Specialist music conference attracted international experts, performers and fans
Electronic music fans have been treated to a one-day spectacular, thanks to the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
808 State’s Graham Massey, who is a UCLan Honorary Fellow, influential Vienna based producer and composer Patrick Pulsinger and the BBC’s Steve Barker were among the industry experts who took part in the ‘Present and Future of Electronic Music’ conference.
They were joined in Preston by an international cast of circa 30 experts, including people from the music industry and academics, who presented research and explored this genre of music.
The event, organised by UCLan’s Professor Ewa Mazierska, Dr Les Gillon and Tony Rigg, was part of the Great Northern Creative Expo.
Tony, who has previously occupied roles such as Operations Director for Ministry of Sound, said: “The feedback from the conference has been great. The audience members came away feeling like they’d got a deeper understanding of what electronic music is, what it does, how it is made, how it is consumed and what its future might be.”
Accomplished musician Paul Birchall performed his latest work entitled ‘Conversing with the Minimoog 3074,’ a series of compositions inspired by and drawing heavily on Moog’s iconic Model D synthesizer.
Paul, an artist in his own right, has worked with many other distinguished practitioners including Marshall Jefferson, Jim Diamond, Candi Statton, K Klass, Snake Davis, Graeme Park, DJ Sneak, Martin Fry, Felix Da Housecat, M People and Heather Small.
The album is due for official release early next year on the Gradgrind Music Label, a new enterprise set up by UCLan.
On hearing Paul play, Graham Massey said: “It was great to hear a skilled player on the Mini Moog, Paul obviously has a deep relationship with the instrument that started the synth revolution 50 years ago. Like watching James Bond throwing an Aston Martin around, it was classical. I also liked the films that threw light on Paul’s personal love affair with the Mini.”
Following Paul’s performance attendees brought instruments and original music to join DJ/ Producer Johnny Jay for the MixrUPt Open Mic Mixtape Jam.
