Recently I came across this video from KEXP Radio (LA) of artist Nosaj Thing (a.k.a. Jason Chung) doing a improv (!!!) set on a AKAI MPD32 (and NOT an APC40 as I posted before, sorry!). It is very nice to see how well some artists can get an awesome performance from so little.
Nosaj Thing biography:
After cutting his teeth by making music on various archaic computers and programs in his early years, Nosaj Thing is now, without a doubt, among L.A.’s finest musical modulators. His electronic soundscapes and wild beat tectonics play like vignettes that affect the listener’s mind as deeply as he hits their soul. Nosaj Thing creates nothing less than the sound mastery of beat driven, experimental electronics from a gifted noise constructor.
His debut album Drift was released by Alpha Pup in June 2009 to unanimous global acclaim. Pitchfork awarded an excellent 7.9 rating, calling the album “gorgeously haunted… sonic Easter Eggs for a thousand listens.” The album peaked at 5 on the iTunes Electronic chart, and went all the way to 1 on Bleep and Boomkat. The success of Drift led to Nosaj Thing being featured in magazines such as Spin, Fader, XLR8R, The New Yorker, Nylon and URB. He has received regular airplay on BBC Radio 1 and Los Angeles’ KCRW, while his engaging live set has made him a staple of the worldwide underground touring circuit.