[Interview] What is the original meaning of the music you make?
interviewer: IRIKI (Radd Lounge)
translator: Hibiki
translator: Hibiki
![[Interview] What is the original meaning of the music you make?](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0587/3785/2589/files/SWANMEAT1_480x480.png?v=1659857597)
![[Interview] What is the original meaning of the music you make?](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0587/3785/2589/files/SWANMEAT2_480x480.png?v=1659857601)
Born in Washington DC, after moving to Chicago, SWAN MEAT is a music producer currently based in Cologne, Germany. Beginning with "Bounty" released on the label PERMALNK in Paris, France, she has participated in many compilation songs by various artists and labels around the world. Do an interview. We asked him to talk about his values regarding music, such as what kind of meanings and thoughts are included in the works he creates.
■ Maria Callas, Grace Jones, Pauline Oliveros
And my mother is my idol.
SWAN MEAT × RADD LOUNGE HOODIE (Designed by Amber Bradford) ![[Interview] What is the original meaning of the music you make?](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0587/3785/2589/files/SWANMEAT3_480x480.png?v=1659857606)
- First of all, please tell us about your upbringing.
Can you tell us about yourself?
"My name is Reba and I write poetry and a little song. My idols are Maria Callas, Grace Jones, Pauline Oliveros and my mother. I have an Australian Shepherd named Harley. I always have. I can smell L'Oréal's Green Apple shampoo, even after chasing squirrels around my raspberry garden."
_ _ _
"My name is Reba & I write poetry and make little songs. My idols are Maria Callas, Grace Jones, Pauline Oliveros, & my mother. I have an Australian shepherd dog named Hurley who always smells like L'Oreal kids shampoo, green apple , even after he's finished stalking squirrels in the backyard amidst the brambles..."
ー Your hometown of Chicago has the image of producing many diverse musicians, such as blues, jazz, techno, juke, and hip-hop. Is there a reason for this?
2.Your city, Chicago have produced many artists in various genres such as blues, jazz, techno, juke and hiphop.
"Chicago has a strange, beautiful energy that you can really feel. You can't touch it, but you can feel it everywhere. I'm actually from Virginia and just moved to Chicago. So I don't know if it's right for me to hear about Chicago's history, but I'm learning every day, especially as I become more involved in the scene here, and I'm here to help you overcome your fears. I want to thank my friends Ariel Zetina , Evan and Composuresquad for joining me and letting me in."
_ _ _
"Chicago has an inapprehensible, beautiful, palpable energy that's impossible to put one's finger on but felt everywhere. I just moved here - I'm actually from Virginia - so I don't know if I'm the best source with regards to Chicago's history. But I'm learning every day, especially as I become more invested in the scene here. I'd like to take this opportunity to s/o my friends Ariel Zetina, Evan, and Composuresquad, who've helped me push past my anxiety & get involved!"
- First of all, please tell us about your upbringing.
Can you tell us about yourself?
"My name is Reba and I write poetry and a little song. My idols are Maria Callas, Grace Jones, Pauline Oliveros and my mother. I have an Australian Shepherd named Harley. I always have. I can smell L'Oréal's Green Apple shampoo, even after chasing squirrels around my raspberry garden."
_ _ _
"My name is Reba & I write poetry and make little songs. My idols are Maria Callas, Grace Jones, Pauline Oliveros, & my mother. I have an Australian shepherd dog named Hurley who always smells like L'Oreal kids shampoo, green apple , even after he's finished stalking squirrels in the backyard amidst the brambles..."
ー Your hometown of Chicago has the image of producing many diverse musicians, such as blues, jazz, techno, juke, and hip-hop. Is there a reason for this?
2.Your city, Chicago have produced many artists in various genres such as blues, jazz, techno, juke and hiphop.
"Chicago has a strange, beautiful energy that you can really feel. You can't touch it, but you can feel it everywhere. I'm actually from Virginia and just moved to Chicago. So I don't know if it's right for me to hear about Chicago's history, but I'm learning every day, especially as I become more involved in the scene here, and I'm here to help you overcome your fears. I want to thank my friends Ariel Zetina , Evan and Composuresquad for joining me and letting me in."
