Along with the amount of stylistic diversity within the music coming out of Rhode Island, there's a sense that electronic-based music is making a local comeback. The Viennagram, Beta Motel, Twenty Four Hours, VaVaBlume, Satellites Fall and Triangle Forest use synth to anchor their sounds, and there are also stunning solo projects making their presence felt like JD Holiday and Favourite. DJs like Michael Savant, Knowlton Walsh, and Jayy Daniel have also been keeping the tolerable side of EDM culture alive with their constant dance parties. This weekend a few of these acts mentioned and many others will be taking part in an event that's the first of its kind in the Ocean State.
Curated by Mauricio Ossa from the electro-pop project Bellerophon, the Rhode Island Electronic Music Conference features a fusion of different genres and audiovisual works done by the finest up and coming and already established acts in the Northeast.
"There are a great deal of musicians and creative people in Providence and throughout the state who are breaking ground and shaking paradigms by making music with electronics or adding electronics to their performances," Ossa tells Vanyaland. "Moreover, these type of musicians don't usually fit in your regular-type bill with rock, metal bands or folk acts, and they find themselves displaced without a scene of their own, I wanted to create that space for the musicians and the spectators as well."
Friday's opening night goes down at Machines With Magnets in Pawtucket with the EP release party from Bellerophon and the solo debut of Valerie Martino (formerly of electro act Unicorn Hard-On), with video art courtesy of Montreal's NOIA and TBD-J between the live sets. The following evening, May 7, there will be an extravagant block party happening at Dusk in Providence with Beta Motel, Home Body from Northampton, Favourite, Heidemann from Brooklyn, Boston's Miss Geo, JJAZZ featuring Math The Band's Kevin Steinhauser and Jeremy Joubert's noise project Bird Lady.
Since it's being considered a conference, it's easy to look past this weekend and envision the future for RIEMC. Will there be panels being conducted by local industry professionals, record producers and major artists? Can we look forward to seeing electronic art installations? Only time will tell, but the potential this event possesses is astounding. Make it a priority this weekend to check out the 2016 Rhode Island Electronic Music Conference and get down with the beats and rhythms.
