The Octamasher is a raucous, interactive audio installation made up of eight repurposed keyboards arranged in an octagon. Each keyboard has a particular musical function (drum loops, vocals, bass lines, riffs, and more), but they are all connected to a central computer, which enables them to work together musically. Pressing on the keys allows you to play song loops and pre-programmed beats instead of notes. For Canada Scene, long-time NAC collaborator Jesse Stewart has outfitted the Octamasher with a sample bank consisting of hundreds of selections drawn from Canadian music and popular culture.
A JUNO Award winner and Associate Professor in the faculty of Music at Carleton University, Stewart worked closely with Moldover, the creator of the Octamasher, to develop the Octamasher Canadian Remix!
On July 14, three Canadian DJs will join Stewart to perform a 20-minute demo before inviting members of the audience to join in. More details will be announced later this spring.
The Octamasher will live at the NAC throughout July, so drop in, bring your friends, and create your own Canadian remix!