MUSIC
selection of albums:
selection of projects
may you live in interesting times
album presentation berlin, ausland, february 2024
may you live in interesting times is a series of personal images of the world during the coronavirus pandemic, delivered with a futuristic sensation as AI human-like narrations, field recordings, synthesizers, electronics, electric guitar, vinyl samples and human voice.
The period of 21-22 I was living between Nicosia and Glasgow. In January 2021, I needed a space to work from home during the pandemic and I decided to turn my grandmother’s space into a home studio as it was empty and not in use since she passed away earlier, in 2020. The only thing that it is still there is her 60s style buffet which was her marriage present from my grandad. The buffet has been carried to every single house my grandmother lived and, in the end, it reached its final destination. At that time, I came across with the mail-ordered brides of the 20-30s through the rebetiko song ‘Mi me stelnis mana stin Ameriki’ sung by Rita Abatzi, and Voulgaris film ‘Brides’ (2004). Additionally. During that period my god-sister got married. Astonished by the mail-ordered brides immigration for marriage and social status reasons, I recalled different reasons of immigration nowadays. One of them is climate immigration which I thought that I might experience due to the climate change of the Eastern Mediterranean region.
‘What would I pack in a small suitcase to carry with me?’ Some of these materials can be seen as sonic expressions with different forms in this specific album.
Back then I thought of all the technological development and how nowadays you can be virtually in two places, and how technology was shifting again, searching for new spaces and digital worlds. What is the result of this transition going to be? Are we shifting into futuristic worlds as they are often presented in sci-fi Hollywood films? Is this shift going to be something “trashier” where we upcycle materials and resources? Should we leave futuristic magic cars ideas behind? What should we search for?
credits
released April 30, 2024
Composed and produced by Antonia Kattou, Nicosia and Glasgow 2021-2022
Mastering by Stelios Antoniou
Graphics + tape case by 100100
license
all rights reserved
music and merch available for purchase via bandcamp
sound adaptations of rebetika tsimpita
This project has its roots in my attempt to arrange rebetika songs from the guitar repertoire of “tsimpita” firstly as part of my practice research during my masters. The specific repertoire has an immigration and sociocultural background and was developed in the 1930s in America by Greek immigrants. My approach to this research focuses to the idea of contextualisation of the music elements from Asia Minor to Greece and from Greece to America such as the capture of makam as “dromoi” and an adaptation to equal temperament system instruments such as the bouzouki and the guitar. In America, the bouzouki is capture as the guitar which is tuned in the same way. Another example of adaptability is the use of the taqsim, the free improvisation that is also used in rebetika. Moreover, the adaptability of these folk musicians leads to the technique of African - American blues, where musicians adopted special tunings that they found in America and the guitar playing technique of finger-picking. Hence, they created an original way of performing.
The first aim of this project was to examine if there is still space for contextualisation and adaptation in tsimpita. Later, after experimenting with text-setting, I wanted to explore and suggest different ways of how these songs can be performed.
credits
released April 1, 2022
Antonis Hadjiantonis - voice, electric guitar samples
Fidias Ferekidis - drums samples
antonia kattou - composition, voice, electronics, synthesizers, sampling, mixing, mastering
Gear used: jam pedals - red muck vol.2, korg - microkorg vocoder
all rights reserved
music available via bandcamp
222555
ICHOMAGNETIC THOUGHTS
222555 is a synthesis of an antipode. It's an album of noise and peace, harmony and dissonance, love and anguish, connection and dismantling, cold technology and warm nature. It is a reflection of a common dream we both (Ichomagnetic thoughts) had when we were children and we found out about it randomly (?). In the dream we were both in the same forest, but on opposite sides with contrasting environments experiencing two different micro-worlds .
Throughout the album, there are opposing sound materials existing simultaneously. They give meaning to one another, providing direction and sustenance. The space that emerges between these oppositions provides a much needed solace. In the wake of substantial change and dismantling, comes a requiem.
instruments: synthesis - analogue and digital, field recordings and percussions / drums.creditsreleased March 31, 2023
Produced In Nicosia and Paralimni by Ichomagnetic Thoughts
Original artwork by Stelios Ilchuk and Nikos Stephoulicenseall rights reserved
Ichomagnetic Thoughts duo by Antonia Kattou and Stelios Antoniou
music and merch available on bandcamp
LIQUID HOT MESS
In a city dominated by a construction boom favouring the dry, LIQUID HOT MESS unearths a drenched scape.
LIQUID HOT MESS was co-production with Centre of Performing Arts MITOS as part of
theYard.Residency.24.
In a city dominated by a construction boom favouring the dry, LIQUID HOT MESS unearths
a drenched scape. Via an audiovisual flow that transcends delineations of wetness, both
in-body and out-of-body, waters emerge and merge. A series of open gatherings along the
coast of Limassol (June-September), invite us to collectively make sense of the fluid realm
by engaging in research and artistic practices. The gathered unearthings will ground a
sensorial scape and audiophysical performance at the old Vinegar Factory. The coastline
and skin turn into specular reflections of each other. Bodies of water co-exist and multiply.
LIQUID HOT MESS @kattouxo @nicolamitro @claraliciousss in collaboration with @mitos_org
Saturday 26/10/24 durational collective performance @ Xydadiko, Limassol CY
music production and performance as MYSTIKI FLEVA - antonia kattou
Documentation by @ioannaeconomidou - photos
@therealpannybrown - video
Many thanks to @belie.linda + @peaubleue_ + @sevinafloridou + @10o1oo + @da_merm + to all involved who helped with the production 💓
Thank you all for your donations to @unrwa + @beirutsynthcenter 🕯️
Εν να τα πούμε στην θάλασσα 🌊 cu at the sea
22° HALO -
ICHOMAGNETICS
the duo ichomagnetic thoughts (Antonia Kattou & Stelios Antoniou) unfold a platform titled
‘ichomagnetics’ that will engage in transdisciplinary interactions and happenings. Their first
event 22° halo is co-curated with Nicola Mitropoulou.
@SPEL, STATE GALLERY OF CONTEMPORARY ART as part of sesssssions - Sessions, a series of queer happenings, Nicosia, Cyprus
SATURDAY, 9/12, 20:30, 22° halo (by Ichomagnetics)
Sound
ichomagnetic thoughts, George Bizios, Jörg Holland, mystiki fleva (Antonia Kattou), Stelios Antoniou
Visuals
Orestis Telemachou, Khaled Khalifa, Ioanna Economidou, Nicola Mitropoulou
22° halo is a sensorial flow within the bounds of SPEL, an invitation to listen intently and gaze
widely.
ichomagnetics beseech reflection — to absorb and re-emit. In kaleidoscopic sonic and visual interactions, whispers linger, transforming the terrestrial into a dreamscape of ethereal rever-
berations. Mirrors morph into liquid pools, where the image of self becomes a rippling surface
– a perpetual metamorphosis.
Echoes refract, bend and multiply.
A multiplicity of echoes whose speed of repetition is too quick for them to be perceived as
separate from one another.
Spatially bounded particulars stretch latitude’s memory forming a loop that blurs waves and
rays. The fragility of being/existence? beyond the veil of isolated perception transcends into a
collaborative praxis of reimagining spacetime.
unity - kinship - solidarity
togetherness.
In more honest words, find the light to continue the fight. Keep speaking up and out to end the genocide happening 300km from where we stand today. To a free Palestine.
words by nico
A big thank you and appreciation to Lex & Dimitris for everything and Antonia Maria Nicolaides & Cindy Chehab for documentation!