黑芝麻 (Hēi zhī ma) invites you to retreat inwards - on both the physical plane and within the depths of your psyche - as part of the Pure Space Home Listening series.

Imagined during lockdown, Pure Space Home Listening // 黑芝麻和朋友们 (Hēi zhī ma and friends) probes home listening in the context of isolation.

As an artist, 黑芝麻 leans into the more emotive facets of sound, utilizing sonic and cerebral contrasts to subtly lull the listener into a journey unforeseen. This release sees them infuse this approach within their collaborations with artists Merph, Shoeb Ahmad, Moktar and Zhi.

The artists explore the familiar feelings of solitude, urgency and release firmly etched into our collective consciousness, both synchronously and through their own distinct lens.

“I Miss You” lulls you in with emotive pads that float above a sharp breakbeat and voice notes engulfed with longing. “Take Me Anywhere” provides a feeling of relief, as groove-laden techno bounces off the walls and into the abyss. “Associations” is an introspective, spacious and haunting track you want to float on and on. As you glide between these offerings, the intro and outro tracks hold space for tender ruminations.

The release serves as an archive of a more contemplative and confined period, through the distant murmur of voice notes, the metamorphosing drone of ambient soundscapes, poetic reveries that hang in the air, the rattling percussion of a breakbeat or techno high-hat and the gentle backdrop hums of nature.

This is an immersive audiovisual experience. Filmmaker Jane Inyang reimagines the EP in a short film through different listening contexts during a day in isolation for the protagonist. This short film will be accessible by a QR code in an accompanying poster and zine, which will also feature artist photos, recipes and poetry alongside the work of artist Jacquie Meng and photographer Chanel Nguyen. There will also be a limited run of earrings by Joanne Leong.

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100% of profits from this release will be donated to Firesticks Alliance, an Indigenous led network and aims to re-invigorate the use of cultural burning by facilitating cultural learning pathways to fire and land management.
credits
releases February 17, 2023

Tracks written and arranged by Moktar, Shoeb Ahmad, Zhi, Merph and 黑芝麻

Mastering: Wayne Sutherland

Album Art/Painting: Jacquie Meng

Zine Graphic Designer, Earring Design, IG Filter Creator: Joanne Leong

Sticker Ilustrator/Designer: Lynn Nguyen

Writer: Tanya Akinola

Special thanks to Eugene, Rebecca, Hen, Chanel, Kavya, senzer online and artsACT

黑​芝​麻​和​朋​友​们 (H​ē​i zhī ma and friends)

bby tek [黑芝麻 & Moktar] - Take Me Anywhere

label, radio and occasional parties by https://soundcloud.com/andygarveyandygarvey 

from australia to the world

est. 2016

au distribution :: purespaceau@gmail.com
ex-au distribution :: orders@one-eye-witness.com

[politely, please no mix submissions]