----- Original Message -----

From: Jason Cox

To: mark@negativland.com

Sent: Saturday, October 19, 2002 6:09 PM

Subject: The Soundry Courter Project

 

 

Dear Floptops,

 

I have another artist to add to the “Negativsamples” list:  THE SOUNDRY COURTER PROJECT.  I will explain as succinctly as can, although I have written a long essay on the subject, and will forward it to you, if you wish.

 

I’ve worked for the State of California for more than 6 years now, in the field of Data Entry (typing).  My job is extraordinarily tedious, but I get to listen to music all day.  To this end, I have spent the majority of my paychecks on music over the years, and I estimate my collection to number somewhere around 1,200 CDs.

 

(NOTE: My work computer runs on Windows NT 4.0.  Now, I realize that you’re probably Mac users, but hear me out.)

 

About two years ago, I discovered the Microsoft Sound Recorder program.  I began to sample short bits of sound from my CD collection, building up a small library of found sound to rearrange and recombine on this cheap little stock program. I then began sampling individual drum sounds (a kick drum here, a hi-hat from here…), and using my limited grasp of mathematics and the idiosyncrasies exclusive to Sound Recorder (and believe me, there are many), began a kind of low-rent “step recording” process of constructing my own robotic drum beats (the most curious result being that every percussion sound has its own ambience and production value), and then layering the samples on top of them.  The majority of songs run just over a minute (another drawback / benefit of the Sound Recorder).  A “rock critic” way of describing the music would be “a disco-fied cross between Naked City’s Torture Garden and The Residents’ Commercial Album.”

 

Where does Negativland fit in?  Well, for one thing, you’re one of the artists sampled (from 29 different Negativland tracks; the overall list of artists is currently 1,382 songs sampled from 540 artists).  So far, I have 262 songs created while I was supposed to be working.  Ultimately, I’d like to release this music—but since it is 100% found sound (of copyrighted material), I’m guessing not too many labels would be willing to put it out.  (At one point I talked briefly with someone at Illegal Art, through the e-mail address on the “Deconstructing Beck” CD--they seemed interested, but nothing came of it, more my fault than his, I’m afraid.)  So, being a fan of Negativland, and someone who has read your Fair Use book many times, Seeland seemed like the appropriate (or is it appropriation?) avenue.

 

So here’s what I’d like to know:

 

If I sent a “sampler” CD of Soundry Courter music, which address (and to whose attention) should I send it to?  I imagine you receive quite a bit of demo material, and I figured I’d ask before sending some kind of “promo” package. And since I’d be pressing the CDs and packaging myself (in the event of me getting The Soundry Courter Project on Seeland—please pardon my assumption), I’m curious to know what the press run minimum would be, if any, in regards to Mordam distributing it.

 

Given the Negativland tenet of “art is not defined as a business”, I’ll close with “hopefully we can do art.”

 

 

Thanks for your time,

 

--Jason Cox

Curator of The Soundry Courter Project