[FA Worldmusic] SXSW musings

Tue Mar 20 07:32:23 EST 2007

Very interesting ideas developing here -- and it sounds like a great
conference session for WOMEX.  Anyone care to propose it?
http://www.womex.com/realwomex/how-to-propose

Regards,
Gerald Seligman
WOMEX General Director
gerald.seligman at womex.com

On 3/20/07, evangelinekim at att.net <evangelinekim at att.net> wrote:
>
> The big subject of cultural 'challenges' by the 'other' in 'mainstream'
> will never end for the time being, but it's well worth the probe and
> analysis both historically and currently.  Dmitri, you are right: I sense
> that a 'new era' might be happening.  Not only within and through music and
> film.  Carlos' alliance concept is a major one that few have tackled or
> explored -- but here in the US (at least) there is increasingly stronger
> interest (beyond 'niche' terminology) in great  music paired with the
> cinematic experience.  I see presenters from Brooklyn and Manhattan to Leigh
> Ann's Grand Performances in L.A.  breaking the 'performing arts' code of
> mainly music, dance and spoken word through film entries ....  In my view,
> it is indeed, a cultural phenomenon, the fracturing of cultural fields,
> whether in music, dance, film, literature, visual arts.... I just hope that
> more cultural activism on this front becomes a reality from Womex to
> globalFEST.  Musings are the start of innovation
> and creativity here.
> Best,
> Evangeline
>
> -------------- Original message from "Carlos A. Gutiirrez" <
> carlos at cinematropical.com>: --------------
>
>
> > More than an interesting alliance Dimitri, I feel more and more becoming
> a
> > needed alliance. I've been busy lately trying to articulate and
> deconstruct
> > notions of otherness in our culture through cinema, and more and more I
> > believe film and music have a lot to learn from each to overcome the big
> > cultural barrier of the 'other.' We'll always be others in relate to
> someone
> > else, but the human experience will ultimately always the same.
> > I see it rather as a philosophical issue that we need to pose it as a
> > cultural and practical question. It is, I believe, a new era. However,
> as I
> > see many opportunities in the horizon, I also see the multiple risks and
> > challenges.
> > I like the title 'World Music | Foreign Cinema' for a possible panel
> > discussion, let's work on it.
> > Carlos
> >
> >
> > On 3/19/07 10:41 PM, "Dmitri Vietze" wrote:
> >
> > > Re: [FA Worldmusic] SXSW musingsWow, in several years of being on this
> > > listserv, this is the first time I remember someone making the
> parallel
> > > struggle of these two non-"genres." An interesting alliance! It's a
> compelling
> > > position to be promoting arts from "other" cultures within a
> "mainstream"
> > > culture that promotes monoculture and does not recognize its own
> cultural
> > > diversity (nor the inherent multiculturalism in most cultures). The
> marketing
> > > use of the term "world music" (and I assume "foreign cinema") was a
> reaction
> > > to xenophobia (or at least apathy to "other cultures"). There was no
> space for
> > > these categories before. But now maybe we are seeing these forms of
> music and
> > > film have outlived these reactionary categories. Is it a new era? How
> do you
> > > promote these forms of art in a society that, as a whole, still does
> not value
> > > basic cultural differences. Yet clumping together the "other" also
> does not
> > > show value of these cultural differences, nor does it allow each piece
> of art
> > > or music or film to stand on its own aesthetically; nor does it allow
> for the
> > > (multi)cultural influences on compositions/performances that would
> otherwise
> > > not be considered "other," world," or "foreign."
> > >
> > > Thanks for adding wood to the fire, Carlos.
> > >
> > > Much respect,
> > >
> > > Dmitri
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Carlos A. Gutiirrez
> > > To: Dmitri Vietze ; FAworld music list
> > > Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 9:19 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [FA Worldmusic] SXSW musings
> > >
> > >
> > > Dear Dimitri et al,
> > > Just a quick note to say that a conference/symposium/seminar on the
> labels
> > > of "World Music" and "Foreign Cinema" is largely due. We have to
> overcome that
> > > pigeonholing particular to American culture that affects all over the
> world.