_ _ _
"Chicago has an inapprehensible, beautiful, palpable energy that's impossible to put one's finger on but felt everywhere. I just moved here - I'm actually from Virginia - so I don't know if I'm the best source with regards to Chicago's history. But I'm learning every day, especially as I become more invested in the scene here. I'd like to take this opportunity to s/o my friends Ariel Zetina, Evan, and Composuresquad, who've helped me push past my anxiety & get involved!"
![[Interview] What is the original meaning of the music you make?](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0587/3785/2589/files/SWANMEAT8_480x480.png?v=1659857611)
■ I felt like I could go in, be who I wanted to be, and explore what I was interested in without worrying about what other people thought of me.
![[Interview] What is the original meaning of the music you make?](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0587/3785/2589/files/SWANMEAT4_480x480.png?v=1659857614)
- This time, the collaboration was realized with your suggestion, but when I first heard from you, I got a glimpse of your opinion on DIY activities. What are your thoughts on DIY art?
When you contacted me for this collaboration, your words gave me a glimpse of your opinion about DIY art.
“I started looking into the DIY community when I was a teenager in Virginia. My friends and I would skip class, crank up Pg. At the time, the punk scene was booming, and for the first time in my life, I was able to go in and be who I wanted to be without worrying about what other people thought of me, and explore what I was interested in. Washington, D.C. was a wonderful place, a DIY community that was masculine, not shoddy (with exceptions, of course), rooted in action, and off-center. There's a place for people too.I've been making music and doing a lot of shows, but I've been trying to be aware of this spirit, though I'm always trying to get better."
_ _ _
"I began exploring the 'DIY' community when I was a teenager in Virginia. My friends & I would cut class & drive into DC, blasting page99 & The Kodan Armada. At the time there was a thriving punk scene, and this was the first place I felt I was able to be myself & explore my interests - & who I wanted to be - free of judgement. DC was a wonderful place to be because the DIY community was rooted not in masculinity & bravado (there were, of course , exceptions) but activism & maintaining safe spaces for marginalized folks. As I've continued to make music & play shows I've tried to carry this ethos with me, though I'm always striving to be better.
ー From your participation in Co-Op and the words at the beginning of your video work s/z, I feel that you have a critical spirit of contemporary society. Do your opinions about the current society, and how the current society should be, influence your creative activities?
I feel your participation in projects like Co-Op and the words shown at the beginning of the video of "s/z" show us your critical attitude to the modern society. Can you tell us about your opinion about it? the modern society is now affect your creation?When you contacted me for this collaboration, your words gave me a glimpse of your opinion about DIY art.
“I started looking into the DIY community when I was a teenager in Virginia. My friends and I would skip class, crank up Pg. At the time, the punk scene was booming, and for the first time in my life, I was able to go in and be who I wanted to be without worrying about what other people thought of me, and explore what I was interested in. Washington, D.C. was a wonderful place, a DIY community that was masculine, not shoddy (with exceptions, of course), rooted in action, and off-center. There's a place for people too.I've been making music and doing a lot of shows, but I've been trying to be aware of this spirit, though I'm always trying to get better."
_ _ _
"I began exploring the 'DIY' community when I was a teenager in Virginia. My friends & I would cut class & drive into DC, blasting page99 & The Kodan Armada. At the time there was a thriving punk scene, and this was the first place I felt I was able to be myself & explore my interests - & who I wanted to be - free of judgement. DC was a wonderful place to be because the DIY community was rooted not in masculinity & bravado (there were, of course , exceptions) but activism & maintaining safe spaces for marginalized folks. As I've continued to make music & play shows I've tried to carry this ethos with me, though I'm always striving to be better.
ー From your participation in Co-Op and the words at the beginning of your video work s/z, I feel that you have a critical spirit of contemporary society. Do your opinions about the current society, and how the current society should be, influence your creative activities?
“You even delved into S/Z! That was one of my previous video projects, made with Ableton V-Module and Jitter (laughs). I prioritize collaborating with and contributing to labels and collectives I work with, and I'm very impressed with the Co-Op compilations."
_ _ _
"Wow, you uprooted S/Z! That's one of my older video projects, I made it with the v-module Ableton program & Jitter, lol. My priority is collaborating with and contributing to labels & collectives run by my femme sisters, & was so impressed with the Co-Op compilation were about."
