Stories Behind the Music
- Gaze Upon the Liquid Sky -
2022
Gaze Upon the Liquid Sky pays homage to the beautiful and diverse sceneries and landscapes that Australia has to offer. The colourful and extraordinary star trails, outline of the hot red sun, the glows from the city lights, and ever expansive starry skies are all melted into a pot of colourful and magnificent liquid sky.
This piece is blended with the sounds of wildlife ambience recorded at Claudie River, a location deep in the rainforest of Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia. At the beginning, in the still of the night we can hear crickets and insect trills, laughing calls of Australian Wood Frogs and gentle kooloos of the Marbled Frogmouths. The ending of the work, uses the actual times of natural twilight (astronomical, nautical, and civil) at Claudie River, Cape York to bring back daylight. The pulses and intensity of the insects slow, and the Australian Woodfrog calls become more distant within the rainforest as we begin to hear birdsongs from White-faced Robin and Dusky Myzomela which brightens the forest.
First conceived in one of Victoria’s longest lockdowns, this piece aims to bring our astonishing rural stars to listeners in any space and anywhere in the globe.
- Brushstroke of Time-
2022
The words ‘painted by brushstrokes of time’ came to mind as I pondered how time paints our most sublime picturesque landscapes, creating encounters of deep emotions, beauty, drama and devastation in equal parts.
Brushstrokes of Time is equally born as a response to the devastation of the 2022 floods in my hometown of Queensland, Australia. Witnessing from afar, the “before and after” gave a parallel glimpse into the power of nature and human community.
Through research, I discovered the artworks series of David Ambarzumjan. I was in awe, and equally surprised how similar our titles and concepts are. His ongoing collection of oil paintings in the series is about juxtaposing what was, what is and what may be, exploring different landscapes and places to show how the force of nature and humanity shaped our earth over time. I retained the original title however took inspiration from the painting and its visual juxtaposition.
In his own words:
“Before the world was created, it was just an empty dark space like an empty canvas, fast forward a couple of years and there’s life. Beautiful, colourful and diverse landscapes all around the world. The Brushstrokes tap into different time and places, and explore how the force of nature, and above all how we as humans, shape this planet...
Over time we have become the artists of our planet, radically painting what has been and creating something entirely new. I think it’s fair to say we left a big mark on this planet, and how it develops in the future is up to us to decide. The paintbrush is in our hands. I like to think we are all just brushstrokes on a big canvas that is the universe, and before we fade away as well, let’s shape our lives to be as colourful and impactful as it gets.” – David Ambarzumjan
- Weaving of Threads -
2021
Weaving of Threads is inspired by the vast and interconnected communication root network that is Mycorrhiza. Drawing parallels between the relationships of fungus and plants, this piece explores the symbiotic nature of human relationships through an ensemble of energy exchanges weaved together to form an evolving tapestry. The threads and connectivity are conceptualised to represent significant people who have supported, inspired and encouraged us during difficult periods of life; all who have left different shades of impressions that create the image of who we are today.
- Autumn Dawn -
2019
Composed in response to an introspective poetry, Dawn, written at the time of my grandpa’s passing. Autumn Dawn, instead of being a piece that laments, is a piece that is dedicated to those who have lost loved ones, with dawn as a representation of hope after loss. I wish to show appreciation to those who have loved, cared, and celebrated the life of their loved ones and further wish to dedicate this piece to my grandparents and great grandmother, who have instilled in me the love of music and nature.
- Autumn Dawn -
Autumn dawn;
billow of liquid gold.
Gently cradle;
glistens in her palm.
Chimes upon her;
calls to bring her home.
Dreaming of earth;
the weight within fades.
With a glimpse of light
the ambers of earth shine,
returns her back
to the state of dawn.
- In the Land of Curiosity -
2019
In the Land of Curiosity draws inspiration from the notion of curiosity. Inspired by a narrative written when I was a child and also by children who surround me. This piece follows an exploration of curiosity, beginning with the unknown and concluding with something familiar and known. “In the Land of Curiosity” also attempts to explore the possibility of unknowingly moving from one destination to another until arriving at its final destination. The initial melodic gestures are reinstated at the end to remind audiences of the beginning of their ‘musical journey’.
- Second -
2019
Second explores the moment a second passes after an individual’s fixation on an event. It explores the looming sensations experienced prior to the fixated event and the relieved sensation the second it passes.
- A Mind’s Requiem -
2018
Nostalgia is an evocative emotion we experience when the present meets the past. A beautiful and bittersweet feeling that we experience as we encounter an old interaction that we may never perfectly recreate. As time passes our memories fade; and as time passes, we gain more memories. These memories and the ones that remain connect us to the past, and in return, these memories give us a sense of perpetuity.
A real time moving requiem, Lives inside and is heard in perpetuum.
Hear, believe, With pure joy – relive.
Given time, the requiem fades.
Fades away, time opaques and light remains.
- In Transition -
2018
In Transition, commissioned for Science Gallery Melbourne’s PERFECTION Exhibition, draws inspiration from the Grainger Museum Courtyard and uses the open roof as representation of a spacecraft with a window to the “universe”. Stillness is represented through a lone passenger’s confinement and willingness to return to their bare essential at the reward of reaching Planet Perfection. This piece follows the individual’s transition, concluding before their arrival, with the journey explored through mimicking sounds of droning mechanics and glissandi. Emotions that are also explored include the possible dread, excitement, certainty, or even contentment the traveller could feel as they experience the interim of going towards the unknown. Upon arrival, if an individual can only contribute perfection to Utopia, can they maintain their identity?