By Kitoko Chargois
PearlArts Studios
Where many of us take the acoustics of a space for granted, Herman “Soy Sos” Pearl sees potential. In February 2020, Soy Sos, co-executive director of PearlArts Studios and founder of Tuff Sound Recording, launched the Eko Chamber Collective in the lobby of the Warhol museum for the Warhol Sound Series. The collective is a live electro-acoustic 6-piece ensemble that utilizes spatialized performance techniques that cater to reverberant spaces. If the February performance left you wanting more or you didn’t get a chance to attend, The Warhol has just released a virtual performance of a new project by the Collective, featuring Soy Sos and Eko Chamber Musicians Brittany Trotter (Flute) and Paul Thompson (Bass). Titled “Layer, Rinse, Repeat,” the musicians put this project together from the comfort of their own homes. The project was presented as part of the Warhol’s "at home" Silver Studio Sessions.
While COVID-19 restricts gatherings, we love exploring new ways to collaborate and to create work virtually. To create this feast for the ears, Herman worked with 3 collective members rather then the full 6-piece ensemble. He created the first layer of sound (improvised) to act as the foundation, which he then sent to Paul. From there, Paul created his bass part, and Herman created a new mix combining both parts, which Brittany then responded to. The finished product is the final mix combining all three parts with a video provided by the musicians and edited by Foothold Studios.
Watch the full project below (headphones recommended) and read on as Soy Sos, Brittany, and Paul share how they were able to collaborate on Layer, Rinse, Repeat without ever playing in person.
Herman, what was your inspiration in creating Eko Chamber Collective?
Herman: I had done some experimenting with bass frequencies in reverberant spaces for a project my friend and composer Mathew Rosenblum was working on. When I was asked to present something at the Warhol, I went over to one of the upstairs galleries with some music apps on a tablet and a powered speaker after hours. I was listening for one thing, but I noticed something else. There was this strange acoustic effect that was happening: When 2 bass notes slightly detuned, they created these sort of flutter echos in the air. From there I started developing the concept and dreaming up ideas.
In what ways is playing with Eko Chamber Collective Unique for you as compared to other work you do? Do you utilize your instruments differently for Eko Chamber Collective?
Paul: The open nature of the music makes it ever changing and different every time we play. There are very little musical directions--only suggestions that guide the group's dynamic. This encourages the use of "alternative" techniques to make sounds on my instrument that I wouldn't usually make as a bassist and inhabit the sonic space without rules being present.
Brittany: What makes Eko chamber so unique is the collaboration! We compose the tunes as a unit and feed upon the other members ideas.
Eko Chamber is all about creating an immersive sound experience in reverberant spaces, how do you make sure that comes across in a virtual space?
Brittany: I used noise cancellation headphones and immersed myself into the sounds. When you look at the video, it looks as though I have my eyes closed the whole time. I wanted to create a vibe of meditation as improv with the other talented musicians in this project.
Paul: Eko Chamber is about a combination of sounds that we control--and sounds we do not control. In any environment, gleaning this experience means to start from silence and then listen hard. Our music, hopefully, only adds to what is already there and is magnified by it--like duet with the room or the traffic that passes by outside. You have to pull back and listen to everything happening--or in this case--everything that could be happening--in order to get the entire picture of sound.
Herman: I accept that there's no way to create that effect in stereo over headphones or speakers in someone's home. I have to use my mix engineer/producer brain to try and create an enjoyable experience over any device the viewer/listener has on hand. The visuals are wonderful too and they definitely do a huge part of the job in this case. It doesn't hurt that I'm working with brilliant artists in their own right. Brittany and Paul bring more than I could ever possibly create on my own. The ECC project is really something I want people to experience in person, but it's going to be a while before something like that can happen again.
What was the experience like of creating music virtually for The Warhol: Silver Home Studio Session? In what ways did it challenge you?
Paul: It was a totally rewarding experience. It involved a lot of experimentation for what would work and what wouldn't work. It was a challenge to fill up the sonic space and leave enough room for the next musician--who hadn't recorded yet! It also involved some critical listening to what I was doing and going back and trying something different--which never happens in a live setting.
Brittany: It was challenging not being in the same room as my collaborators. Much of music, especially improv, is based upon feeding off the energy of the other musicians. Having only a sound recording of the other musicians and not being able to see their body language was strange because I had to create the energy within myself.
What are your goals for future performances with Eko Chamber Collective?
Herman: I have all types of ideas of things I'd love to do in the future. Staycee and I went to the amazing Palais de Tokyo in Paris and I saw a space that I thought "Eko Chamber Collective could be so cool here!" I'm always thinking of people I'd like to collaborate with and places to go, but all that will have to wait for now.
Check out images from Eko Chamber Collective’s debut performance at the Warhol Museum in February 2020 here! Eko Chamber Collective members are Herman “Soy Sos” Pearl (electronics), Brittany Trotter (flute), Anqwenique Kinsel (voice), Sadie Powers (bass), Paul Thompson (bass), and Brian Riordan (live processing).