“I was never worried that synthesizers would replace musicians. First of all, you have to be a musician in order to make music with a synthesizers”
In Synthesis event. Photo by Kane Hibberd.
Field Trip to Central Kalimantan, 2019. Photo by Nende.
Foreward
Sampurasun,
Introducing Baséput, my modular synthesizers music about the indigenous voices and instruments from around the world, especially Indonesia.
“Baséput” (spelled ‘ba’ like in basil, ‘se’ like in secular, and “put”, comes from the Ngaju Dayak languange in Central Kalimantan, Indonesian. It means “huge, spacious, enormous, vast, immense, massive, cosmic, prodigious, gigantic, monumental, and tremendous.”
My first encounter with a synthesizer was when I played in a band called “Slylab” together with Deon in 2009. As a composer and programmer, Deon has taught me many things through the creative art form, making music in electronic music through laptop by used bunch of softwares such as Ableton and Reason. Came from pop, rock n’ roll, and alternative music, I had no idea about the synthesizer for the first time until played with Slylab.
As time goes by, I am here pursuing my study in Melbourne, and I never thought that in this creative city, I had met a lot of people and communities that really into a synthesizer, especially the modular synthesizer. I have to mention that Aussie Wigglers has supported my sources to expand and develop my knowledge in the modular synthesizer. The other thing that I would like to thank is Roberto Scolari, who has patiently shared his knowledge and expertise to me, especially about the basic of the modular synthesizer. Being able to perform in Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio (MESS) x Red Bull Music Festival in “Synthesis” also is a remarkable experience for me. The last thing is the Indonesian modular synthesizer community, Indomodular for sharing and brainstorming the ideas. Not only those who have shaped my understanding in modular synthesizers, but also of course the indigenous people from around the world. Ancora imparo.
The Concept
As an ethnomusicologist, I have travelled to a few places in Indonesia and came across beautiful music that performed in both secular and religious ceremonies. I have recorded most of them with professional recorder, preamps, and microphones to capture the best sound quality of the music. But still, to hear their voices and sounds directly on the field are the best thing to experience their alluring music. The other important thing is to comprehend the meaning and functions of their voices and sound in particular ceremony which of course can be understood by looking out the context.
With that, Baséput’s idea is to link between the voices and instruments of the indigenous people and the modular synthesizer to create a new form of experience in the modular world. By the style of electroacoustic music, the samples in modular are also can be pre-recorded or also played live by the traditional instruments, then processed by the modular synthesizer.
To sum up, Baséput hopes to connect between the legacies and the messages of the ancestors from the past in the futuristic modern world.
I hope you enjoy.
Baséput | Rayhan Sudrajat
Youtube
"Astungkara" is the first Baséput's video released on 1st of January 2020, composed live in modular synthesizers 104HP 6U format. Inspired by the Balinese wo...