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.
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PearlArts Round-Up #4: New Sound in Pittsburgh /
By Ally Tayag Ricarte
PearlArts Studios
Thank you for all who attended the debut of Eko Chamber Collective at the Warhol Sound Series! From Herman 'Soy Sos' Pearl's inspiration for the ensemble to the post-performance feedback, we have been so grateful for the opportunity and support from the Andy Warhol Museum.
We’d like to extend our gratitude to Ben Harrison, Jessica Beck and Keith at The Warhol Museum for bringing this event to life and Richard Nicol of Pittsburgh Modular for sharing his synthesizer as well as shooting video documentation of the work. We are thrilled for the continued interest in Pittsburgh sound artists and musicians and cannot wait for the next show!
About Eko Chamber Collective:
Eko Chamber Collective features an eclectic roster of Pittsburgh-based musicians including Herman Pearl, aka Soy Sos, (electronics), Brittany Trotter (flute), Anqwenique Kinsel (voice), Sadie Powers (bass), Paul Thompson (bass), and Brian Riordan (live processing). The collective is a live electro-acoustic ensemble that utilizes spatialized performance techniques that cater to reverberant spaces. With the use of a multi-channel sound system, the group creates an immersive sound environment by collaborating with the acoustics and architecture of spaces rather than working against them, and this site-specific performance has been developed with our entrance space in mind. Audience members are encouraged to move about the performance space, as the ensemble’s compositions are created to lend themselves to unique sonic experiences, which unfold differently depending on one's vantage point.