A series of improvised - experiments - compositions all recorded live in real time.
Tracks recorded under lockdown

Staring at the Sun_Series

Sunday Morning Improv, testing out my new live setup on the laptop

Running Forward_To the Object Of Ones Affection

A short improvisation using midi / Recorded Under lockdown / From the Staring At The Sun series... Improv-21_01_13

Staring at the Sun_01

A short improvisation using midi / Recorded Under lockdown / From the Staring At The Sun series... Improv-21_01_19

Staring at the Sun_02

A short improvisation using midi / Recorded Under lockdown / From the Staring At The Sun series... Improv-21_02_03

Staring at the Sun_04

A short improvisation using midi / Recorded Under lockdown / From the Staring At The Sun series... Improv-21_02_10

Staring at the Sun_05

A short improvisation using midi / Recorded Under lockdown / From the Staring At The Sun series.. Improv-21_02_17

Staring at the Sun_07

A short improvisation using midi / Recorded Under lockdown / From the Staring At The Sun series.. Improv-21_02_20

Staring at the Sun_08

A short improvisation using midi / Recorded Under lockdown / From the Staring At The Sun series.. Improv-21_02_21

Staring at the Sun_09

A short improvisation using midi / Recorded Under lockdown / From the Staring At The Sun series.. Improv-21_03_23

Staring at the Sun_11

A short improvisation using midi / Recorded Under lockdown / From the Staring At The Sun series
13-Improv-21_04_25

Staring at the Sun_13

All based on a recording I did of my dad (80 years young) singing "when for you I dream" a victorian tear jerkier he remembered his dad (my grandfather singing) when he was a boy.  

I composed this piece specifically for a performance on Birmingham's BEAST sound system. See more here - http://soundkitchenuk.org/events/4-march-9-10pm-mac

Backwards Glance

Created from lap steel guitar by myself, and samples of the superb playing of Tom Markwick sax and violin Matt Markwick. 

A remixed/reedited version of this track is available on my solo release "the boy observers the ocean" on Hibernate records http://www.hibernate-recs.co.uk/releases/hb17/hb17.html

Approaching Tide_Heacham 1973

A short improvisation using midi / Recorded Under lockdown / From the Staring At The Sun series
13-Improv-21_11_29

Staring At The Sun_14

A short improvisation using midi / Recorded Live  / From the Staring At The Sun series 15-Improv-21_12_28.wav

Staring at the Sun_15

Dad_Nicky Singing In Wales June_2022

Live Improvisation for Piano, Cello, Tuned Percussion and Electronic’s

SlowBell

Based around a series of improvisations over the course of three days each using the previous one as a starting point for the next one. These were then reedited / mixed into one composition

A radical remixed version of this track is included on my new release "An idea of North / Learning to Walk" released on n5MD. This album is mixed as one seamless composition http://n5md.com/discography/195/An-Idea-of-north--Learning-to-walk 


A place of safety / all things will change

Live improvisation for Piano, Cello, Tuned Percussion, and Live Electronics

Lost Child

Bells Improv

A earlier piece (2008) using the two tones i used for "StillFrame'(one note on a piano / one sustained note on a violin) . The composition is based in a series of eight pitch shifted loop's of each tone (14 loops). which are then time stretched four times which give us fifty six loops in the piece all running at different times so the composition is in a constant state of flux

A radical remixed version of this track is included on my new release "Points of Departure: Early Works 2004 - 2009"  released on Enpeg. This album is mixed as one seamless composition http://enpeg.com/discography.php?catno=55


Duo_(The Intension Becomes Masked)

A live improvisation at the Hexagon Theater, organized by AVA and the Modulate collective...  

Live at the Hexagon Theater_MAC Birmingham 2015

A short composition created from sample from an improvisation from processed piano and flute sample's

Angry_Child

A live Sunday improvisation using a modal synth, and processed violin samples.

Improv_16_27_03

The Boy Observes the Ocean

I Am a Long Way from Home

This resulted from my contribution to the endless-endless project run by audio-bulb records <a href="http://soundcloud.com/endless-endless" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Endless Endless</a> Each artist was asked to contribute one 120 second piece to be mixed down into a continually growing piece of sound art. I worked by improvising with one simple two note Saxophone sample from played by Tom Markwick - I was so happy with the result I decided to work it up into a longer composition.

