SIP - SoundLAB Interview Project

Bors, Chris


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Chris Bors
is a visual artist based in New York City.

  • artist biography
  • —>

    Interview: 10 questions

    1. When did you start making music, what is/was your
    motivation to do it?

    I never made music, but have made sound art. I have
    tossed around the idea of singing for a band, since I
    have a great love for punk, hardcore and metal music.

    2. Tell me something about your living environment and
    the musical education.

    I live in a duplex apartment in Harlem in New York
    City. The door of my art studio leads to my backyard
    where I grill shrimp and halloumi cheese. I took bass
    lessons and have a really cool effects pedal. Since
    then I have seen hundreds of concerts of many forms of
    music. My most memorable may be Bad Brains at the Ritz
    in New York City in 1989. Leeway was the opening band.

    3.Is making music your profession? What is the context
    in which you practice music nowadays?

    No. I have written lyrics for punk songs and jammed
    with a few people.

    4. How do you compose or create music or sound? Have
    you certain principles, use certain styles etc?

    My work is often based on autobiographical details. I
    use memories of past experience to create many of my
    videos, performances, paintings and audio works.

    5. Tell me something about the instruments, technical
    equipment or tools you use?

    My sound piece, Love Letters Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 was
    created by recording my voice using the microphone on
    a Canon GL1. I edited and filtered the recording in
    Final Cut Pro on a Mac.

    6. What are the chances of New Media for the music
    production in general and you personally?

    It will become much easier to make professional
    quality recordings. I have thought about concentrating
    solely on painting, but I always wind up back at the
    computer eventually.

    7. How about producing and financing your musical
    productions?

    My work is strictly DIY.

    8. Do you work individually as a musician/soundartist
    or in a group or collaborative? If you have experience
    in both, what is the difference, what do you prefer?

    I work individually, but would like to work with other
    artists in various disciplines on upcoming projects.

    9. Is there any group, composer, style or movement
    which has a lasting influence on making music?

    Some of my favorite music is hardcore, punk and metal
    including the bands Murphy’s Law, Sick Of It All, Bad
    Brains, Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags, Circle Jerks, the
    Crumbsuckers, Killing Time, Sheer Terror, Black Flag,
    and Slayer. I also consider Captain Beefheart, PJ
    Harvey, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson important
    musicians.

    10. What are your future plans or dreams as a
    soundartist or musician?

    To make something loud and obnoxious and sing in a
    band that doesn’t totally suck.

    http://www.chrisbors.com