Long before digital audio workstations, post-production effects like reverb, delay, EQ, and splicing were physically manipulated. These techniques were pioneered by Halim El-Dabh in Cairo around 1944 using wire recording and aeroacoustic manipulation in his seminal electroacoustic Wire Recorder Piece.

In exploring Halim El-Dabh’s role in developing Electronic Music, tough to talk was born.

In this piece, I recontextualize microtonal synthesizers tuned to just intonation and vocal samples from Mesytara by Lamis Kan, layered with samples from Starring Role by MARINA. More than half of the piece consists solely of MARINA’s voice and a field recording from a nearby playground. Using REAPER, I reanimate these voices into a blackout poem that reflects my parasocial relationship with my Palestinian identity.

tough to talk

roxy phantom