SOUND OBSESSED
8. rTchAd
4 out of 10
rTchAd x Portrait XO
"4 out of 10" is a sonified composition derived from data on global undernourishment and food insecurity. The persistent issue of hunger, although less frequently featured in the news, continues to cause immense suffering for countless people worldwide. Despite living in an age of interconnectedness and globalization, where the struggles of others are more visible than ever, the plight of those facing food insecurity often remains overlooked. Significant progress has been made in recent years, yet the challenge remains daunting. Recent conflicts and global warming have exacerbated food insecurity, disrupting supply chains, displacing communities, and affecting agricultural productivity, thereby increasing the number of people suffering from hunger.
This piece serves as a poignant reminder of our collective responsibility to care for one another. It emphasizes that, as a global community, we must not become complacent but rather strive to ensure that every human has access to basic needs, with access to food being one of the most fundamental, second only to access to clean water. This artwork is not just a reflection of data but a call to action for empathy, awareness, and global solidarity in addressing and eradicating hunger.
The work on "4 out of 10" was challenging. When I picked the topic, I felt a burden from the question, “How can I express something about hunger and everything that comes with it while having a full belly and relative safety compared to the hellish situation people face with a lack of resources and perspective?” My goal was to transmit something deep and meaningful, giving voice to all the people facing this situation. My approach was to starve myself and create a mindset of lacking resources and the perspective of not being able to eat the next day, and let that bleed out in the form of audio and video.
To start the production process, I spent a lot of time reading, analyzing data, creating sounds with stable audio AI, and getting inspiration. Following this preparation, I began to produce. On the technical side, I tried different things, like using AI-generated samples, but in the end, I opted for synths, drums, and effects mainly. I used MFA data to MIDI to sonify the data, using diverse combinations of possibilities to play the virtual synths and drums. In this part, there was apparent chaos, but a few parts were already connected and cohesive for what I was aiming for. As I had an interesting base, I started to focus on sound design, looking for the right timbre and tone to fit the narrative until I found it.
It started to resemble music as I was learning the possibilities and uses of the tools. To convey what was going on directly, I used some AI-generated vocals with recognizable internet voices with effects to give an unsettling mood as it should be. Afterward, I used MFA data Mod to modulate the effects and tie the piece together. The result was this short audio/visual piece where we tried to channel a message that should not be forgotten.
As I was starving, my rational thinking was impaired and blurred, feelings of despair taking over, and many others emerging from the depths. I had planned to use more data, tracks, and elements, but I focused on what was most important and what I could use at that moment. So, I used only one set of data and tinkered with the composition and sound design as best as I could at that time. This serves as life advice (for myself and whoever may find it useful): sometimes, to get things done, we need to simplify.
We have grown accustomed to shutting ourselves off from the world's problems as a psychological defense mechanism. Opening ourselves to these issues can be extremely painful and even lead to despair and collapse, especially since, from an individualistic perspective (which most of us have been trained for through media), it seems impossible to solve these problems. Being able to express this in art was good, and I hope this piece can touch as many people as possible and trigger in them a desire to change and improve life on Earth. The only way out of the current situation is through holistic and collective thinking, putting the human collective, living beings, and Earth itself at the highest importance, or at least on the same level as ourselves if the former feels too radical.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Vertiginous Trends
rTchAd x Levy Lima
Vertiginous Trends" is a sonified composition based on data about Urbanization(shift of population from rural areas to urban centers). The pronounced urbanization has coincided with cities that are unable to provide citizens with a good quality of life due to a lack of basic infrastructure, resulting in slums, violence, and mental health issues. Despite the promise of better opportunities in urban centers, many find themselves facing new challenges that undermine their well-being.
This piece serves as a poignant reminder of our collective responsibility to create sustainable and livable urban environments. Recent trends in urbanization have highlighted the urgent need for improved infrastructure, social services, and community support systems. The rapid growth of cities, if unmanaged, can exacerbate existing problems and create new ones, impacting not only current residents but also future generations.
As a global community, we must not become complacent. Instead, we should strive to ensure that every person has access to safe, healthy, and supportive living conditions. This artwork calls for a reevaluation of how we design and manage urban spaces, urging for empathy, awareness, and proactive measures to address the underlying issues of urbanization. It is a call to action for innovation in creating new spaces and improving existing structures, ensuring that cities can truly be places of opportunity and well-being for all.
In the production of the tracks i used ableton, native plugins, MFA sonification tools and Neutone.
The sonification tools alowed me to use data on a straigth forward way, triggering notes, and modulating effects with precision, sofort all notes and drums have been triggered by the data, volume changes and automations also.
ARTIST BIO:
rTchAd is a Brazilian-born musician, a conceptual artist working in the realms of improvised experimental sound art, ambient, noise, rhythmic and dance music. With his work, rTchAd seeks to make room for liberation for his listeners, using sound, visuals and dance to create moments of interconnectivity, Introspection and joy. Richard works closely with a number of artist collectives in his current home of Leipzig, including Krumm und Schieff Kollektiv, and Refraction, an artist collective concerned with the next wave of digital art and music, online, onchain and nd IRL.
Levy Lima, also known by his artist name Neptune, is a digital artist based in Leipzig. Specializing in 3D software and AI-generated imagery, Levy creates visually striking and immersive visuals Neptune is also active as a DJ and booker for the Praxis 13.5 collective, contributing to Leipzig's vibrant nightlife.