> > > Beyond the field divisions (music vs. films vs. theater, etc) I see
> the
> > > fracture among the cultural lines. I'm totally game to explore and
> discuss
> > > these topics to further extend.
> > > Cordially,
> > > Carlos
> > >
> > > ___________________
> > >
> > > Carlos A. Gutiirrez | co-founder + co-director | Cinema Tropical
> > > 611 Broadway Suite 836, NY, NY 10012 | ph&fax: 212/254-5474
> > > http://www.cinematropical.com | carlos at cinematropical.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 3/19/07 9:57 PM, "Dmitri Vietze" wrote:
> > >
> > >> Maybe at an event like SXSW, instead of having a world music panel,
> > >> potential speakers from the global music realm should infiltrate
> panels on
> > >> other general topics (online, A&R, DIY, media, booking, etc.)
> > >>
> > >> ----- Original Message -----
> > >> From: "Tom Frouge"
> > >> To: "Marco Werman" ; "FAworld music list"
> > >>
> > >> Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 4:50 PM
> > >> Subject: Re: [FA Worldmusic] SXSW musings
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>> Just a quick response Marco -
> > >>>
> > >>> I think that getting world music artists to SxSW is a good thing, I
> am
> > > not
> > >>> sure lumping them together is, although I myself do like the idea.
> > > There
> > >>> was quite a bit of world or world-ish music that happened around
> town
> > > this
> > >>> year, in fact it seemed more than in past years. The Pistolera,
> > > Charanga
> > >>> Cakewalk, Upground and Antibalas showcases were pretty packed and
> none
> > > of
> > >>> them with just globalistas, but then none of those bands seem to be
> > >>> presenting themselves as simply "world" music acts (nor,
> interestingly,
> > >>> does
> > >>> NOMO).
> > >>>
> > >>> The "MO" of SxSW has not been A&R for YEARS. It turned into a label
> > >>> showcase
> > >>> event and the past decade or more has really been a press junket.
> > > However
> > >>> that too seems to be shifting, as it is harder and harder to get
> Press
> > >>> Credentials unless you are covering something specifically. On the
> > > other
> > >>> hand, I did go see bands with my Globalquerque hat on, ie: as a
> > > presenter.
> > >>>
> > >>> As to the panel, I was unable to stay very long at it as I had a
> booth
> > > at
> > >>> the trade show so I can't really comment on it except for the
> beginning
> > > of
> > >>> it, but have done many panels at SxSW including a few of the World
> > > panels
> > >>> and I think they do tend to be choir to choir or very rudimentary.
> The
> > >>> former being just a conversation amongst "us"; the later potentially
> > > dull
> > >>> except to those just getting invloved (although I do think there is
> a
> > >>> place
> > >>> for this - in fact the world music "primer" I put together a couple
> of
> > >>> years
> > >>> ago had a pretty strong attendence). I also think, with all due
> respect
> > >>> to
> > >>> John Kertzer, who moderated, that we SHOULD tackle the questions and
> > >>> issues
> > >>> that he dismissed as "those we can't do anything about'" like visas,
> an
> > >>> issue that affects more than just the world music community and
> could
> > > draw
> > >>> others both on and off the panel. It may be that the panel itself
> needs
> > > to
> > >>> be topic specific and not an "all encompassing" roundtable.
