The Drone is human 
And remember, so are you
Talk to each other

For percussion & feedback

"Talk to Each Other" is a collaborative work for percussion and feedback, created by myself and Michael Calamas. The piece explores the interaction of two parallel feedback systems operating on distinct but interconnected levels—one acoustic and one conceptual.

At the core of the piece are two literal feedback loops. The first is a traditional electronic feedback loop formed between a microphone and a speaker. The second runs through a snare drum: a transducer is placed atop the drumhead, with a microphone positioned beneath. While the electronic loop functions uninterrupted, the acoustic loop is in a constant state of disruption—shaped by the percussionist’s playing, which agitates the drum and alters the resonant space within the loop.

On a metaphorical level, the work creates a feedback loop of decision-making and response. Each sound produced by the performer is fed back into the system, transformed, and reintroduced into the acoustic environment. This evolving sonic landscape, in turn, influences the performer’s next choices. The result is a recursive process—an ongoing conversation between the performer and the system, between intention and reaction.

Talk To Each Other

Austin Engelhardt