Since its first event in 2000, the artist-run San Francisco Electronic Music Festival has sought to provide highly skilled composers and sound designers a forum through which they can showcase their talents to the general public. SFEMF is a multi-day affair consisting of electro-acoustic concerts, exciting installations, and thought provoking discussion panels. The independent artists involved with the festival seek to stimulate and inspire audiences with their innovative techniques and unique aesthetics. Often overlooked by the mainstream music press, these pioneers have perfected their craft in relative obscurity, sculpting sounds to create abstract strains of electronic music that exist outside the pulsing environments of clubs and raves.
This year’s installment brings a sonically diverse, international lineup to San Francisco. Here are a few highlights from each of the five days:
Wednesday, September 3rd
sfSoundGroup: Formed in 1999, the members of this ensemble balance their excellent instrumental abilities with a solid understanding of electro-acoustic compositional methods. A typical show by the group blurs the lines between performance, composition, interpretation, and improvisation.
Thursday, September 4th
Tujiko Noriko: The Osaka born composer fuses digital noise soundscapes with her own delicate vocals, creating a dreamy, atmospheric pop sound. Since 2000, she has released five solo albums for the highly regarded avant-garde labels Mego and Tomlab. She currently resides in Paris where she has been working on experimental short films. Expect to see a mesmerizing performance.
Friday, September 5th
Ata Ebtekar: The Iranian-American electronic musician and sound artist uses Persian classical scales (Radif) within a new electronic framework. His music has been published by various labels such as Warp Records, Sub Rosa, Sonic Arts Network, Dielectric Records, and others. Ebtekar is known for his original, challenging live shows.
Saturday, September 6th
Rutro & The Logs: This group features an all-star cast of musicians from the Bay Area improv and noise scenes. Their performances have unpredictable and comical elements, making them an appealing choice for SFEMF.
Sunday, September 7th
Barpieces: Charles Engstrom & Christopher Fleeger use a variety of sources to create their fascinating compositions: simple synthetic waveforms, excited glass, slot machines, washers, and other random items. Their novel approach to sound design is sure to delight the audience on the final evening of the festival.
SFEMF takes place at the Project Artaud Theater, 450 Florida Street. A 5-day festival pass costs $55 and there are also single day passes available for $17 ($12 for students). For more info and a full artist schedule, visit the SFEMF website.