Chris Schlarb, "Making The Saint"

Asthmatic Kitty Records is an independent record label that was co-founded by Lowell Brams and his stepson, singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens, in 1999. Since its founding, AKR has released albums by a variety of artists, including Lily & Madeleine, My Brightest Diamond and Helado Negro, and is currently home to Sufjan Stevens, Angelo De Augustine, Denison Witmer and The Welcome Wagon. 

Asthmatic Kitty was named after Sara, an orange and white tabby who wandered out of the woods pregnant and starving near Holland, Michigan in 1994. For fourteen years she brought joy as a beloved friend to Lowell, enjoying a happy life despite her initial hardships. Her asthma improved after moving west to New Mexico and Wyoming, where she lived out her days as an asthmatic kitty in name only.

I began making noise music back in 2004, when living in an apartment in Brunswick, Maine. My neighbors complained about my punk band practicing there, so I switched my focus to editing audio with Windows sound recorder. My first few albums, consisted of nothing more than layering, reversing, changing speed, and adding echo to recordings I made with a computer mic.

Since then I have switched to slightly more sophisticated DAW, and have adapted my work to live applications. My focus has centered more on ambient and drone music, incorporating the bass guitar and kitchen utensils (most notably the whisk). But I continue to layer and patch these pieces into sound collages. 

Over the years I have branched out to playing more shows, including an east coast tour, and some Northeast festivals (Xfest and Frantasia). I have worked with a number of labels including Forever Escaping Boredom, Genetic Tapes, and Classwar Karaoke. I am proud to have shared bills with id m theft able, Crank Sturgeon, Tashi Dorji, Jaap Blonk and many more. 
I now live in central Vermont with my partner Stephanie and daughter Amelie. 


Chris Schlarb, "Making The Saint"

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