Residency #139
JUNE 28 - JULY 18
(Application Deadline: March 20, 2010)

JOSHUA DAVIS (aka bit.shifter), electronic music composer

Joshua Davis is an electronic musician operating (under the artist name Bit Shifter) in a style referred to as chipmusic, wherein the sound-synthesizing microchips common in early-generation home computers and video game consoles are revisited and repurposed as musical instruments & workstations. In this case, using a standard Nintendo Game Boy, Davis reexamines a familiar and distinctive soundset, executed on a console generally misperceived as being technically limited. Made possible by Oliver Wittchow and Johan Kotlinski's respective home-brew musicmaking programs Nanoloop and Little Sound DJ, Davis' music explores the aesthetics of economy, and seeks to push minimal hardware to its maximum. Based in New York City, Davis co-administrates the 8bitpeoples artist collective; co-curates an annual international chipmusic event called the Blip Festival, with four editions so far in New York NY US and one in Aalborg Denmark; has appeared in documentary feature films 8 Bit (premiered 2006 at MoMA NYC) and Reformat The Planet (premiered 2008 at SxSW Film Festival); has contributed the theme music to technology program The Engadget Show; has released music on 8bitpeoples, Hymen, Mirex, 555 Recordings, Ketacore, and Astralwerks; and has performed over a hundred and fifty shows worldwide.

Residency Statement

In this residency, my aims are to exchange ideas concerning composition, performance, and unconventional approaches & technology with Associate Artists interested in electronic music and the creative constraints of working within limitations; as well as to introduce the concepts, background, and cultural significance of the current chipmusic movement and its related artistic practices.

Application Requirements

Applicants should submit a bio & artistic résumé/C.V. loosely detailing musical interests, general objectives, and/or notable works & achievements to date. Famliarity with or interest in chipmusic is ideal, but not essential. CDs or mp3 URLs representing a sampling (2-4 works) of music / sound work done to date are welcome & encouraged, but not required.