SWAN MEAT × RADD LOUNGE T-SHIRT (Designed by Amber Bradford) ![[Interview] What is the original meaning of the music you make?](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0587/3785/2589/files/SWANMEAT7_480x480.png?v=1659857590)
ー In light of these activities and your sound, poetic works like “DEEJAY ISOCAL” stand out very well. He also describes himself as "poet" in his Bandcamp profile. Please tell us about your relationship with poetry.Taking your activity like this and your dark sounds into consideration, your poetic work such as "DEEJAY ISOCAL" is very outstanding. In your Bandcamp profile, you describe yourself as a "poet". What is poem for you?
"Thank you! I also want to thank Michael Green for collaborating with me. I don't think Deejay Isocal would have been as impactful without his video. Rita Dove (USA) ) said, ``Poetry is the purest and most powerful form of language. I think poetry is written because of things. I think poetry is an attempt to explore beyond places where words cannot reach. The first time I heard Clara Rockmore play "Swan" on the theremin, it felt like a flock of butterflies had stopped my voice and vanished, leaving behind nectar and haze. I think these feelings are also poetic. ”
_ _ _
"Thank you! Would like also to s/o Michael Green for collaborating with me - I don't think the Deejay Isocal project would have been as impactful as it was without his video work. Rita Dove says "poetry is language at its most distilled and powerful," but I think poetry is written always in the absence of language, written because language always inaccessible & inaccurate. I like to think poetry is an attempt at reaching beyond & scavenging thru the places that language fails to touch. heard Clara Rockmore play The Swan on the theremin for the first time, it was like a swarm of butterflies stopped my throat & it boiled over w/ nectar & gauze: I think this feeling is poetry, too."
ー Participation in CO-Op, TAR, Permalnk, Amen, CVLT, Genome, etc., collaboration with WWWINGS, Ssaliva, DJ Heroin, etc., involvement with Bala Club, etc. But do you have some kind of policy in your own activities?
6.You have been working in many places and with many people; you joined Co-Op, TAR, PERMALNK, AMEN, CVLT and Genome, and you worked with WWWINGS, Ssaliva, DJ Heroin. Is there any policy behind your activity?
"I don't have a particular policy for what I do. I mostly work with friends who are interested in me. I'm always writing music, so I like to give songs to small labels. WWWINGS. ssaliva is legendary, dj heroin plays gymnopedies like an angel because he's an angel."
_ _ _
"Hmm. I wouldn't say there is a policy behind my activity. Mostly I work with friends who reach out to me. I'm always writing music, so I like to give tracks out to small labels. WWWINGS are astoundingly, terrifyingly creative. ssaliva's a legend & DJ Heroin plays the Gymnopedies like an angel, because he is.
- It seems that you are also making video works yourself. What do you focus on when making videos?
You seem to make videos on your own. What do you take into account when you are making videos for your tracks?
“When I started to get serious about production, I wanted to visualize the ideas I had at the time, so I made a video to go with the track. Because I couldn't buy it at the time.It's like a hand cutting an orange on the side of a spinning plane (janette's dream).I stopped making it recently. , I want to start again. Maybe in the summer."
_ _ _
"I made videos to accompany my tracks when I started getting serious about producing & wanted to work through some of the ideas I had visually. The stuff that's on my vimeo account was mostly an attempt @ replicating the visual timbre of an analog video synthesizer, 'cuz I couldn't afford one. A hand cuts an orange while open GL planes rotate, etc. Recently I've stopped, but I want to pick video work back up again.
- At the same time as this collaboration item, your debut EP "Bounty" released from PERMALNK is scheduled to be released on USB at the same time.
I'm also going to release your USB drive, which you released on PERMALNK.
"PERMALNK are absolutely brilliant. They have released an ambitious Magic Fades album (my favourite, check out 'Mozart's Timeline') and run a party called Stock 71 and France's Bye Bye Ocean. Camille, who is also helping out with the label, was the first to get interested in Swan Meat.Before that, I had had several Bounty EPs listened to by other labels, but it didn't work out. What kind of beat is this?" or "You're a little too selfish, you don't even know what the words mean, muscle milk?" ”
_ _ _
"PERMALNK is awesome. They'd released an ambitious Magic Fades album, which I loved (pls listen to 'Mozart's Timeline'), & Camille, who also helps run Stock 71 and France's Bye Bye Ocean parties, believed in the Swan Meat project before anyone else. I'd shown the Bounty EP to some other labels that dismissed it: but what time signature is this in? This is kinda off-grid... What do these words even mean? Muscle milk?
