Sonic Moon Organizer Phu Pham Shares Thoughts on the Festival and the Experimental/Electronic Scene in Hanoi.

Sonic Moon Festival organizer Phu Pham knows a good idea when he sees (and tastes) one.

Over the past couple of years, Hanoi Rock City owner Phu Pham has become one of the central figures in Hanoi’s left-field electronic music scene. Splitting time between running HRC, producing and performing music as Dee.F that spans the spectrum from dark ambient to more beat-driven electronica, providing crucial sonic elements in the band XAI, participating in Domdom’s ongoing experimental music endeavors and undoubtedly juggling a host of other responsibilities and projects, Phu has also been working behind the scenes for months to organize this year’s Sonic Moon Festival, which takes place this weekend from 4-7 September at various venues around Hanoi. Phu took some time from his busy schedule to share some thoughts about organizing the upcoming festival, what audiences should expect and some general reflections on the overall experimental/electronic music scene in Hanoi currently.

 

 

How would you describe the overall mission/vision of Sonic Moon in three sentences or less? 

Phu: Sonic Moon | Hanoi 2014 is an annual festival of electronic music and experimentation in multimedia arts. The forefront mission is to be an annual meeting point for local artists community, and hopefully a longer vision to be a mark on the calendar for international artists.

 

The line-up of performances and workshops for Sonic Moon this weekend.

How did you approach the organization of each performance evening? Did you book artists based on the idea of creating a different “theme” each evening? Or did the themes arise naturally after you had received confirmation of which artists were coming?

Phu: Each performance evening has a theme, a story that describes / reflects the artists work. The selection process is a blended imagination between how sounds communicate to each different space, each different venue, and the suitability of what each venue could nurture that combination. The theme of each night was created along the process of confirming artists. The three nights would also help the audience to experience and expose to a variety of styles and genres in electronic music.

 

As an organizer it’s probably not cool to play favorites, but on a personal level who are you most looking forward to seeing during the festival?

Phu: ZKIII

 

Did the wide variety of venues for both the performances and the workshops present any logistical challenges during the organization of the festival?

Phu: The logistics for any event would always be a challenge, it could be anything from an audio cable to stage / sound design. For Sonic Moon, the characteristic of each venue however, to a certain extent, is more important than the backing logistics. It is also a big part of the Sonic Moon experience, “a connection of all the dots” – words borrowed from Dorian (Work Room Four)

 

On a spectrum of the past 10 years or so and looking towards the future, where would you say Hanoi’s experimental/electronic music scene sits right now? This can be approached in terms of artists, venues, reception by audiences, regional status, etc.  

Phu: I am lucky to be in a place and in a time right now to witness and hopefully to be a part of a movement, tiny or big, from “condition zero” – words borrowed from Tri Minh (Hanoi Sound Stuff)- of the current Hanoi electronic music scene. The past 10 years have seen some of the pioneers in Hanoi electronic music, perhaps moving into many different directions: electronic music production / composition, live electronic music, DJs, producers, electro acoustic musicians. The first generation had regular opportunities with funded projects to exchange / collaborate with international artists, Hanoi electronic music had its birth, and first young yet important footprints in the national general popular music. With economic development, open door policies, and of course the Internet, the second generation of Hanoi electronic musicians are capturing not only the latest knowledge but also the global aesthetic of electronic music. “Condition zero” is given for that status. In which the Hanoi electronic musicians are provided with multi platforms and access to international reach. And so are Saigon!

There are more and more venues, bar / cafe / club nights that are titled electronic music, either it’s in the commercial electro world, or the odd knobs and faders experimental night. Electronic music is recognised by a wider audience.

There are more and more workshops and classes to teach how to DJ, make and produce music, and words like frequencies and synthesisers and oscillators etc.. are intriguing and generating interests.

What needed to be done is of course more and more artists, more and more venues, more and more promoters / organisers, and more and more of everything, Hanoi electronic music is and will move, starting from “condition zero”.

 

 

Describe Sonic Moon using only three adjectives and one verb.

Phu: Festive, Fun, Meaningful, Move

 

How does the interplay of performances and workshops help to create a more solid/interesting festival?

Phu: Workshops are always an educational way for non-conceptual explanation of the artists’ work. They are to some audiences are equally as important as the performances. The workshops are also taken place in different venues to expand the varieties of Sonic Moon’s activities. They definitely help the festival to be more dynamic and of course more fun!

 

Is there anything you want the public to know before the festival starts? Last minute info or any surprises in store?

