Sonic Wonders: Exploring Experimental Music With Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu

In this four-part lecture series, explore philosophies, tips, and techniques for creating and appreciating experimental music.

Join Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu for a sonic exploration of the dynamic, emotionally rich, and sometimes surprising landscape of experimental music. Over the course of four sessions, we’ll move through several demonstrations on creating novel sounds, covering experimental techniques for synths, effects, DAW-based sonic manipulations, electronic and acoustic percussion, and electric guitar. Along the way, we’ll pause for interviews with notable maestros, discussions about musical philosophy and experimental approaches, and collective listening sessions, tapping into the social nature of music and understanding how experiencing it with others can heighten its significance. We’ll touch on the nuts and bolts like equipment, background, and best practices, while also leaving room to explore the historical, aesthetic, emotional, and contextual importance of works during our collective listening sessions. By the end of our time together, you’ll not only have an expanded appreciation for artistry and the form, but also inspiration to continue experimenting!