Auki 12 - About us

Auki's first episode recorded online, featuring Joel in Portland, Oregon and British expat Bertie in France. This online extravaganza introduces three all-new gamified jams: Progressions, Textures, and that awkward dramedy-of-manners, Conversations. 

With guest drummer Mark Webster providing rhythms, Andy Lowe provides the multi-sampled Uilleann pipes, as well as introducing the all new Quotas jam.

Providing beats performed entirely on iPads this week, guest percussionist Guy Turner (torsk.co.uk) brings a unique sampled dimension to Auki's improvised musical gamification. Also featuring jams using multisampled software instruments, VST synths and the 1982 analogue EDP Gnat synth.

Brass takes centre stage this week, with returning guests Andrew Farrow on trumpet and Sam Franks on trombone. Auki's free improvisation exploration continues to reconnoitre new territory with such jamming games as Inspiriodical, Trigger Cards and the Rotary Jam. Alongside musical discussion, Andy and Benedict provide additional instrumentation with basses, percussions and car horns.

Bringing the beats this week, Andy and Benedict are joined by Justin Ricardo on percussion. Dice are rolled and cards are triggered in the temporary, socially-distanced studio as we play such improvisations as the Patch Exchange and the often-dissonant Dyads jam.

In this special edition "About us" episode, discover the fascinating history of Auki, learn how Benedict and Andy came to create this unique podcast and the true meaning of gamified music improvisation.

Recorded in Birmingham, metals vibrate more than usual in this week's episode courtesy of our guests' particularly resonant instrumentation. Once again, Auki make it up as they go along with such games as card-based Generelody and a Snippets jam taken from a track by Jedbeetle. This episode was recorded pre-lockdown.

Auki's first live recording, held at Palmer's Cafe, Shrewsbury. Harnessing the power of a live audience; Andy, Benedict + guests improvise over an ambient bed of atonal singing. All hell breaks loose as the chaos card is played once again in this week's Trigger Card jam and Keith the random audience member selects an article from the Shrewsbury Chronicle for this week's Inspiriodical jam.

Recorded in Kunstraum, London - this week's episode features various bass instruments played by Tom Caton, along with electronic loops and finger-drumming by Ableton certified trainer, Thomas Glendinning (elphnt.io) on the Ableton Push 2 controller. Debuting Auki's newest jam, Inspiriodical and turning the Westminster chimes into a cantus firmus bassline, Episode 9 pushes Auki's unique gamified music improvisation from, in this case, the basin of the Thames to the pinnacle of the Shard, because it's in London.

Single-reed woodwinds are flavour of the week in this episode, as clarinetist Lis Lowe joins in the improvised jams. Last week's "found sounds" are put to musical use in this episode, along with ambient textures of You Made Your Bed and duophonic possibilities of the Dyads jam, followed by our usual fascinating Auki commentary.