the DJ would be violating the copyright of each individual song included. However, there has been shockingly little case law so far on this topic to determine the point at which it becomes transformative enough and therefore eligible for fair use.

“[Your music] is an extension of who you are. Your songs are your children. You want respect for your words as an extension of yourself.” -Andrew Sellars

“Copyright law protects your desire to keep your work as intended.” -Jessica Silbey

“Reputation is one of your biggest assets as an artist … You want to control where your music is used and what you do or don’t want to fight for.” -Eve Brown

“The most [financially] successful musicians right now are really aware of the options available in the digital age. Being creative about your model and using the digital resources available is what’s making artists successful.” -Eve Brown

Jessica Silbey explained that you should not let copyright violation fears restrict you as an artist. Although there is a significant liability that comes along with copyright violation because the money damages are huge, she says that “we take risks all the time in our lives without really thinking about the risks. But now we’re suddenly thinking a lot about copyright. We should continue to [take these risks] because [in reality] the risk is actually very low.”

“Don’t let copyright concerns make you quiet or discourage you. There are many resources in Boston to take advantage of to ask questions.” -Eve Brown

Grassroots Digital
Moderator: Wayne Marshall, Wayne & Wax and Harvard University; Speakers: Chris Kirkley, Sahel Sounds; Matt Shadetek, Dutty Artz; Toy Selectah, Sones del Mexside and Mad Decent

The second panel of the day explored grassroots, amateur methods of media production, circulation, and remediation around the globe. Panelist Chris Kirkley explained his work with Sahel Sounds, where he collected music from Saharan Africa that was being distributed and circulated exclusively on cellphones. Matt Shadetek of Dutty Artz discussed his track “Brooklyn Anthem,” which was repurposed by Jamaican teens in Brooklyn as “The Craziest Riddim” and featured in Harlem Shake style homemade dance videos. Finally, Toy Selectah (who also performed at Pico Picante later that evening) described his work with 3Ball MTY, a group of young artists from Monterrey, Mexico. Much like other underground Mexican musicians, 3Ball MTY gathered inspiration from the internet and produced tracks in a very raw manner at home, distributing them freely online and playing them out at after school gatherings.

“You never know when you release a work of art into the world what people are going to do with it, what it’s going to mean to people … The lesson for me was remaining open to other people interpreting your music.” -Matt Shadetek

“People interacting with and embracing something that [other people have] created, making it their own, and putting it back again.” -Toy Selectah

“Sounds that are explicitly digital, raw, unrefined – it’s the nature of those sounds that give it energy and feeling.” -Matt Shadetek

“One of the rules of small, local scenes is it generates uniqueness … as the internet becomes more pervasive, small, local things don’t get time to marinate as people look to the global market.” -Matt Shadetek

“Once you hit upload, the things we make take on a life of their own based on what they mean to people.” -Wayne Marshall

@CentralSquared: Where Do We Go From Here?
Moderator: Joe Grafton, Together Festival and the American Independent Business Alliance; Speakers: Nina Berg, Central Squared; Colin Brauns, Crash Pad Boston; Jesse Kanson-Benanav, A Better Cambridge; Matthew Yalouris, Cambridge Community Development Department

The final panel of the day brought together a group of local community developers to explore the future of music, art, and technology in Central Square. Panelists discussed current plans to make Central Square a more vibrant community, how they envision Central Square changing for the better in the future, and identifying and overcoming roadblocks to achieving these development goals. The panelists explained that one of the biggest challenges to bringing more music, art, and technology to Central Square is engaging young people in the decision making process in City Council. Because Council meetings are long and in the middle of the day, the people who attend are usually higher in income, retired, and over a certain age – meaning this is the demographic that sets the agenda for development in Cambridge. Technology can play a major role in bridging the gap, inspiring young people to get involved and giving access to people who may not have the luxury of time to make it to the City Council meetings.

