Initially consummated with the purpose of using these explorations for an audio-responsive typeface project for Gender Languages: Code issue in 2024. This was done in collaboration with Ayym Zhaishylyk. Due to scheduling issues, not finished but a teaser has been released and presented at Radion, which you can view here.

ⓒ image crafted by Ayym Zhaishylyk.

The sound is based on Azada Qarlibayeva’s singing of an excerpt from a famous qissa titled Ashiq Qerib, she is of Karakalpakstani background and performs as a baqsi - a specialized singing and performing tradition in Central Asia. The idea was to work with the tones she switches during her oral introductions of each chapter.

The actual explorations were made using sampling and editing in SonicPi and Ableton Live, adding Maqam scale plugins and filters.