Live music review: Fusebox Festival – ASUNA opened event with “100 Keyboards”
On Wednesday, April 13 Austin’s own Fusebox Festival, an the interdisciplinary art celebration, kicked off its opening-night for the first time, in-person since 2019 at the Native Hostel Hub with Japanese sound artist, ASUNA’s, 100 Keyboards.
A veteran of the innovative, improvisational ambient landscape, ASUNA has experimented with the art of frequency, formulating a variety of productions for over two decades.
A strobe light hovered above the display of over 100 inexpensive keyboards, placed in layered circles, in the well-lit, warehouse-type room in the Fusebox Festival Hub. One small lamp stood as the centerpiece. As the crowd gradually filed in, ASUNA made his way to the elaborately-organized array of colorful, decorated keyboards.
Introducing the performance, the Japanese frequency artist explained the importance of the program, and encouraged the audience to participate by moving around the room. The significance of not remaining idle throughout the exhibit is that the frequencies vary based on where one is in the room; the angle at which one’s head is turned, and so on. The room darkened and the lamp at center-display illuminated.
ASUNA then grabbed a handful of popsicle sticks and began navigating the display. Tactfully evaluating each piece of the set, ASUNA turned on select instruments, using the popsicle sticks to prop keys.
A faint buzzing sound morphed into a light ambient hum. Examining the setup, evaluating every move, ASUNA approached specific keyboards on the outer rim of the exhibit. The sounds slowly intensified into an ambient array of sonic effects as members of the audience began to navigate the room.
Increasingly, as ASUNA worked his way inward, toward the center of the display, the sounds intensified.
Participants began to circle the presentation. Many audience members cupped their ears to intensify the effect, only to learn that the sound was significantly altered.
The ambient array gradually came to a close as subtly as it began, with quiet awe from the audience.
Fusebox Festival continues through Sunday, April 17. You can find the schedule of events at their homepage.
All photos: Brian Hillsman
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