CHRISTINA WHEELER
Vocalist, electronic musician and composer Christina Wheeler’s musical explorations have included forays in techno, house, 2-step, drum and bass, breakbeat, soul, dance hall, dub, world music, ambient, free jazz and improvisational forms. In her live solo electronic performances, she blends an organic, fluid amalgam of improvised electronic music from a variety of sound sources, which include: processed vocals and vocal loops, hand-triggered sampler playing, processed four-octave electric mbira, processed electric autoharp, processed Q-Chord and theremin, software instruments, and live effects processing. Previous band projects include Wiremouth, Floating People, and BlowOut, and current and recent projects include solo song-cycle series, solo instrumental improvisational compositions, The Magical Garden, an ensemble-based multi-media performance/generative installation project, immersive multimedia performance project, The Totality of Blackness Trilogy, and collaborations with Nicole Mitchell, Laraaji, Vernon Reid, Hprizm/Priest, Greg Tate, and Satch Hoyt.
News & Updates
PROJECTS
Solo composition projects
Tres Es un Número Mágico: Kaleidoscopic Triptychs is a three-part, solo composition in audience- generated, chance order and direction, for voice, electric mbira, electric autoharp, Q-Chord, delay loops, and electronic effects processing present in circulation multi-speaker array format. This piece premiered at Sammlung Hoffmann, Berlin, Germany, and was presented in an earlier iterations at Free Rotation Festival, Wales, and later, at Experimental Intermedia, New York. The studio recording of this work is complete and will be released in 2018.
Christina Wheeler at Sammlung Hoffmann, Berlin Germany performing "Tres Es un Número Mágico: Kaleidoscopic Triptychs, June 9, 2016. Music starts at 8:22.
Surrender to the Totality of Blackness is a four-part tone-poem suite for a recumbent audience listening in color-spectrally controlled virtual darkness through a multi-speaker array sound system. The piece was created to engender a space that reframes our experience of Blackness and the attendant fear often intrinsically enmeshed in that experience. Instrumentation is: voice, electric mbira, electric autoharp, Q-Chord, iOS apps, sampler, delay loops, and electronic effects processing. Earlier versions of this composition were presented at Free Rotation Festival, Wales, and for the Now now Music Series, in Sydney, Australia. A studio recording of the work is in development.
Solo song-cycle projects
Songs of S + D is a 12-part song-cycle series that presents small vignettes that mine the dichotomy and intrinsic connection between the two great mysteries of life. The work has been presented at Free Rotation Festival (Wales), the 2017 Ableton LOOP Technology Summit, and in concert opening for Shabazz Palaces. Recording instrumentation: voice, electric mbira, electric autoharp, Q-Chord, sampler, delay loops, and electronic effects processing, bass, drums, keyboards, cello. Studio recording is currently in post-production.
That Was Then, This Is Now is the prequel to Songs of S + D. The five-song EP addresses themes that are explored further in the following album. Recording instrumentation: voice, electric mbira, electric autoharp, Q-Chord, sampler, delay loops, and electronic effects processing. The studio recording will be released prior to the release of Songs of S + D.
Multimedia/generative installation projects
The Magical Garden is a five-part, multi-media performance and generative installation project utilizing audio, video, and LED lighting installation in a multi-episodic, fantasy-narrative, organic setting to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures. A concert version of Part I premiered at Issue Project Room, New York. The technology development was supported through a generous artist residency at Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center, New York.
Current and Recent Collaborations
Nicole Mitchell (Black Earth Ensemble)
https://www.nicolemitchell.com/
Jeff Parker (Tortoise)
http://www.jeffparkersounds.com/
Chris Abrahams (The Necks)
http://www.thenecks.com/bio - chris
Laraaji (All Saints Records),
Vernon Reid (Living Colour), and Abdou Mboup
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Reid
Hprizm/Priest (Antipop Consortium)
https://hprizm.bandcamp.com/
The Bakol: Greg Tate (Burnt Sugar/Rebellum), Satch Hoyt (Burnt Sugar)
https://www.facebook.com/The-Bakol-1623362744565355/
Upcoming Projects
From the Quarter to the (W)Hole: What Lies at the Center of Infinity in the Oceans of the Universe?: A multimedia performance project for voice, glass armonica, string quartets, electronics, and video.
The Totality of Blackness Trilogy: a solo work for voice, electric mbira, electric autoharp, QChord, sampler, delay loops, effects processing in ambisonic surround-sound with immersive video and specified audience placement and participation.