ー Please tell us the 5 best songs in your life.
Can you tell us your top 5 favorite songs in your life?
"The five most memorable songs in my life are 'La Vie En Rose' by Grace Jones, especially live recordings. Also Eugene Ysaye's 'Unaccompanied Violin Sonata' (Forgetfulness) and Pamela Z's." Bone Music', Wolf Eyes' 'Black Vomit' (with Anthony Braxton!) and 'Countdown' from the Assassin's Creed Brotherhood soundtrack. ”
_ _ _
"Five songs that have stuck with me throughout my lifetime are Grace Jones' rendition of "La Vie En Rose," esp when she performs it live; Eugene Ysaye's violin sonata no.2 aka "Obsession"; Pamela Z's "Bone Music"; "Black Vomit" by Wolf Eyes (the one w Anthony Braxton!); & "Countdown" from the Assassin's Creed Brotherhood soundtrack..."
“When I started to get serious about production, I wanted to visualize the ideas I had at the time, so I made a video to go with the track. Because I couldn't buy it at the time.It's like a hand cutting an orange on the side of a spinning plane (janette's dream).I stopped making it recently. , I want to start again. Maybe in the summer."
_ _ _
"I made videos to accompany my tracks when I started getting serious about producing & wanted to work through some of the ideas I had visually. The stuff that's on my vimeo account was mostly an attempt @ replicating the visual timbre of an analog video synthesizer, 'cuz I couldn't afford one. A hand cuts an orange while open GL planes rotate, etc. Recently I've stopped, but I want to pick video work back up again.
*Release on PERMALNKY ![[Interview] What is the original meaning of the music you make?](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0587/3785/2589/files/SWANMEAT5_480x480.png?v=1659857618)
- At the same time as this collaboration item, your debut EP "Bounty" released from PERMALNK is scheduled to be released on USB at the same time.
I'm also going to release your USB drive, which you released on PERMALNK.
"PERMALNK are absolutely brilliant. They have released an ambitious Magic Fades album (my favourite, check out 'Mozart's Timeline') and run a party called Stock 71 and France's Bye Bye Ocean. Camille, who is also helping out with the label, was the first to get interested in Swan Meat.Before that, I had had several Bounty EPs listened to by other labels, but it didn't work out. What kind of beat is this?" or "You're a little too selfish, you don't even know what the words mean, muscle milk?" ”
_ _ _
"PERMALNK is awesome. They'd released an ambitious Magic Fades album, which I loved (pls listen to 'Mozart's Timeline'), & Camille, who also helps run Stock 71 and France's Bye Bye Ocean parties, believed in the Swan Meat project before anyone else. I'd shown the Bounty EP to some other labels that dismissed it: but what time signature is this in? This is kinda off-grid... What do these words even mean? Muscle milk?
ー Please tell us the 5 best songs in your life.
Can you tell us your top 5 favorite songs in your life?
"The five most memorable songs in my life are 'La Vie En Rose' by Grace Jones, especially live recordings. Also Eugene Ysaye's 'Unaccompanied Violin Sonata' (Forgetfulness) and Pamela Z's." Bone Music', Wolf Eyes' 'Black Vomit' (with Anthony Braxton!) and 'Countdown' from the Assassin's Creed Brotherhood soundtrack. ”
_ _ _
"Five songs that have stuck with me throughout my lifetime are Grace Jones' rendition of "La Vie En Rose," esp when she performs it live; Eugene Ysaye's violin sonata no.2 aka "Obsession"; Pamela Z's "Bone Music"; "Black Vomit" by Wolf Eyes (the one w Anthony Braxton!); & "Countdown" from the Assassin's Creed Brotherhood soundtrack..."
![[Interview] What is the original meaning of the music you make?](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0587/3785/2589/files/SWANMEAT6_480x480.png?v=1659857624)
SWAN MEAT × RADD LOUNGE
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Special Thanks to Reba, Hibiki.