> > >>>
> > >>> -----Original Message-----
> > >>> From: fa-worldmusic-bounces+tom=avokado.net at folk.org
> > >>> [mailto:fa-worldmusic-bounces+tom=avokado.net at folk.org]On Behalf Of
> > > Marco
> > >>> Werman
> > >>> Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 11:06 AM
> > >>> To: FAworld music list
> > >>> Subject: [FA Worldmusic] SXSW musings
> > >>>
> > >>> Musings on World Music at SXSW: A Minority Report
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> I've been curating the All Music Is World Music showcase now for
> three
> > >>> years at SXSW. A few years ago, I had the idea of roping off an
> evening
> > >>> with a few international acts that fell under the "world music"
> banner,
> > >>> along with a few that didn't, but which were global in spirit. After
> > >>> seeing all the international artists who showed up at SXSW, I felt
> that
> > >>> many of the rock and pop acts shared a similar guerilla/DIY ethos of
> > >>> many world music artists. Despite the genre heading and language
> they
> > >>> sing in, all these musicians have something to say and what they all
> > >>> make is, after all, music. And the enormous fringe benefit for the
> > >>> audience would be discovery.
> > >>>
> > >>> This year's showcase featured Ana Laan, Eliza Carthy, NOMO, Tita
> Lima,
> > >>> and Mexican Institute of Sound. The turnout was not huge, but
> probably
> > >>> above average for a SXSW showcase, with the room at its fullest for
> > >>> NOMO, a crowd intent on dancing. Ana Laan seemed to attract the most
> > >>> professional attention, and from what I hear, she enjoyed her SXSW
> > >>> experience.
> > >>>
> > >>> The day after the showcase, I was pestered by doubt. I come to this
> > >>> showcase production thing not as a booker or music programmer, but
> as a
> > >>> journalist who wants to extend the musical experience I aim to
> create on
> > >>> the radio to a live setting. I also believe that SXSW and Austin
> offer
> > >>> a unique and receptive setting for performance of world music. And
> > >>> infiltration into these unexpected locales seems like a good way to
> > >>> acquire new converts to music in foreign languages with groovy
> rhythms
> > >>> (think Bonnaroo and Coachella -- esp this year).
> > >>>
> > >>> The All Music Is World Music showcase is co-sponsored by Austin's
> > >>> beloved public radio station KUT. They have a lot of world music in
> > >>> rotation, and PRI's The World has the city's highest market share in
> its
> > >>> 7pm time slot. KUT did a lot of promotion this year with all the
> > >>> artists in the showcase (with the exception of MIS). And not
> > >>> surprisingly (like last year), many of those in attendance at the
> venue
> > >>> were locals. They did not have badges or wristbands. They bought
> > >>> tickets to the show. That's a good thing.
> > >>>
> > >>> But how much does this showcase do for the artists? I don't know the
> > >>> faces, but I didn't get a sense that any labels (major or minor)
> were in
> > >>> the room trolling for unsigned talent.
> > >>>
> > >>> Then again, according to many I spoke with at SXSW, that may not
> really
> > >>> be the MO of SXSW any more. This is a time when the music business
> is
> > >>> working over numerous scenarios over where the industry is headed.
> So
> > >>> the notion of going to Austin to find the next unknown big thing and
> > >>> putting them on a CD is looking quaint at best. For artists who have
> to
> > >>> play for what amounts to nothing, it's an even more pointed
> question.
> > >>> That's what bounced around in my head: what's the point of coaxing
> an
> > >>> Eliza Carthy to shell out a bunch of her own money to make a stop in
> > >>> Austin? Is the proper venue for this kind of thing GlobalFest or
> > >>> Bonnaroo? Does it make sense to continue this kind of event at SXSW?
> > >>>
> > >>> These questions are linked to a discussion that happened at
> Saturday's
> > >>> "World Music Roundtable" panel session. Leigh Ann Hahn rightly asked
> > >>> whether we in the room represented the choir preaching to the choir.
> > >>> There were no major players in the room. And the panel did not have
> a
> > >>> David Byrne for example who could fill the room and bring in a bunch
> of
> > >>> non-believers and/or people from outside the world music community.
> The
> > >>> lesson the room concluded is that we all need to be more clever in
> how
> > >>> we bring those people to this music.
> > >>>
> > >>> My conundrum that I'm still dealing with: is getting world music
> > >>> artists to SXSW a clever thing, or a waste of time?
> > >>>
> > >>>
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