As the trek progresses, footsteps become the principal rhythm to which all other patterns relate. As we pass Upper Namche we encounter stone masons working on erecting a few more hotels, which cuts into the group conversation. The different recorded sounds are manipulated into various concurrent and overlapping rhythmic forms, then all human noise is subdued as we enter the Rhododendron forests and climb towards Namche.

Movement 2 – 26th & 27th Of September, 2018 – Phakding To Namche

Tripping balls with Music since Day 1, and loving every minute of it! I make music for the movies in my head.

Music Instructor at Berklee Online; Ethnomusicologist; Interdisciplinary Artist; Singer, Musician, Composer and Producer; Solo Artist (various projects);  DJ / Radio-Selector; Activist.

EMPLOYMENT: Instructor of the 'World Music Composition Styles' class at Berklee College of Music's Berklee Online
EMPLOYMENT: CEO of kaminari records
EMPLOYMENT: Custom Writer/Producer: Lusitanian Publishing
EMPLOYMENT: Board of Directors: AMAEI (The Portuguese Independent Music Association)

EDUCATION: Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology at the Faculdade Nova, Portugal
EDUCATION: Specialist Diploma of 'General Music Studies' from Berklee College of Music
EDUCATION: Specialist Diploma of 'Producing with Pro Tools' from Berklee College of Music
EDUCATION: Two Years of Indian Tabla studies with Misha Masud in NYC
EDUCATION: Certificate of West African Percussion with the Drummer's Collective NYC

Back in 1992 a great friend of mine convinced me to try playing the Bass so I could join a cover band he was starting. One year later I had pushed the notion to him that copying was far less rewarding than doing it yourself, and we founded Primitive Reason.

To this day I’m still going strong with Primitive Reason, although I try and ‘complete’ my need for a varied musical diet with other projects, of which most are solo experiments.

Although I started with the Bass Guitar, I quickly moved on to experiment with other rhythmic languages, particularly percussion. Although I am from Madrid, Spain and born of Spanish parents, my first few years were spent in Angola where according to what I am told I became ‘hooked’ early on percussive music. Still today this is the most important feature in musical construction for me, and so obviously all the music I write has a strong rhythmic component.

I’ve been recording albums since 1995, and there are 24 releases to date that I can call my own, not counting studio recordings for other bands and projects.

Staying true to my nature as a musician I have dedicated most of my earnings to musical instruments and studio gear, so I am fortunate to have a massive collection of ethnic and modern instruments, and professional gear with which to mix and master it.

My interests are everywhere, which is, well…everything, but I do aim to write only unique and characteristic material.

Guillermo de Llera