A kaleidoscopic journey through sound and cinema: stephen vitiello’s masterful blend of children's voices, experimental textures, and cinematic echoes.
A kaleidoscopic journey through sound and cinema: stephen vitiello’s masterful blend of children's voices, experimental textures, and cinematic echoes.
The creator of this mix, Stephen Vitiello (b. 1964, New York), is an American electronic musician, multimedia artist, and curator based in Richmond, Virginia. Over the past two decades, Vitiello has collaborated with notable musicians such as Scanner, Pauline Oliveros, Frances-Marie Uitti, Andrew Deutsch, Steve Roden, Machinefabriek, and Yasunao Tone, as well as with visual artists like Nam June Paik, Tony Oursler, Julie Mehretu, Joan Jonas, and Eder Santos. His numerous releases have appeared on distinguished labels such as 12k, Sub Rosa, and Crónica, among others. Vitiello has performed at renowned venues like Tate Modern, the San Francisco Electronic Music Festival, The Kitchen, and The Cartier Foundation, and his work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions at leading modern art venues, including MASS MoCA, The High Line, Museum 52, MoMA PS1, and the 15th Biennale of Sydney. His contributions to art and music have earned him a Creative Capital award (2006) and a Guggenheim Fellowship (2011-2012). Currently, Vitiello is an associate professor in the Kinetic Imaging department at Virginia Commonwealth University. For a deeper insight into his work, you can watch the influential 2011 documentary Stephen Vitiello: Listening With Intent, produced by ABC-TV, Australia.
“Secret Thirteen Mix 071” is an engaging and kaleidoscopic selection that connects 19 extraordinary audio recordings. It includes mellow works from esteemed musicians like Steve Roden, Smog, Aphex Twin, and Four Tet, among others. The mix concept centers on showcasing pieces that feature children's main and backing vocals, or digitalized and deformed vocal elements. This is the first compilation of its kind to present children's vocals in such a diverse, cohesive, and modern manner. Stylistically, Vitiello blends genres from spoken word and experimental to rock, lo-fi, leftfield, psychedelic, and more. The development of the mix is thoughtful, precise, and deeply emotive. From intuitive, improvisational creations to refined arrangements and intimate recordings, this masterwork stands as an interactive, interdisciplinary installation. Cinematic compositions and clips from films like Fritz Lang's M and Hitchcock's The Birds reveal Vitiello's evident passion for film as well.
“Secret Thirteen Mix 071” could be likened to Ed Garman’s abstract expressionist piece “No.243 - 1946,” where playful geometric patterns evoke imagination, empathy, and comfort. Garman’s exploration of movement and stillness mirrors Vitiello’s mix, as both initially seem playful yet reveal deeper meaning and ideology upon closer examination. Vitiello’s mix showcases his musical sophistication, originality, and authenticity. This is a mix that deserves a place in every dedicated music lover's library—an answer to those who claim that contemporary music has lost its sense of discovery.
Stephan Vitiello wanted to say 'Thank You' especially to Steve Roden, John Dombroski, Raewyn Martyn, Dan Rowe and Ben Hewer!
1. Sugarcube, by Yo La Tengo, performed by Elysian Charter School Chorus (from youtube)
2. No Dancing, Smog, from the CD "Knock Knock"
3. No More Mosquitoes, Four Tet, from the CD "Pause"
4. Little Girl, Little Girl, from "Field Recordings Vol 3, Mississippi"
5. Nuclear War (Version 2), Yo La Tengo, from the the EP "Nuclear War"
6. Bad Leroy Brown, performed by Steve Roden, (recorded 1973)
7. Rumpus, Karen O and the Kids, from the CD "Where the Wild Things Are"
8. Hit the Ground Running, Smog, from the CD "Knock Knock"
9. Shortenin' Bread, from "Field Recordings Vol 3, Mississippi"
10. To Cure a Weakling Child, Aphex Twin, from "Richard D. James Album"
11. All Is Love, Karen O and the Kids, from the CD "Where the Wild Things Are"
12. Sleeping Children, music by Walter Schumann, from the movie "The Night of the Hunter," directed by Charles Laughton
13. Come to Daddy [Little Lord Fauteroy Mix], Aphex Twin, from the EP, "Come to Daddy"
14. Children from the movie, "The Birds," directed by Alfred Hitchcock
15. Boys Chorus (La Sui Monti Dell'est), Malcolm Mclaren, from the CD "Fans"
16. Children in the movie "M," directed by Fritz Lang
17. Gesang Der Juenglinge, Karlheinz Stockhausen, from "Karlheinz Stockhausen : Song Of The Youths"
18. Space Oddity, David Bowie, performed by The Langley Schools Music Project from the CD "Innocence and Despair"
19. Closing commentary by Georgia (circa 2002)
1 Comment
Pingback: My brief interview with Ryuichi Sakamoto and a mixtape | Stephen Vitiello