Phu: We will start on time! The artists are all exciting about the festival and come out to Hanoi early, I am taking them out to meet all the venues, and it seems that they all want to add a little element of improvisational surprise to each show. Latest I heard that FM3V is going to sit with the audience, meditative style, and perform his piece.

 

Here’s a chance to plug your own work! What have you been up to lately with your own music? 

Phu: This year so far has been a great journey for me musically. I’ve been playing most weekends and been very lucky to meet many friends who are a great source of inspiration for me from every conversation / idea, great or silly ideas, that I vividly imagine how they would sound like. I am joyfully selecting all those moments, and put together in a self titled EP that expects to come out at the end of this year.

 

Details about the Sonic Moon Festival, including where to buy tickets, can be found on the festival’s FB page and are also provided below. Don’t miss what is shaping up to be the premiere experimental/electronic music festival of the year in Hanoi.

 

Sonic Moon | Hanoi 2014

The annual festival of electronic music and experimentation in multimedia arts.

Description

[EN/VN]

The second year expands its size and capacity to six venues in the capital city of Vietnam. Each venue is selected for its characteristics and dedicated to the festival’s day and night time activities.

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Performance schedule
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// Day 1 – “To the moon and back”
04.09 , 8PM , Phù Sa Studio

:: Vũ Nhật Tân
:: Lương Huệ Trinh
:: FM3V
:: Arnont Nongyao

The artists are a traveller, a healer, a magician, taking us through a sonic journey of beauty and into the realm of ambient weirdness.

Phù Sa studio is a “theatrical” studio with a capacity of 100 seats, sound work are carefully engineered by Nhất Lý, creator of the nationwide acclaimed “À Ố” show.

**Expect: ambience, noise, meditation, tranquility, soundscape, sound art.

// Day 2 – “Them”
05.09 , 8PM , Hanoi Rock City

:: Space360
:: Dadahack vs. FM3V
:: Trí Minh
:: Dee.F
:: Dan Henneberry

Unorthodox . Obscure . Hypnotic . The second day takes the festival into a ravey dance club. Nothing but the grooves, the lighting, and trippy visuals.

Hanoi Rock City is an iconic live premium venue in Hanoi. Running in its 4th year, HRC is the host to many local and international live and DJ acts.

**Expect: electronica, minimal, IDM, techno, drone, dub, left field.

// Day 3 – “Live pulse”
06.09 , 8PM , Đào Anh Khánh Studio

:: JRG_ONE
:: DMN SLYR
:: ZKIII
:: XAI

Stadium sound within nature and beauty. Last day of the festival will be taken place in a very unique venue in Hanoi – Đào Anh Khánh studio.

**Expect: psychedelic, conceptual, techno punk, stadium rock, drone, bass, nu beats.

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Workshop, Opening and Closing schedule
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Day1 – 04.09 | 4PM – Work Room Four

:: Sonic Moon Festival Opening party
:: FM3V – Budda Machine

Day2 – 05.09 | 4PM – Hầm Hành

:: Arnont Nongyao – DIY Instruments (sound art)

Day3 – 06.09 | 4PM – Doclab

:: Space360 – Sound Design and Live Electronic Music

Day4 – 07.09 | 3PM – Work Room Four

:: Sonic Moon Festival Closing party

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Venues for Performance and Workshop
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1. Hanoi Rock City: 27/52 Tô Ngọc Vân, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội.
2. Phù Sa Studio: 21/52 Tô Ngọc Vân, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội.
3. Đào Anh Khánh Studio: No. 7/462 Ngọc Thuỵ, Long Biên, Hà Nội.
4. Work Room Four: Packexim Building Tower 1, 23rd Floor No. 49, Lane 15 An Dương Vương, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội.
5. Hầm Hành – 170 Đội Cấn – Hà Nội.
6. Hà Nội DOCLAB: 56-58 Nguyễn Thái Học – Hà Nội.

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Admission
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VND100K / event
VND250K / 3 events
Workshop, opening and closing party are FREE.

***Day 1 . Phù Sa Studio . 100 tickets only.

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Sonic Moon / Hanoi 2014

Lễ hội hàng năm của âm nhạc điện tử và nghệ thuật thể nghiệm đa phương tiện.

Mùa thứ 2 của lễ hội này sẽ được mở rộng về quy mô và tầm cỡ tại 6 địa điểm ở thủ đô Hà Nội. Mỗi nơi diễn ra sự kiện đều được lựa chọn dựa theo những đặc điểm riêng biệt và ý đồ của từng hoạt động cũng như từng thời điểm diễn ra của lễ hội.

