Follow up
Recently I was very inspired by the MCA in Chicago

Considering photography through the ages and it’s involvement with technology and the human body
I felt truly connected, shocked, disgusted, confused, amazed, amused, and at peace. I felt a sense of belonging in the world of interdisciplinary art/technology/sound/expression

I am very excited to free up my approach and be bold and brave enough to take an artistic stance in all my creative endeavours

including making a new website

but in a way that feels truly me

Also, the theremin underwent some minor surgery this past week

it’s been hanging on by a thread (literally)

​Blog Post 2025 No. 1
Feb 13 11:11pm

I’ve started back on the blogs again.
I think it would be helpful to share with the world, as well as continue this dialogue with myself!

I’ve purchased the latest version of Ableton Live 12 and I’ve transferred all my pre-existing settings over into Templates!

Next I will be working on improving my workflow.

I’ve noticed that my 2012 Mac Pro seems to run hot, and the battery isn’t great anymore. I will be improving the efficiency of my workflow, effects, and pairing with my trusty midi controllers. I’ve also noticed that attaching the cable of my LPD controller to the stand of the theremin allows me to use it more easily on top of the instrument, which I will be doing more of at my performances! :)

For today, I’m happy with the refresher of my Ableton Live skills (flashback to 2017 Summer Intensive Ableton Live course), and I like the new aesthetic design! Also as I am growing, I am getting better at organizing files, and only making projects as needed (now that I can use templates)!

I also downloaded 413 of my unreleased solo piano recordings (Ranging from 7-30 minutes long each) which I’ve been making almost daily since 2020. These are mini improvised compositions.

I hope that through my blog, I’ll be able to keep a record of my creative process as well as stay inspired by regular improvements and updates to my sound (and hopefully inspire someone out there)!

Today I want to give a special shout out to Mr. Simon Trevaks.

From my personal journal..
“I wish Simon Trevaks knew the tremendous impact he’s had on my life as a guitarist , videographer , and all around great guy.”

Simon, everyone who helped film my UIUC audition video for the Masters (til 10pm on a week night in Sydney), Adam, and also Jake here in CU.

Simon, your actions have had a massive flow on effect, and I am so glad we crossed paths! (both at UNSW and having worked at the Scots College)!

Thank you for believing in me (Simon, Adam, Krisjoe, Jake and Jason).

Simon you are a truly remarkable interdisciplinary human being.”

So world, what do you think? More theremin blogs?

With love to you all,

Joy
--

I must admit, it has been a while since I last updated this blog. However, I have plenty of gems hidden away ready to be shared. As it has almost been a year, we will be revisiting the journey it took to get to where I am now. There are so many exciting projects currently in progress, I can't wait to catch you up…!

Some inspiration for developing creativity as an adult:
Click here for the article from Felt Magnet

• Dare to Be Creative
• Don't Wait for Inspiration
• Characteristics of Creative People
• Becoming More Creative

During this mid-sem break, I was able to book a long session on Monday in the recording studio.

I worked on refining my project (for sound lab), practising more looping, updating this blog and technical practice.
On Wednesday we had a very exciting trio rehearsal.
This involved N (projection mapping) and V (dance).
Our performance concept is developing well.

I decided to share some of what I've been up to on social media.
I have been able to find a better setup and become faster at it.

Things to do

• Look into getting my own equipment (for future non-uni related performances)
• Organise more rehearsals with the trio, and try out more ideas

Check out our video here:

This week led up to Good Friday.

I worked on looping, and played for a video and photoshoot involving the theremin.
I worked mostly on solo theremin.

Monday at Sound Lab was productive.

I found out on Wednesday that the gig next Friday has been postponed. It was originally going to be in a studio in Marrickville. We had a set with a VJ, dancer from Sydney Dance Company, and myself. We will likely host our own one later independently. I'm looking forward to working on our trio project next week. 

Watch my progress video here:

Experimenting with looping, soundscapes, textures and effects.
​​
x Joy

I had a listen to some of my music again on the weekend and I am now feeling a bit more positive. There is so much that sometimes I forget what I have recorded or made. At the moment I am working on making a theremin beat (thanks N for the idea). A suggested mixing the theremin drums I made with normal drums.

Things to do:

• Get onto mixing and mastering- watch videos
• Also loop pedal/equiment needed for live
• Refine my track for Sound lab- components and flow
• Conceptualise my live performance
• Send theremin loop to M in USA  for rapping
• Use limiters

Track specific goals:

• For single line- use thick analog synth- sound card- record
• Soft1 warm- add reverb
• Silk horns- ask trumpet player or convolution reverb
• Bass- low note then emerge or no chords
• Trumpet libraries/operator- smoother entry & tone. Make it less bright- automate for later
• Arrangement view- record brass
• Returns- sends// mutiple

Reflections from my Wednesday session:

• Theremin feels better when lower at belly-button height
• Experimented with midi mapping
• Condensed sounds- into 2 guitar rig files- easier to transition and combine sounds.
• Going to try and midi map the track too for smoother performance.
• Almost like having diff instruments/voices
• Also mapped effects

Friday session

• Experimented with looping
• How to undo and clear loops
• One with ephemeral sounds, one with distortion
• Also a better setup for theremin rehearsal (pads on left side)

Some tips from A:

• Can crescendo to desired note
• Use different movements with tuning space
• Have a conceptual flow of the piece and map it. E.g. brass, vocals distort/change- filter to blend in , theremin emerge so the theremin is not in the same space as brass and vocals (also a tip from S).​

x Joy ​

​ After seeing Tennyson last week @ the Hudson Ballroom, Sydney, I was left feeling so inspired and re-energised. They were absolutely amazing.

However, on Monday, at Sound Lab, I was feeling quite stuck. Perhaps this was due just having been exposed to such great music and feeling a sense of incompetence and disdain for everything that I have created so far. I felt a lack of motivation to work on my music and wanted to start over.

In this tricky situation, I asked for some advice and gave my track that I had been working on a break this week, and shifted my focus.

• I recorded the theremin. I also did an arrangement view recording of my track for SL.
• I spoke to A about using a low pass filter and delay.
• I also experimented more with sounds.
• I spoke to some people about the theremin gig and they are keen to come. I am feeling more positive about the Theremin. 

Here are some of my effects (Komplete): 

Something interesting to note, is that I found the tuner on Guitar Rig. Previously I had mostly relied on my perfect/absolute pitch (as well as visual/spatial memory). Although it was interesting to be able to see which note I was playing, it ended up causing more anxiety than being helpful.

​The theremin is so sensitive that to be able to hold the exact pitch without shifting a little is very difficult, and watching the scale made me more worried. I think I may try this again later when I have improved, in order to test my pitch accuracy and stability.

Watch my progress video:

Playing with textures and effects.

Listen to the track on soundcloud here:

x Joy