THANKS + UPDATES + BOOKING 2010
Hello everyone,
As always, thanks so much for the big LOVE.
“Live on Earth Volume 2″ featuring “Beams” felt so good to release to all of you for free on my mailing list, and I really appreciate everyone who bought the high-quality files from my new online store.
Sound is an amazing tool and metaphor of all energy, and I feel very inspired to have such amazing and thoughtful people creating and sharing their own experiences with these vibrations. We are sound.
Right now my next solo record is being mastered, and it will be out later this year. Many more details soon. I am soooo incredibly excited to share this music with all of you. It’s my most diverse album yet, and I’m really digging it.
I’m also working on a different new solo record, finishing up about four collaborations, + working on new audiovisual work and a new series of plant and light photographs. I’m also working out a couple new tutorials related to max for live, ableton live, performance ideas. Add on new Overlap.org releases and events, and new classes at Sound Arts, and yeah this year is going to be busy and very fun.
And I’m so excited to play new live music for all of you this year ! I’m focusing on scheduling my time performing and traveling. My main touring focus is set for a long run of performances from mid June – Sept. If you or someone you know wants to set up a show, contact me and my management here – CONTACT.
I’ll be playing other shows this spring and fall, but the main push of touring this year will happen from about mid June into the fall. Let’s connect.
Be wonderful, more soon.
Christopher
HAITI BENEFIT – SAN FRANCISCO – JAN 30th, 2010
I’ll be DJ’ing a special night of Haitian dance and drumming on Jan 30th 7-10pm with Djenane St.Juste, Fofo, and drummer Jeff Pierre, who is a featured drummer on my upcoming solo record.
Please come out to support. This is an amazingly talented family from Haiti that needs our help. Donations at the door will go to Djenane, Jeff, and Fofo’s immediate family and will make an instantaneous impact upon their lives.
The event will be at :
KUNST-STOFF arts
929 Market Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA
7-10pm
LIVE ON EARTH VOL.2 + BANGKOK NEW YEAR’S PARTY
It has been a wonderful year.
Thank you for your love and continued support. In 2009 we’ve helped to expand the reach of creative experimental music, video, and events to many people around the world. Now more than ever, we need to experiment with new ways of making, thinking, living and listening.
If you missed the free version of Live on Earth Volume 2, sent to my mailing list you can still get the best quality files here :
Live On Earth Vol.2 – BEST QUALITY FILES (FLAC, ALAC, 320k MP3) :
http://shop.christopherwillits.com/album/live-on-earth-volume-2
High quality files do sound better, and unlike itunes, which takes about a 1/3 cut, my shop’s sales go directly to me. Buying from this shop is the best sounding, and most direct way to support the production of my art. Many thanks to Ethan and Joe + crew and the amazing bandcamp.com. And if you like “Beams” you will also dig “Plants and Hearts“.
BANGKOK NEW YEAR’S PARTY
+ If you happen to be in Bangkok this week, I’ll be playing a DJ set of a bunch new tracks on New Year’s Day.
http://bit.ly/5QfnVF
–
2010 is going to be an exciting year. I have at least one new solo studio record to unveil, and few collaborations that i’m very happy to share. More tours, releases, videos, and sounds on the way.
NEW SELF-RELEASE OUT SOON – FREE MP3s FOR FANS
When we hit 2222 fans on this facebook page I’ll be gifting the free mp3s of my next live self-release, “Live on Earth Vol.2″, to everyone on my email list. Vol. 2 is made up of three different recordings of an unreleased piece called “Beams”, recorded in Europe last summer.
This is my second facebook + mailing list self-release experiment. It’s all about creating a tight network of communication and finding a more interesting and interactive way of sharing my art, while giving back to fans who buy my music and come to my live shows.
What to do :
1. Connect and add yourself to the facebook page – http://bit.ly/3Nc5pn
2. Sign up to the mailing list here : http://bit.ly/cwlist
3. Invite your friends – http://bit.ly/3Nc5pn
4. When we hit 2222 check you email and download the mp3s from the link provided.
5. Enjoy the “Beams”.
much love to all of you as the year rotates around once again.
OVERLAP SAMPLER 2009
Many thanks to everyone for making 2009 Overlap.org’s best yet. We are hitting our stride, and together we are creating a platform for experimental media.
To celebrate, here is a free sampler featuring some the diverse sounds we released through Overlap in 2009. Please feel free to share and enjoy !