A radical remixed version of this track is included on my new release "An idea of North / Learning to Walk" released on n5MD. This album is mixed as one seamless composition http://n5md.com/discography/195/An-Idea-of-north--Learning-to-walk 


In slow motion (she falls)

A re-edit of a few live improvisations recorded over the course of one day..

Remember his name_Improv_16_07_31

Created from an edit of three separate improvisation on a custom built software synth

The Tributary - Losing your way

my contribution to kate Carr's listen to the weather project listentotheweather
and <a href="http://www.listentotheweather.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.listentotheweather.com</a> I made a number of recording of rain ranging for light drissel to torrential downpours in various locations (woodland to four in the morning in central Birmingham) these were then looped to make the backing track. I then used "Weep You No More, Sad Fountains" by John Downland as my source material, taking pitch references from the line "softly lies sleeping" I replaced these with some of my own processed vocal samples, which I then used in my custom software and improvised over the field recording. Exuding a few edit and minor overdubs this track was recored live. weather recordings 1/8/10, 6/5/10, 27/2/10, and 28/3/10

A radical remixed version of this track is included on my new release "An idea of North / Learning to Walk" released on n5MD. This album is mixed as one seamless composition http://n5md.com/discography/195/An-Idea-of-north--Learning-to-walk 


softly lies sleeping

A recording of my live set at the SoundKitchen Birmingham 2012. http://soundkitchenuk.org/1931/modulate-and-mark-harris-return-to-soundkitchen

Live at the SoundKitchen July 2012

My contribution to "Birmingham Sound Matter" a project Instigated by Spanish Sound Artist Francisco Lopez working with six other sound artist working in the west midlands. Culminating in a concert and CD release on Audio Bulb records.

Last days

A section of a live improvised set, I used a custom Reaktor patch I built which uses a system of delays and samplers which allows me to overdub myself live. 

A remixed/reedited version of this track is available on my solo release "the boy observers the ocean" on Hibernate records http://www.hibernate-recs.co.uk/releases/hb17/hb17.html


The boy observers the ocean "edit"

a live improvisation. based around a recoding I did of wind in the trees. 

A remixed/reedited version of this track is available on my solo release "the boy observers the ocean" on Hibernate records http://www.hibernate-recs.co.uk/releases/hb17/hb17.html

I am a long way from home

An extended drone piece - using granular synthesis techniques

Rapid Motion - Still point

Created from a 50hz sine tone and Vocal Samples

A radical remixed version of this track is included on my new release "Points of Departure: Early Works 2004 - 2009"  released on Enpeg. This album is mixed as one seamless composition http://enpeg.com/discography.php?catno=55


Deep - Towards an ending

A series of improvisations reedited into one piece over over the Christmas period 2012. Very much work in progress... Feedback welcome

In spite of everything_The night makes the darkness

A piece up created from fragments of live improvisations / rehearsal recording / and Live gigs in 2013. Please enjoy

Everything I did was Wrong

A short improvisation using midi / Recorded Under lockdown / From the Staring At The Sun series... Improv-21_01_20

Staring at the Sun_03

A reinterpretation for "Thursday afternoon" by Brian Eno. For a project instigated by Marco Lucchi. Hear more contributions on the O-E-S page http://soundcloud.com/o-e-s


Tuesday morning

I am an artist / musician / programer working in the west midlands, I am currently signed to US labels http://n5md.com/ and http://enpeg.com/ and have release work on UK labels http://hibernate-recs.co.uk/ and http://www.audiobulb.com/ and member of the Modulate AV collective http://www.modulate.org.uk

My work has a strong interest in systems and generative processes in art and music - I have developed a number of software applications which allow me to work with these processes in a live performance environment. I usually work from heavily processed samples of live instruments and field recordings - Although there is a strong systems based element in my work, I tend to work though a process of improvisation with the samples in real time to generate the work. I aim to create immersive work which gradually develops over time and creates a sense of space and place,and generates a strong emotional response in the listener. 

I'm always into opportunities to play live - feel free to contact me about bookings

Mark harris

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