"art is never finished, only abandoned." - leonardo da vinci

sketch sessions is a series of live recordings, documenting my nascent journey through live music production and performance.

most of this music isn't great, but i believe in sharing artistic work at an early stage and often -- particularly when it makes me feel awkward and uncomfortable. in my mind, that emotional state is what true growth feels like. it's also fun to capture and share the adventure, and to look back on it later after further progression.

sketch sessions

ambient / minimal / dub electronic sketch session

Hardware:
• Elektron Analog Four MKII
• Elektron Analog Rtym MKII
• Strymon El Capistan dTape Echo
• Akai MPK225
• Allen & Heath ZED-10FX

sketch sessions [001] - ethereal dub

minimal / dub techno sketch session. see if you can identify the shameless inspiration.

personal recording notes:
• i really wish i hadn't gotten so needlessly wacky with that off-beat rimshot
• slow down, let those phrases breathe

hardware:
• Elektron Analog Four MKII
• Elektron Analog Rtym MKII
• Strymon El Capistan dTape Echo
• Akai MPK225
• Allen & Heath ZED-10FX

sketch sessions [002] - bsc chnl af

slow / minimal / atmospheric techno sketch session. mostly playing with dark / warm pads on the analog four.

personal recording notes:
• the pads are a little too dominant
• I'd like to add a subtle arpeggiated baseline and make the melodic synth quieter, more spaced out and stab-y, with higher reverb
• I'd like to add more texture and diversity to the drums
• need to stretch this out to 7+ minutes and end less abruptly

hardware:
• Elektron Analog Four MKII
• Elektron Analog Rtym MKII
• Strymon Big Sky Reverb
• Allen & Heath ZED-10FX

sketch sessions [003] - slow minimal techno

another slow atmospheric techno sketch session. tinkering with fm synthesis to give a little hint of acid.

personal recording notes:
• the drums are a mess -- too crunchy and too forward in the mix.
• need more patterns.

hardware:
• Elektron Digitone
• Elektron Digitakt
• Arturia KeyStep Pro

sketch sessions [004] - slowrez

Carefully curated melodic house and minimal techno beats. NYC / SF.

Upcoming Dates:
- TBA

Past:
- 2023.08 Dingleman's Renaissance / Olivebridge, NY
- 2022.10.31 57 Sins / NYC
- 2022.08 - Burning Man / Black Rock City, NV
- 2022.07.04 Treetops Independence Day / NYC
- 2021.05 Treetops Escape / Olivebridge, NY
- 2020.xx Livestreams / Metaverse
- 2019.08 Burning Man / Black Rock City, NV
- 2019.04 24 Hours of Music [16:00–17:00] / NYC
- 2018.08 Downtempo Mimosa Situation - Burning Man / Black Rock City, NV
- 2018.08.14 Splice Boat Party / NYC
- 2018.07.24 Camp Navarro / Mendocino, CA
- 2018.04 Agapolis - Welcome to Earth / SF
- 2017.11.04 24 Hours of Music [09:00–10:00] / SF
- 2017.10.28 Agape Halloween: Six Underground / SF
- 2017.09.01 Downtempo Set at the Tree of Ténéré / Burning Man, Black Rock City, NV
- 2017.08.29 The Downtempo Mimosa Situation with House of Maslow / Burning Man, Black Rock City, NV
- 2017.08.28 The Phage Presents: Catharsis / Burning Man, Black Rock City, NV
- 2017.06 Tupperware / Upper Lake, CA
- 2017.04 Mamasaurus Camp Out / Mendocino, CA
- 2017.03.04 Solid Gold / SF
- 2017.02.22 Mission: Dance / SF 
- 2017.01.04 Retrograde / SF
- 2016.12.31 Age of Wonder: NYE 2017 / Wonder Valley, CA
- 2016.10.27 Agape Halloween 2016 / SF
- 2016.04.07 24 Hours of Music [12:00–13:00] / SF

sketch sessions

Matt Pakes