Overlap Sampler – 2009
http://shop.overlap.org/album/overlap-sampler-2009
Track list :
1. Chris McNamara – oooohdear
2. Nakamura Hiroyuki – ALLEGRO
3. Miroque – kokorokokoro – Live at Sound Arts
4. Guitars – Kiss My Fist
5. Frank Bretschneider – Live at Listen/Vision
6. Flossin – Crystal Cobra
About Overlap.org:
Overlap.org is a Platform for Experimental Media — Releases, Events and Projects. Overlap releases experimental music, videos and produces unique events. Based in San Francisco, our mission is to grow and support experimental art and culture locally and throughout the world. Exclusive Overlap releases have featured a vast diversity of audio and visual artists experimenting with sound and light. Overlap events have brought people and experimentation together in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, London and Melbourne.
http://overlap.org
SOUND ARTS NEW WEBSITE
Sound Arts is a school and sound studio in San Francisco. I direct Sound Arts with some of my best friends. I’ve recently redesigned Sound Arts education, and developed dozens of new classes for this unique school. It’s all ready to roll out for 2010. Details about all of this and more are on the new Sound Arts website. !
http://soundarts.org/
Enroll online, take classes from me, record your music, and find your creative voice.
Go to > Sound Arts Education
+ link up with us on Facebook – Sound Arts Facebook Page
DIRECT DISTRIBUTION
As some of you already know, over the last few months i’ve been self-releasing some live recordings, exclusively to my facebook fan page and mailing list for free. The experiment seems to be going pretty well, and I’m feeling a lot of potential for releasing more work like this in the future.
It’s all about having a direct line of distribution and communication with people that are listening. Whether i’m self-releasing a new piece, or working with Overlap.org, or Ghostly or 12k or any other another record label, direct distribution from me to the people who want these sounds and images will always be an efficient and meaningful method of obtaining the material. Regardless of what happens in the future with itunes, emusic, amazon or any other place that carries my work, my mailing list will always have THE connection to my work, and me.
So far i’ve offered “Live on Earth Vol.1 ” for free when we hit 1111 fans on facebook, and the next release, “Live on Earth Vol.2″ , will be sent to my mailing list when we hit 2222 fans. Vol. 2 is going to be a couple different recordings of the same improvised piece called BEAMS. i’m finishing mastering it now, and within 250 more ppl on facebook, i’ll send the gift to my mailing list.
Connect and sign up here : http://bit.ly/cwlist
facebook page page – http://bit.ly/3Nc5pn
OVERLAP.ORG CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Overlap.org, the experimental media hub of releases and events that i founded and direct, is working out plans and schedules for 2010. We’re happy to announce our first official call for submissions.
We are currently planning new monthly releases, new Symbiosis podcast mixes, events like the Overlap Salon, Listen and Listen/Vision events, parties and more.
Overlap.org is a platform for experimental media releases and events. if you want to expose your experimental music and videos, work that takes chances and pushes to new levels, let’s connect.
How to submit work :
1. Blog it through Overlap – Create a new overlap.org account here. you will get a free overlap.org blog that will allow you to post and share your work directly to Overlap.org’s community page. Anyone is free to share work, and all content is available free of charge to the public. Featured posts and monthly releases of exclusive content (stuff that has not been released before) are decided by myself and the other overlap directors. More details about releases are here on the about page.
2. Email a link – simply send us a link (not files) to your music and videos that have not been released before to – demos@overlap.org
We will definitely be in touch, and hope to find a good fit for you in the release and event schedules we’re building out for 2010.
This is the mission :
Overlap’s mission is to grow and support experimental media and culture locally in the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout the world. This mission is achieved through exclusive music and audio-visual releases, free online sharing, and unique events. Overlap aims to unite, empower, and inspire the overlapping networks of experimental artists, musicians, and their communities.
http://overlap.org/2009/11/call-for-submissions-overlaporg-releases-and-events/
AUSTIN “DESIGNING PROCESS” WORKSHOP
Austin workshop details :
Designing Process with Christopher Willits
Sunday NOV 15th 2009
02:30 – 03:30pm
“Christopher Willits (Ghostly, 12k, Overlap) – Christopher will present a variety of ideas and techniques around the use and evolution of guitar signal processing, in addition to software tools Ableton Live and Max/MSP/Jitter, plus a special preview of Max for Live.”
all info from here :
http://www.dubspot.com/abletontour/austin.html
you sign-up to the workshop at the link above.
AUSTIN THIS WEEKEND
if you are in austin, drop me a line. i’ll be there this weekend, leading a workshop on sunday, and we’re sorting out a radio performance or interview for friday night.
the workshop is hosted by my friends at dubspot. all info here, many workshop times tba :
http://www.dubspot.com/abletontour/austin.html
i’ve titled the workshop i’m leading “Designing Process”. this year i’ve run this workshop in bellingham, berlin, san francisco, and seattle.
description : Christopher Willits (Ghostly, 12k, Overlap) – Christoher will present a variety of ideas and techniques around the use and evolution of guitar signal processing, in addition to software tools Ableton Live and Max/MSP/Jitter, plus a special preview of Max for Live.
you can sign-up to the workshops at the link above, and i’ll share more details about the exact time of the workshop when i find out.
