DIMENSION SOUNDS – SOUNDTRACK TO DIMENSIONS FESTIVAL

This project aims to challenge the underground electronic music community by providing an opportunity for forward-thinking producers to manipulate the sounds submitted by other creatives to the project, while also giving the music the exposure it deserves via two of the most respected underground electronic events, Dimensions Festival and CDR.

Phase I of the project – #LocalAudio – saw local field recordings collected and submitted to the project, from Paris to Romania, Croatia to Australia, Serbia to Ireland, and Portugal all the way to the USA. With over 200 submissions including a notable contribution from Daisuke Tanabe (CDR/Ninja Tune/Project Mooncircle/Brownswood), Phase I allowed people to showcase the varying sounds from their different areas of the world. The sounds collected in Phase I have led to the creation of a sound palette that truly represents the different places and people who are bought together at Dimensions Festival.

The Brief 

The project has now entered Phase II – #DimensionSounds2014 – where producers and artists are invited to create an original and unique contribution to DimensionSounds. Music-makers are asked to create a track using the #LocalAudio sound packs (see below), ensuring the track is centred within the context represented by Dimensions Festival – unique underground music and the people from around the world who come to experience this together. 

The brief is broad in order to leave plenty of creative licence for the producer, however a minimum of five (5) of the #LocalAudio samples are to be used in the track and the producer must familiarise oneself with the essence of the Dimensions Festival programme, taking in to account the different people and experiences that are bought together. Naturally, no Theo ripoffs please.

The Process

1. Tracks to be no longer than eight (8) minutes in length
2. A minimum of five (5) samples to be used from the #LocalAudio sample packs provided
3. If you intend to use samples other than those provided, make sure you have permission to use for which you don’t own the right, as neither CDR or Dimensions Festival cannot take responsibility for any repercussions.
4. Please include brief production notes> in the description field what tools you have used, and a little about your approach to the track
5. Please also list in the description field which #LocalAudio samples you have used
6. Please name your tracks in the following format: Producer/Artist Name – Track Name|
7. Remember to leave some headroom for the mastering engineer. All 14 finalist tracks will be mastered by Balance Mastering.
8. Deadline for submissions: Friday 1st August 2014 11:59 [BST]
9. Your final ‘Master’ versions need to be a 24bit WAV or AIFF
10. All submission to be uploaded to the project’s Soundcloud group here >>> https://bit.ly/DS-2014SCG 

The Final Selection

14 tracks submitted, which we deem to standout, will go on to feature on the Dimension Sounds 2014 album to be released via Bleep. The final track selection will be chosen by Dimensions and CDR judges. Their decision is final.

Up for Grabs

One track that blows judges away will see the artist awarded with the opportunity to showcase their works to a wider audience with a live/DJ slot at Dimensions Festival 2014, a Native Instruments Maschine MK II, and tickets, flights* and accommodation to the festival.

Sample Packs

To kick things off, the sounds have been compiled by Sample Magic into WAV format for download, with Ableton Drum Racks, Native Instrument Maschine and Logic ESX24 kits available from next week.

Sample Pack available here for download >>> bit.ly/localaudiosamplepack

Stream Demo Track

To get participants inspired, producer Richard Gale has created a demo track exclusively using just #LocalAudio sounds. Track also available for download here. 

Richard Gale is a music producer and sound designer best known for his works as experimental electronica producer and performer Defazed, and has also worked on many other music projects including downtempo duo Metaphra. With a real passion for capturing real-world sounds and transforming these into unique abstract and musical elements, he is frequently visiting various locations and recording interesting sounds to incorporate into his works.

Sample Credits: James Bowman – Releasing a Boris Bike; Vladimir Radinović – Belgrade – Elevator Bass Kick; G__D – Metal Work In Backyard – 1; G__D – Metal Work In Backyard – 2; Igor Cvitkovi – Iris Bus Citelis Bus Open Hi Hat sample – Zagreb, Croatia; Igor Cvitkovi – Iris Bus Citelis Bus Open Hi Hat sample – Zagreb, Croatia; G__D – Basketball Shot; BenAtWork – Rock Hits Glass Shard- Melbourne; Ben Houghton – Berlin Stairwell Clicks; Igor Cvitkovi – TMK2200 Tram Clap sample – Zagreb, Croatia; Igor Cvitkovi – Iris Bus Citelis Bus Crash sample – Zagreb, Croatia; James Bowman – Under A Bridge Along The Canal; James Bowman – Skateboard; BenAtWork – Out Walking – Melbourne; BenAtWork – Cooking Crackle on Xmas Morning – Melbourne; Headgaar – Walking; Mathias Vincent – Prostitute In Pigalle Lighting a Cigarette; James Bowman – Church Door Handle; Escht – Miter Saw; Citizen – Melbourne – Train Bleeps; Ben Houghton – Tempelhofer Feld; Tesselator – Frothing Milk At A Cafe; Afonsop – Street Drainpipe; Mathias Vincent – Old French Subway; Joakim Lartey – Chimey; Ben Houghton – Budapest Street Alarm; Tesselator – Tram overhead, Anzac Drain; Mathias Vincent – Guy With His Dog Describing His District; Vladimir Radinović – Belgrade – Street Singer; Mathias Vincent – Parisian Girl Discribes Her Area In French; Citizen – Melbourne – Dogs With Hats; Unknown – Ti Me Vendi un Kilo2; Who_ratio – Halep Tiebreak on the Docks; John Morgan – Night Preacher – London; Daisuke Tanabe – Frogs at Night in Chiba, Japan; Antwerp – Fighting Birds – London

Photography Credit: Mark Sethi