30 Second Pills is a sound project which sought to explore the genre of noise. Based on various definitions of noise, it consists of recordings of different people’s interpretations of the word noise. Each person was asked to say the word noise expressing the word’s meaning.
The work is called 30 second pills of noise. This is influenced by much of my reading which often described the listening and practicing of noise as masochistic, self punishing and cathartic.
Process of production
I have created 7 tracks of noise each is 30 seconds. The basis of each is much of the field work recording I captured of people saying noise. In the editing process I tried to further express the individual’s understanding of the word noise.
The tracks were to be experienced in a very specific space. I have designed the project envisaging it as an installation. In an empty room there will be 7 white opaque boxes, similar to the size of a phone booth. Each box has a door big enough for the viewer to step inside.Each box has a definition of noise plastered across the front of it.
This definition does not always express or act as a forerunner to the noise track within the box. This is to add to the further contradiction of genre of noise. Once in the box the viewer closes the door behind them to be left in total darkness. The track plays.
The viewer has to navigate through the room of boxed noises to actively participate in and explore the genre of noise and to better understand its essence.
References and inspirations for the work:
Mark Sinker, ‘Shhhhhh!’ in The Musical Quarterly, Vol. 81, No. 2. (Summer, 1997), pp.21-241.
Paul Hegarty, ‘Full With Noise: Theory and Japanese Noise Music’, 2001, edited by Arthur and Marillouise Kroker, file:///Volumes/USB%20DISK/2006%20semester2/audio/CTheory_net.htm, last viewed 03/10/06.
Siegmund Levarie, ‘Noise’ in Critical Inquiry, Vol. 1. (Autumn, 1977), pp. 21-31
Torben Sangild, The Aesthetics of Noise, 2002, file:///Volumes/USB%20DISK/2006%20semester2/audio/U%20B%20U%20W%20E%20B%20%20The%20Aesthetics%20of%20Noise.htm, last viewed 03/10/06.
Here are some interviews I found with Merzbow which were also influential:
http://www.furious.com/perfect/merzbow.html
http://www.finitesite.com/scarcelight/artists/merzbow_interview.html
http://www.theninhotline.net/features/interviews/hillebrandt2/