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Lịch diễn
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Ngày 1: “To the moon and back”
Thời gian: 20:00 ngày 04/09/2014

Địa điểm: Phù Sa Studio

Nghệ sĩ:

:: Vũ Nhật Tân
:: Lương Huệ Trinh
:: FM3V
:: Arnont Nongyao

Những nghệ sĩ biểu diễn tại sự kiện là những người lữ khách, người thầy thuốc, nhà ảo thuật, họ sẽ đưa khán giả xuyên suốt một cuộc hành trình âm thanh tuyệt vời và bước tới một vương quốc huyền bí.

Phù Sa Studio giống như một sân khấu nhỏ với sức chứa 100 chỗ ngồi, tất cả hệ thống âm thanh đều được thiết kế rất cẩn thận bởi nghệ sĩ Nhất Lý, người đã tạo nên buổi trình diễn “À ố” được ca ngợi trên khắp cả nước.

** Thể loại nhạc: ambience, noise, meditation, tranquility, soundscape, sound art.

Ngày 2: “Them”
Thời gian: 20:00 ngày 05/09/2014

Địa điểm: Hanoi Rock City

Nghệ sĩ:

:: Space360
:: Dadahack vs. FM3V
:: Trí Minh
:: Dee.F
:: Dan Henneberry

Không theo những luật lệ thông thường. Mơ hồ. Thôi miên, mê hoặc. Ngày thứ 2 sẽ đưa không gian lễ hội tới một sàn nhảy. Tất cả chẳng có gì ngoài những giai điệu mạnh mẽ, ánh sáng và nghệ thuật thị giác phiêu lãng.

Hanoi Rock City là một địa điểm biểu diễn nhạc sống đặc biệt và hiếm gặp tại Hà Nội. Trải qua suốt 4 năm tồn tại, HRC là nơi đăng cai cho rất nhiều hoạt động biểu diễn nhạc sống cũng như DJ trong và ngoài nước.

** Thể loại nhạc: electronica, minimal, IDM, techno, drone, dub, left field.

Ngày 3: “Live Pulse”
Thời gian: 20:00 ngày 06/09/2014

Địa điểm: Đào Anh Khánh Studio

Nghệ sĩ:

:: JRG_ONE
:: DMN SLYR
:: ZKIII
:: XAI

Một sân vận động âm thanh được đặt giữa một khung cảnh thiên nhiên tuyệt vời. Ngày cuối cùng của lễ hội Sonic Moon sẽ diễn ra tại một địa điểm độc nhất tại Hà Nội – Đào Anh Khánh Studio.

** Thể loại nhạc: psychedelic, conceptual, techno punk, stadium rock, drone, bass, nu beats.

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Lịch diễn ra workshop, tiệc mở đầu và kết thúc chương trình:
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Ngày 1: Thứ 5 ngày 04/09/2014 lúc 16:00 – Địa điểm: Work Room Four

:: Tiệc mở màn lễ hội Sonic Moon
:: FM3V – Budda Machine

Ngày 2: Thứ 6 ngày 05/09/2014 lúc 16:00 – Địa điểm: Hầm Hành

:: Arnont Nongyao – DIY Instruments (nghệ thuật âm thanh)

Ngày 3: Thứ 7 ngày 06/09/2014 lúc 16:00 – Địa điểm: Doclab

:: Space360 – Sound Design and Live Electronic Music

Ngày 4: Chủ Nhật ngày 07/09/2014 lúc 15:00 – Đại điểm: Work Room Four

:: Tiệc kết thúc lễ hội Sonic Moon
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Địa chỉ các địa điểm biểu diễn và workshop:
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1. Hanoi Rock City: 27/52 Tô Ngọc Vân, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội.
2. Phù Sa Studio: 21/52 Tô Ngọc Vân, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội.
3. Đào Anh Khánh Studio: No. 7/462 Ngọc Thuỵ, Long Biên, Hà Nội.
4. Work Room Four: Packexim Building Tower 1, 23rd Floor No. 49, Lane 15 An Dương Vương, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội.
5. Hầm Hành – 170 Đội Cấn – Hà Nội.
6. Hà Nội DOCLAB: 56-58 Nguyễn Thái Học – Hà Nội.

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Phí vào cửa
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VND100K / 01 sự kiện
VND250K / 03 sự kiện
Workshop, tiệc mở đầu và kết thúc lễ hội MIỄN PHÍ.

***Lưu ý: Sự kiện diễn ra vào ngày đầu tiên 04/09/2014 tại Phù Sa Studio chỉ có 100 vé.