Press

"Matta is the soul of ['Beatbox Bard'], and because his mic covers his face throughout, we only see his impassive almond eyes and his quiet, rhythmic physical presence — until the curtain call, when the mic drops and the person behind the performer breaks through. With throat, tongue, voice and breath he creates not just beatbox rhythms (an urban tradition already a quarter-century old), underscoring or counterpointing the play's action, but an entire soundscape."--Ithaca Journal

"...his ability to remix his own voice is remarkable, at first singing over a synced beat and then slowing it down, speeding it up, dubbing, scratching, even using the layrngeal equivalent of a wah-wah pedal. He's wonderful to watch in these moments, right hand on the mic, left hand flailing in time, drops of spit and sweat flying off him. He must get terribly dehydrated..." -- The Village Voice

more on ithaca and updates

Wanted to let you all know about Bara Sapir's work, check out Www.barasapir.com and www.testprepny.com. I appear on her latest CD project, a test prep music-based study guide.
Ithaca was dope, went out with a bang, Saturday, we had a show in the afternoon, a show at 8(which got a standing ovation), then I went downtown to play an hour improv set with the unbelieveable Bora Yoon(got to meet some awesome Ithaca folks), then went back up to campus for our cast party, where I played for another two hours on Phil's Loop Station, bumping all kinds of beats with Molly, Bennett, Evan and Phil that everyone danced to until the wee hours. Then a show on Sunday. Then a chill cast party at Bruce's house, then a mellow, really fun hang at Bora's friend's family's house for a nice way to wind down a great month in Ithaca. I'm looking forward to going back March 1st to get started on Jim Self's multi-genre dance performance.
Peace y'all, stay warm.

Ithaca Updates

The play, Beatbox Bard, is going excellent. We've been written up in all the local papers, ( i.e., http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/ENTERTAINMENT03/701250319/1082, http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17738072&BRD=1395&PAG=461&dept_id=216611&rfi=6). We got a review in the Ithaca Journal(http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070208/ENTERTAINMENT03/702080306/1082), thanks to all the local papers and journalists who have been interested in our show, and in beatboxing in general.
Have been having a great time chilling with Cornell students and faculty. Went to Ithaca College to perform for a Recording Techniques seminar, visited two local elementary schools and performed for over a couple hundred kids, got to sing/beatbox a medley of songs with Fall Creek Elementary, beatboxed for Jim Self's and Jumay (??)'s dance classes here at Cornell, improvising beats for an Explorations and an Advanced Modern class. Last night, Cornell beatboxer and Chem Major, Bennett Fox, had a party at his house, and bluegrass band, the Howling Brothers, showed up, and we jammed together, tearing the low basement roof off the sucka. All in all, Cornell's been a great haul. Two more shows tonight and tomorrow, then it's back to NYC for a gig with Sxip Shirey at Tonic, Feb. 13th. Then it's down south for a series of gigs. In addition to MMC 11, and Exploris Museum, I've been asked to appear on a panel about entreprenurialship at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. Looking forward to that, and to reconnecting with vocal artist, Lynn Book, an old teacher of mine. Then, I'm actually coming back to Ithaca, I've been asked to beatbox for Open Portal, a major dance presentation featuring a wide variety of styles, here at Cornell. So, I'm coming back to good ol Ithaca. More soon, stay in touch.
Peace.

Video from Makeshift

This is a video that was part of my multimedia show at Here Arts Center. Hope you enjoy it.

Press!

Dear Folks,
I'm excited to say that I have been reviewed in the Village Voice, as part of the Culturemart Series at the awesome HERE Arts Center, where I've been a resident artist for the past year. The article, which is mainly about the space in general, but has a huge picture of my bike wheel sculpture in the print issue, is at http://www.villagevoice.com/theater/0702,soloski,75489,11.html .
Check it out let me know what you think.
Sunday, I go to Ithaca for Beatbox Bard, looking forward to that. Then it's a gig with Sxip Shirey at Tonic, Feb. 13th, then down to Pennsylvania for the Millenium Music Conference, then Raleigh, NC, to the Exploris Museum, where I'm teaching a course in world vocal music mixed with beatboxing. Much afoot, stay abreast, many blessings,
Adam
btw, in February, I will be performing in New York State and Minnesota AT THE SAME TIME. That is, I'll be on stage in Ithaca, with Beatbox Bard, and then in Minnesota, my voice and beats will be heard in the simultaneous production of Marsupial Girl, a fantastic children's musical, written by Lisa D'Amour, and scored by Sxip Shirey.

