INTERCULTURAL DESIGN/PROJECT 2: FIELD STUDY
01.03.2024 - 08.03.2024 / Week 4 - Week 5
Marsya Arisa Binti Mahmud / 0359684
Intercultural Design / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Project 2: Field Study
1. INSTRUCTIONS
Conduct a data gathering collection process about the culture with relevance to the theme. Collect visual, oral, textual and tactile artefacts that would be part of the research material. Artefacts must be recorded and documented.
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2. PROCESS WORK
Ideation
For the research process, I conducted an interview as part of the field study. I reached out the several people with experience in the local music industry who incorporate traditional instruments into their music to get a better understanding of the industry. Before meeting up with the interviewee, I came up with a few questions to ask.
Interview Questions:
- Describe what you do and how long you've been doing it
- What inspired you to integrate traditional instruments into music that you create now
- What traditional instruments do you normally mix with and why
- Could you give me some songs you produced that incorporate these traditional instruments
- How do you manage to incorporate traditional elements into modern music in a respectful way
- Has there ever been instances where you couldn't add something into your mix because it might come off as 'offensive'
- Have you ever experienced something culturally offensive in the local music scene
- How do you and Santosh work together to blend in his traditional drumming with your modern drumming into the band
- Do you have anything to say about culturalism in the local music industry overall
- Do you have any advice to give other producers/musicians who are interested incorporating traditional instruments into their music
Interview
I interviewed someone who had 17 years of experience in the local music industry. Ashwin Gobinath, a well known producer who works with many different artists with sound, recording and mixing. He also mixes for film and plays the drums for bands like Nadir, AJQ and Cats in Love. After editing, this is the final outcome:
Ash finds it easy to incorporate traditional elements because Nadir has always been keen on portraying the ‘Malaysian’ sound. Ash works with instruments like the Gamelan, the Gambang, the Tabla, the Sitar and many more. He also explains the elements of traditional instruments through songs he produced in the interview. Ash believes that a way to portray these instruments in a respectful way depends on the content of the song. A good producer would have to mix it well in order for it to be respectful. Ash feels that the local music industry is growing, and it makes sense to bring in traditionalism to make it relevant to this day, as long as you are not doing it just for novelty and the music is combined fluently. Ultimately, your culture defines who you are. Relating to his band, Nadir. They have band members that are Malay, Chinese, Indian and Sabahan, all integrating their knowledge from each of their cultures through music. In conclusion, to incorporate traditional elements respectfully, Ash advises us to listen to a lot of music and understand why people incorporate these instruments. People do not incorporate traditional elements often, because it is not easy. There has to be a level of understanding.
3. SUBMISSION
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