LA PERFORMANCE SUNDAY NIGHT – NOV 8th 2009
i’ll be LA for this surprise show, sunday night.
this is a party for Create Digital Music’s 5 year anniversary, and a collaboration with DubSpot.
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOV 08 2009
Christopher Willits – audiovisual performance
+ other performers Kid Beyond and Irwin.
8pm – King King Hollywood – 6555 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood CA. 90028
workshop info – http://www.dubspot.com/abletontour/losangeles.html
+ other artists giving workshops earlier in the weekend:
Scientist
Kid Beyond
Daedelus
Justin Boreta
Thavius Beck
Barry Cole
+ many more..
i’ll be leading a workshop in Austin sunday Nov, 15th
all info here :
http://christopherwillits.com/events.html
image by basic sounds.
XLR8R TV EPISODE #14- LIVE’S AUDIO EFFECT RACKS
new XLR8R TV episode just up – #14 .
i’m focusing on Ableton Lives Audio effects racks and ways that you can use the chains of effects to sequence new sounds.
tune in monthly to check out some new ideas.
my goal in this series is to help fuel your imagination, and encourage you to create your own unique sounds and music.
CONNECTING = FACEBOOK FAN PAGE + MAILING LIST
it’s great to connect with so many of you through my mailing list and the facebook fan page. hearing all of your ideas is so inspiring to me.
when i have new releases and projects out, and new events, these are the 1st places where i will update everyone. i’ll be offering occasional free releases and event discounts and guest list spots through the mailing list.
+ once the facebook fan page reaches 2222 fans (about 1600 now) i’ll send the mailing list a free download link to another new release – “Live on Earth Volume 2″.
the intention is to grow a more immediate community around my art, so it’s that much easier for us to be in touch.
join the fan page here – WILLITS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE
sign up to the mailing list here – WILLITS EMAIL LIST
be wonderful.
WHAT YOU TALKIN’ BOUT WILLITS – PART 13
in this new episode i’m talking about drum recording with the fantastic jeff pierre, the brother of my awesome friend and master dancer Djenane Saint-Juste. Jeff is 16, from Haiti, and he is a shining light of raw drumming talent.
make comments, share, make some noise, give me some feedback !
also reach out and let me know if there is anything in particular that you want me to cover in these videos.
WHAT YOU TALKIN’ BOUT WILLITS – PART 13 – XLR8R TV
“In this episode, Christopher returns to Sound Arts Studio to show us drum miking techniques with Jeff Pierre, a 16-year-old drummer from Haiti who plays the tanbou segón. Tune in once a month as Christopher shows us some of the ways he produces his own music, as well as the many cool things you can do with recording software. According to Christopher, “I simply want to excite people’s imaginations and creative processes so they can more easily create the sounds and music and art they love.” ”
WILLITS GUITAR SETUP
here is a diagram of my guitar + processing setup created by guitargeek.com.
my setup is always in flux, but this gives you a solid snapshot of whats going on in my studio. when performing live, i usually don’t bring the baritone, a/b switch, wahwah and noise toys.
DECIBEL FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE AND WORKSHOP + SFAI EVENT
i’ll be performing september 25, 2009 at the Decibel Festival. on that same day i will also be leading a workshop called “designing process” using ableton live/max/msp/jitter and a preview of max for live.
+ on the next day i’ll be performing at the San Francisco Art Institute on September 26th, 2009.
info below :
SEATTLE, WA – SEPT 25 2009
Christopher Willits
6:30pm – audiovisual performance
Decibel Festival
Seattle Art Museum – 1300 First Avenue, Seattle WA.
http://www.dbfestival.com/?p=422
+ Christopher Willits – Ableton Live + Max/MSP Workshop
2:30-3:30PM – Free to the public
Seattle Art Museum – 1300 First Avenue, Seattle WA.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA. – SEPT 26 2009
Christopher Willits
8pm – audiovisual performance
The San Francisco Art Institute – 800 Chestnut Street 94133
all event info is stored here :
http://christopherwillits.com/events.html
let me know if you will be there. my blog comments are back in action !
THE 2222 RELEASE PLAN = MAILING LIST
the day we hit 2222 fans on our facebook fan page, – http://www.facebook.com/christopher.willits.fans – everyone that is on my mailing list will be sent a free download link for “Live on Earth VOLUME 2″. this is the next live release in the series, and i’m super excited to share it.
this is what you need to do :
1. sign up to my mailing list here :
http://christopherwillits.com/contact.html
2. invite your friends to our facebook fan page so we hit 2222 as soon as we can :
http://www.facebook.com/christopher.willits.fans
3. on the day we hit 2222 fans, check your email, and download the free release from the link in the message.
4. enjoy.
let’s reach out to all of our friends, creative people, lovers, teachers and other cool humans. right now we need only 1000 more. if we all bring in one more fan or potential fan involved, we’re there.
