Robert Voisey

Robert Voisey

NYC composer Robert Voisey is one of the artists featured on our upcoming CD compilation "50/50" (which, after a few delays, is coming out very, very soon - stay tuned!). His track is titled Oregon, and I'm told he plans to compose 49 additional fifty-second tracks for each of the fifty states. I'm really looking forward to hearing the final result...

He has directed a similar series since 2003. His 60x60 Project is one of many efforts to promote the music of contemporary composers. A composer himself, Voisey writes mainly electronic and chamber music. He's written for theater and film, and collaborated with poets, dancers and video artists, since the early 1990's. 2009 saw the debut of his ten minute opera, "Poppetjie," at Carnegie Hall, in New York City.

For more information, check out his website HERE. Without further ado, here's the SAR Q&A with Robert Voisey...


*Name: Robert Voisey

*Are there any additional names used to describe this project: My name is Robert Voisey, I am a composer living in New York City. Many know me for the work I do with Vox Novus and the 60x60 project.

*Tape manipulations, digital deconstructions or turntable creations: “Oregon” is a work from a series named "States" which I started in honor of the 50/50 project. States uses 100 % post-production samples to create original sound collages. States uses a new style I have been working on that I think closely relates to sound collages, but can be called mash-ups, hyperrealism, plunderphonics, etc, but I am not interested in self defining my music and techniques. I will leave that to the press, academics, and musicologists.

*Location: New York City

*Original Location: Born in Teaneck, New Jersey, I spent most of my younger years in the greater Tri-State area of the greater metropolitan area of New York; later I traveled a bit and spent a significant amount of time in Israel and South Africa.

*What is your creative/artistic background: I grew up in a working middle class family and naturally took to computers. No one realized I was creating computer sound compositions at an early age. I always sang from as early as I could remember. In college I made the leap from computer science to music composition; spent a few years in Israel getting a crash course in real world composition, then came to New York City in search of a bigger pond.

*History: I have been in NYC for 16 years promoting contemporary music. Much of my work has been through the company I created, Vox Novus and its projects like 60x60 and the Composer's Voice concert series.

*Born: December 8, 1969

*Motivations/Philosophy: I write music because I have to; it keeps me sane. Otherwise it is too hostile of an environment to seriously consider it; this is why I do everything else. I don't believe an artist should put up with an incredibly difficult life just to accomplish simple living requirements and have their artistic work suffer. So, I try to make it a little easier for everyone, hence Vox Novus, 60x60 and Composer's Voice, etc. I think that art in general is an abstract form of communication from the artist to their audience relating the human condition and life in general. I believe music and art is an essential part of our society, culture, and community. My biggest motives in my music is to express feelings and ideas on a very primal level.

*How would you like to be remembered: I am not so interested in how I want to be remembered. Time will tell. And I don't really have any control of what the future says or does. I think the best any artist can do is be true to their art.

*Web address:
www.vonnovus.com
www.robvoisey.com
www.voxnovus.com/60x60


www.some-assembly-required.net