The Magical Garden, Parts I – V: a composition for voice, theremin, sampler, electronics, and various ensembles; the final realized work will be an immersive multimedia audio, video, light performance with generative software that converts the performance materials into a garden installation.
Videos
Christina Wheeler performs with her long-time colleagues, Laraaji, HPrizm/Priest, Vernon Reid, Abdou Mboup, and Anton Marini.
In the interview, Wheeler, Laraaji, and HPrizm Priest discuss their unique collaborative performance, composing techniques, and personal history of working together.
A Berlin-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, electronic musician, composer, and songwriter, Christina Wheeler’s musical forays explore a myriad of styles and forms. A Los Angeles, California native and graduate of Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges and Manhattan School of Music, she has performed and recorded internationally with a variety of artists including Vernon Reid, John Cale, Mocky, Jamie Lidell, Murcof, A Guy Called Gerald, DJ Olive and Lloop of We™, Marc Ribot, Chris Whitley, Zeena Parkins, John Carter, Fred Hopkins, and Andrea Parkins. Her work with David Byrne included world tours and television appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, and PBS’s Sessions at West 54th Street. Her music aired on MTV’s AMP. She has performed at numerous venues worldwide, including concerts at New York’s Lincoln Center and Berlin’s Philharmonie.
Aired on rTV: 2015
Performance: Nov. 21, 2014
Produced by Jim Staley
Directed and Edited by Wolfgang Daniel
Christina Wheeler performs with her long-time colleagues, Laraaji, HPrizm/Priest, Vernon Reid, Abdou Mboup, and Anton Marini.
In the interview, Wheeler, Laraaji, and HPrizm Priest discuss their unique collaborative performance, composing techniques, and personal history of working together.
A Berlin-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, electronic musician, composer, and songwriter, Christina Wheeler’s musical forays explore a myriad of styles and forms. A Los Angeles, California native and graduate of Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges and Manhattan School of Music, she has performed and recorded internationally with a variety of artists including Vernon Reid, John Cale, Mocky, Jamie Lidell, Murcof, A Guy Called Gerald, DJ Olive and Lloop of We™, Marc Ribot, Chris Whitley, Zeena Parkins, John Carter, Fred Hopkins, and Andrea Parkins. Her work with David Byrne included world tours and television appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, and PBS’s Sessions at West 54th Street. Her music aired on MTV’s AMP. She has performed at numerous venues worldwide, including concerts at New York’s Lincoln Center and Berlin’s Philharmonie.
Aired on rTV: 2015
Performance: Nov. 21, 2014
Produced by Jim Staley
Directed and Edited by Wolfgang Daniel
Christina Wheeler w/ Laraaji (All Saints/Warp), and HPrizm / High Priest (Anti-Pop Consortium), Vernon Reid and special guest Abdou Mboup. Video by vade.
Act 1 Features a full improv set with with Christina Wheeler w/ Laraaji (All Saints/Warp), and Vernon Reid.
See http://roulette.org/events/christina-wheeler-w-laraaji-saintswarp-hprizm-priest-anti-pop-consortium-special-guests-hprizm/
Christina Wheeler : https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaWheelerMusic
Vernon Reid : https://www.facebook.com/VernonReid
Laraaji : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laraaji
Abdou Mboup : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Abdou-Mboup-Percussion-Kora
HPrizm / HighPriest : https://www.facebook.com/pages/HprizmHigh-Priest
vade : http://vade.info
Audio courtesy of http://roulette.org
Christina Wheeler w/ Laraaji (All Saints/Warp), and HPrizm / High Priest (Anti-Pop Consortium), Vernon Reid and special guest Abdou Mboup. Video by vade.
Act 2 Features a set with with Christina Wheeler and HPrizm / High Priest, and live video performance using historical and documentary video by vade.
See http://roulette.org/events/christina-wheeler-w-laraaji-saintswarp-hprizm-priest-anti-pop-consortium-special-guests-hprizm/
Christina Wheeler : https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaWheelerMusic
Vernon Reid : https://www.facebook.com/VernonReid
Laraaji : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laraaji
Abdou Mboup : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Abdou-Mboup-Percussion-Kora
HPrizm / HighPriest : https://www.facebook.com/pages/HprizmHigh-Priest
vade : http://vade.info
Video samples from:
Public Enemy - Reflections of the Black Panther Party
Weather Underground
Stations of the Elevated
80 Blocks from Tiffany's
Divine Horsemen
The War At Home
American Revolution
Audio courtesy of http://roulette.org
David Byrne Sessions at West 54th Street 10131998
David Byrne Sessions at West 54th Street 10131998
