“Asriel comes at a time of global pause and isolation. It presents soothing tones as a desired affront to the test of recent times, while also offering up a challenge that encourages one to delve deeper in introspection.”
ASRIEL
Immersive | Experiential Sound | Spatial Audio
Encompassing elements of ambient sound design and abstract minimalism, there are moments of euphoria but also of anxiety and suspense.
“I wanted to make a body of work that wasn’t destined for a specific genre or label In the past, my main focus in the studio in essence has been writing music to make people dance, to make them move on the floor, and bring people into a peak state of ecstasy, joy and ultimately deliver a deeper connection to themselves and others.
This is very fulfilling in itself, however, there is a vast pallet of human emotion that I don't necessarily want to include in this environment (dance-floor). I needed to create something to take myself outside of the everyday and allow me to get lost and rediscover the unknown and in doing so allow myself to reflect and ultimately reconnect. I hope this is an experience that others can also engage with during these exceptional times.” - John Monkman
John Monkman ‘Resonate’
John Monkman ‘Spectrum’
Spectrum offers up a wonderfully intense moment to stand up and be present. Cinematic strings and a rich saturated brass section lay the foundations for erratic and compelling vocal elements, that cut through its rich acoustic tapestry and draw the listener deeper, until in the flash of an eye, it deconstructs and slowly dissolves into the ether. “This was the first time I’d experimented with sampling classical music elements such as a live operatic vocal take. Quite a bit of time was spent chopping and tuning the various vocal elements that I'd sampled, before recording the live performance you now hear. What was interesting, was how the character of the vocals morphed when using more contemporary style Performance and Pitching techniques. Spectrum has always had a sense of grandeur to it and gives me the feeling of a new beginning” - John Monkman
John Monkman ‘Pause’
The release presents a moment of calm, giving the listener a new space to help focus their attention. Warm, uplifting strings wander in and out of the soundscapes until the final resolve that lands on a warm bed of modulating tones.