Loren Chasse
Loren is an American musician, sound artist, field recordist and teacher, most notable for his association with Jewelled Antler and his work with Thuja, The Blithe Sons, The Child Readers, Of and many others. He has been called "one of the most important international artists working in the areas of environment and sound." With Glenn Donaldson, he operates the Jewelled Antler record label, releasing works by themselves and others. In addition to his musical performances, Chasse has also performed at the Auckland International Film Festival, giving a "live cinema" light and sound performance using objects such as motors, clocks, strobe lights, branches, gravel, sand and leaves. At the heart of LOREN CHASSE's work is his interest in and ability to listen, often explained through the metaphor of the microphone being an extension of the ear. Using his sound locations as both the instrument and the studio, Chasse looks for particularly resonant and acoustical situations that are reflected in a peculiar way. Like many artists who push the boundaries of traditional art forms, Chasse is continuously drawn to seek new acoustic possibilities, and he is continually searching for new venues and modes of self-expression. Collaborations have been key to Chasse's work as he founded idBattery with Brandon Labelle in the mid '90s before pursuing the polyphonous psychedelia of Jewelled Antler, an umbrella to such ensembles as Thuja, Coelancanth, The Blithe Sons, The Child Readers, and Of. Nearly 40 recordings of Chasse's work as a solo artist and in collaboration with other other artists have been released on cd and record by over a dozen international labels. He has performed and presented his work at international experimental art festivals such as Observatori in Valencia, Spain, Kill Your Timid Notion in Dundee, Scotland and the Auckland International Film Festival in New Zealand. Most recently Loren has presented his sound installation/performance work at the Berkeley Art Museum and the De Young Museum in San Francisco.
