STM 049 - Steve Roden

The creator, Steve Roden, was an American visual and sound artist from Los Angeles, whose body of work spanned painting, drawing, sculpture, film/video, sound installation, and performance. Over more than a decade, Roden released numerous records on notable labels like Line, 12k, Fällt, Korm Plastics, and others. His creative process often involved using specific notations (words, musical scores, maps, etc.) as starting points, which he then translated through his own inventive systems into scores that shaped his paintings, drawings, sculptures, and sound compositions.

Secret Thirteen Mix 049 is a priceless music selection that connects 24 vinyl (7") records from the 1960s to the 1980s. It is a magical and slightly kaleidoscopic journey through time and cultures, featuring expressive tracks from 15 diverse and often distant regions like Thailand, Ethiopia, Angola, Malaysia, Nigeria, Ghana, and Turkey. The music holds a special place in Steve’s personal life, as he explained, “this set is a selection of some of my favorites: records I would play for you if you visited my home.”

This mix is a meticulously curated and invigorating compilation, brimming with the rich essence of ethnographic music, '60s garage psych, African funk, '70s soul, and beyond. It is anchored by powerful elements like rhythmic groove, resonant guitar, syncopation, funk, and a strong undercurrent of melancholy. The occasional soothing surface noise adds warmth, conveying the love and life imbued in records played countless times. Steve’s selection would enrich any passionate music lover’s collection with beautiful, timeless recordings.

Secret Thirteen Mix 049 evokes the mystery of Richard Pousette-Dart’s abstract painting, Bird in the Wind, where archaic fragments and entrancing symbols intertwine to narrate a story of life’s discoveries, meaning, and the beauty of our world.

Steve Roden's passing on September 6, 2023, leaves a deep void in the realms of art and music, where his presence will be profoundly missed.