mural

Here is an image of the mural I created for the Staten Island Children's Museum Ladder 11 Exhibit.

some recent events

hey, i think the scroll thing is working...anyway, wanted to say i had a great time playing with Akim Funk Buddha at BAM Cafe a couple weeks ago, we tore the roof off while Jay-Z was rockin in the next room. Also had a great time playing with Fabulous Entourage at the Annex. We, again, tore the place down, also Sxip and I played, and played a follow-up set at Earl Dax's event at The Delancey later that night. Sxip just hired me to do the beats for his soundtrack to "Marsupial Girl," a terrifc children's production in Minnesota next year. Still getting great feedback on my murals at the Staten Island Children's Museum, where I work. Pics to come....went up to Cornell to keep workshopping BEATBOX BARD, it's really taking shape, and has been a blast to work on so far. Shot a video in an undisclosed Manhattan landmark building for my piece, MAKESHIFT. The footage came out really nice, it features Sarah Locke of Alchemy Dance, moving, while I lay down beats, and was shot by filmmaker, and fellow Stuy grad, Althea Wasow, and video artist, Kleoni Moussakis. You should defintiely check out both of their work. Althea just screened a recent short in Puerto Rico. Tore yet another roof off at Joes Pub on Dec. 3rd with Sxip, at his solo CD release party. Got to play with him, as well as Michael Farkas, uber multi talented at harmonica, as well as various ragtime household objects. Finally, got to play with Nicholas Naylor-Leyland, with slammin guitarist Eric (???) and virtuosic Michael Leonhart, we did a gig at Rockwood and rocked the joint. Keep in touch, y'all, lots of fun to be had with the infinite potential of vocal percussion...

updates and events

Something's funky with the site and the events scroll isn't working so here are upcoming events:

Thursday, Dec. 7th, 8PM
Tom Billings
What is the Word
OPENING Reception: Thursday, december 7th, from 7-10 pm
December 7th – January 21st 2006
GITANA ROSA GALLERY
19 HOPE STREET
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Gitana Rosa Gallery invites you to the opening reception of what is the word, A solo exhibition of mixed media paintings and installation by tom billings. The exhibition will be on display from December 7th, 2006 through January 21st , 2007.
The opening reception for the artist will be held on Thursday, December 7th, 2006 from 7-10pm. With special vocal percussion and sound f-x performance by Adam matta at 8pm and musical stylings by dj swingsett. at the Gitana Rosa Gallery located on 19 Hope Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Thursday, Dec. 7th 9PM
SYMPHONICS LIVE
with Adam Matta, Ill Spoken, Rabbi D, others
Bowery Poetry Club
$7

Sunday, Dec. 10th, 11pm
Ray Ippolito, w/Adam Matta, MC Evolve, Catherine Bent, Matt Moldover
ambient soundscapes and world grooves
Fruit Tree Planting Foundation Benefit
www.ftpf.org
@Kush
Chrystie btw. Stanton and Rivington

Friday, Dec. 10th, 9pm till??
Adam Matta w/Alex Wong, Pete Gerakaris, Jon Price, more...
@STAIN
Grand St. 2 blocks west of Grand L Station
Williamsburg, Bkyln

Tuesday, Dec. 19th, 9pm
Erin and Her Cello, with Adam Matta, Aya Kato
@Telephone Bar
2nd Ave. btw. 9th and 10th St.
no cover

Dec. 31st, New Years Eve, 10-1am
@3rd Ward
NYE, 1am-
@Rubulad, with Fabulous Entourage

Jan. 4th, 5th, 8:30PM
MAKESHIFT
@Here Arts Center
Beat box rhythms captivate, paintings are formed instantaneously, and
live video provides insight and perspective as Adam Matta attempts to bridge
the physical gap between his Egyptian roots and American identity,
represented by two video instillations. With a heightened awareness of
mechanism, closely placed cameras capture Matta¹s every move, a digital
pedal loops and distorts his voice, and freshly painted tires create
paintings as Matta does trick moves on his bike. Makeshift re-imagines and
re-contextualizes the role of accident and improvisation in the creation of
a composition.