In terms of technology, the key lies in “distilling information so it takes less time to digest … building in feedback loops … and incentivizing action.” -Colin Brauns

“So much of Cambridge has come inaccessible to a college grad with an idea … they can’t afford it … it isn’t an accessible space for entrepreneurs.” -Matthew Yalouris

“Gentrification in Cambridge is an acute issue … appropriate density and centralizing development around transportation hubs can help the problems that gentrification creates.” -Jesse Kanson-Benenav

The post Panel Wrap-Up: May 16 appeared first on Together.

Mmmmaven

1pm: Traktor Workshop
2pm: Demonstration: Internal Mode
4pm: Logic: Deconstruction of a Track and Workflow
5:30pm: MMMMAVEN Project Open House

University Park

12-6pm: Another World’s Fair

Museum of Fine Arts

2pm: Screening: Wrong by Mr. Oizo

Lily Pad

6pm: ODYSSEY 617 presents SOME LIKE IT HOTT 11 w/ Jacques Renault

Together Central Stage (Middle East Downstairs)

8pm: Zomby with opening sets from Distal, Rizzla b2b Blk Adonis b2b Dev/Null

Machine

9pm: Controversy at Ramrod

Great Scott

9pm: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell presents LE1F

Brighton Music Hall

9pm: Crossroads presents: Gold Panda w/ Voices of Black (Live!)

Good Life

10pm: Sweet Shop w/ Mathew Jonson (Live!)

RISE

1am: Popof w/ Mike Swells and Ryan Obermiller

The post What To Do: 5/18/13 appeared first on Together.

]]> http://togetherboston.com/saturday/feed/ 0 http://togetherboston.com/picorecap/ http://togetherboston.com/picorecap/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 21:55:28 +0000 Ben Gray http://togetherboston.com/?p=11666 Sara Skolnick warming up the dancefloor. Photo courtesy of Nedret. As a (very very minor) DJ myself, let me tell you — what Toy Selectah does is really freaking hard. Ever try to get from calypso to salsa to hip-hop with nothing in between? Most DJs would tell you you can’t. Or well, that it’s really freaking hard, anyway. Putting [...]

The post Recap: Toy Selectah at Good Life appeared first on Together.

]]> Sara Skolnick warming up the dancefloor. Photo courtesy of Nedret.

As a (very very minor) DJ myself, let me tell you — what Toy Selectah does is really freaking hard. Ever try to get from calypso to salsa to hip-hop with nothing in between? Most DJs would tell you you can’t. Or well, that it’s really freaking hard, anyway. Putting more than one uneven rhythm together is just begging for a trainwreck.

That’s what Toy Selectah did last night, for like 2 hours straight. There wasn’t an unswaying hip in the place.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go practice DJing for about 30 years.

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]]> http://togetherboston.com/picorecap/feed/ 0 http://togetherboston.com/recap-516-%ca%8az-at-together-central-stage-with-voltran-bass-alchemists-wubson/ http://togetherboston.com/recap-516-%ca%8az-at-together-central-stage-with-voltran-bass-alchemists-wubson/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 21:49:31 +0000 Angela Bray http://togetherboston.com/?p=11667 The energy level at Middle East Downstairs last night was beyond 100 percent. Strong opening by Wubson and Bass Alchemists built up the vibe perfectly for Voltran, who kept  people jumping until ƱZ went on at 12:30. Trap, dubstep, electro, and heavy sounds like so made for a winning night.

The post Recap: 5/16 ƱZ at Together Central Stage with Voltran, Bass Alchemists, Wubson appeared first on Together.

]]> The energy level at Middle East Downstairs last night was beyond 100 percent. Strong opening by Wubson and Bass Alchemists built up the vibe perfectly for Voltran, who kept  people jumping until ƱZ went on at 12:30. Trap, dubstep, electro, and heavy sounds like so made for a winning night.

(via Instagram user djdanielharder)

The post Recap: 5/16 ƱZ at Together Central Stage with Voltran, Bass Alchemists, Wubson appeared first on Together.

]]> http://togetherboston.com/recap-516-%ca%8az-at-together-central-stage-with-voltran-bass-alchemists-wubson/feed/ 0