Jan. 30-Feb. 4, Feb. 7-11
BEATBOX BARD
Cornell University
Directed by Bruce Levitt The contemporary urban music phenonmenon, beatboxing, crashes onto the Ithaca stage with this original work. Mixing vocal percussionists with Shakespeare's sonnets and soliloquies, this new look at the bard will delight young and old alike.

Feb. 17th
Millenium Music Conference
Harrisburg, PA

Feb. 24th
Exploris Museum
Durham, NC

Reminder: "The Underground," Nov. 9th!

Just a reminder that I'll be appearing on Damon Wayans' The Underground on Showtime, Nov. 9th, at 10pm. Check it out.
Best,
Adam

Latest Projects and Links

I am currently an artist in residence at the Gertrude Stein Repertory Theater, whose focus is Performance and Technology.
www.gertstein.org

I am continuing my residency at Here Arts Center, creating a work in progress showing in January as part of Culturemart.
www.here.org

I am working on "Beatbox Bard" as an artist in residence at Cornell University in Jan.-Feb. '07. We have already sold out 11 of the 12 shows of the run. This piece is a remix of Shakespearean text excerpts with beatbox scoring.
www.cornell.edu

I am working on securing a patent for Bicycle Wheel with Walkman.

I have completed a mural for the Staten Island Children's Museum. The mural is a scene of the inside of a firehouse, designed to activate the space around an original 1942 fire pumper the museum has on its first floor. The mural is also a memorial to six firefighters who lost their lives in 9/11. A one-time employee of the museum was a wife of one of the firefighters, and was able to contact the families of the firefighters, who gave me a list of personal items to include in each fireman's locker. We are having an opening/dedication this Saturday, 11/4, at 11am.

Nov. 9th is the airing of the episode of Damon Wayans' The Underground on Showtime, which features me beatboxing as the half time entertainment, like the Fly Girls used to be in In Living Color. Please check it out. Will be having a screening party here in NYC at some point in the next few weeks.

Nov. 16th, will be playing with the inimitiable Bora Yoon, as well as guitarist extraordinaire, Pete Jarakaris, at the Stone, Ave. C and E. 1st St. Time and cost TBA.

Dec. 15th, I will be performing with a series of guest performers at Stain Bar in Williamsburg off the Grand Ave. L stop, 9 PM, free.

Stay in touch,
Adam

Muralism

Dear Folks,
Just wanted to say that the mural is coming along excellent. I am making a mural for the Staten Island Children's Museum, where I work. It is designed to be the inside of a firehouse, since we have a 1942 fire truck in the museum, but no decorations on the walls around it. I will be posting up pics soon.

Oct. 27th unfortunately is postponed. More info TBA.

Nov. 16th, Bora Yoon, with Adam Matta and Pete Jarakaris, at the Stone, Ave. C and 1st ST.

More soon. PEace.
Adam

Tonight on Digiprana

If you're in the NYC area, check out 90.3 FM at 2am, I'll be appearing on the second half of Digiprana, with host DJ, JD Turbine. I'll be dropping some live improvisations, as well as some tracks off of Rage Against the Drum Machine. If you miss the show, it'll be posted up on www.digiprana.com, soon.
Also, I'll be on CUNY TV, Ch. 75(NYC) this Friday, Oct. 13th, at different times during the day, check www.artorsomethinglikeit.com for details.
Thank you. hope all's well.
Adam

Town Hall was great!

Hey this is my first blog. HAd a great time at Town Hall on Sunday, with Shara Worden, opening for Sufjan Stevens.