Written by ART Driven Tokyo
MUTEK.JP, the electronic music and digital arts festival, is back for its 8th edition from December 7th to 10th, 2023. The event takes place in Tokyo’s bustling Shibuya neighborhood. Music events will be held at the Spotify O-EAST and WOMB venues from December 7th to 9th.
MUTEK will showcase experimental live audiovisual performances fusing technology and creativity in a way that can only be experienced at MUTEK.JP. Conferences and workshops will also be held at the SHIBUYA STREAM Hall on December 9 and 10.
Operated by a Non-Profit Organization, Originated in Montreal, Canada. Emphasis on Human-generated Content
Courtesy of the artist and MUTEK.JP
MUTEK was founded in 2000 in Montreal, Canada. The founder is ALAIN MONGEAU, and it is a non-profit organization, funded mainly by grants from the Canadian government, the Province of Quebec, and the City of Montreal. In the music festival industry, which is becoming increasingly commercialized, MUTEK is unique in its concept of supporting the creation of new content and providing a venue for experimental expression.
This year’s MUTEK. JP2023 will take a deep look at issues surrounding humanity, such as recent conflicts in the world and climate change. These are times of absurdity. If the information that comes into each person’s social media timeline on a daily basis represents contemporary society, is that right? Isn’t that timeline wrong?
Engineers will also Participate. A Community to Connect with Artists
Among the participating artists are many technology researchers and engineers, and MUTEK is known for being the first to perform “laptop DJing” (DJing using a laptop computer). Montreal is not the most economically successful city in North America, but the cost of living is low, and the city has a disposition that attracts creative people.
One of the main goals of the festival is not to artificially and passively enjoy performances by famous artists, but to create a democratic, non-top-down, local community that connects with the artists. In addition to Montreal, the festival is currently held in seven other cities around the world: Mexico City, Barcelona, Dubai, Santiago, Buenos Aires, and Tokyo. Diversity has also been a feature of the festival in recent years, with half of the participating artists coming from the host country, and the participation of female artists has been very active.
MUTEK.JP 2023 [Nocturne 1] Italian Digital Art Collective SPIME.IM, Japan’s “Kodo”, Overwhelming Experimental Performance
Courtesy of the artist and MUTEK.JP
Courtesy of the artist and MUTEK. JP
Line up:
YPY & Kodo [JP]
SPIME.IM — Grey Line [IT]
KUTIN & Patrik Lechner present ACHRONIC [AT]
tamanaramen — Whispers by the Water [JP]
Daito Manabe[JP]
On Thursday, December 7th, a large-scale audio-visual program, Nocturne 1, will take place at Spotify O-EAST, focusing on the fusion of technology, sound, and visuals. It will feature a collaborative performance between YPY, the electronic musician known as Koshiro Hino of goat, and Kodo, a renowned traditional Japanese drumming group with over 40 years of history.
SPIME.IM, an Italian art collective that explores the boundaries of identity and perception in our world will perform in Japan for the first time. The Austrian duo of Peter Kutin and Patrik Lechner will present ACHRONIC, a live A/V set using artificial neural networks, marking its first-ever performance in Japan. In addition, the emerging Japanese audiovisual duo tamanaramen will unveil their latest performance, Whispers by the Water.
Courtesy of the artist and MUTEK. JP
SPIME.IM is an art collective based in Turin, Italy, focusing on social issues such as environmental problems and issues related to authoritarian politics. Similar to artists like Banksy, they engage in artistic expressions with impactful messages.
In their past performances, they have created 3D art using artificial intelligence, combining visuals and music to evoke the atmosphere of a city somewhere in the world. They depict the Earth, tainted by waste from plastic, spray cans, and food loss, using mosaic-like images. Towards the end, the mosaic gradually diminishes in size until it disappears. The impactful message is expressed in perfect harmony between sound and visuals. ART Driven Tokyo is very excited to see how their philosophy unfolds on the day of the event.
MUTEK.JP 2023 [Nocturne 1]
Date: Thursday, December 7th
Open 18:00 / Start 19:00 / End 23:00
Venue: Spotify O-EAST
Tickets:
Advance standing (Nov 10th – Dec 6th) ¥7,500
U-25 ¥4,000 (limited number)
Door ¥9,000
Passport is also accepted for this event.
*A drink fee of ¥600 will be charged separately.
*Admission for over 18 years old.
*ID check will be conducted at the venue. Bring a photo ID with you to the venue.
Ticket page: https://mutekjp.zaiko.io/item/359664
[Nocturne 2] Capturing the DJ’s Movements Using Motion Capture and Translating Them into Sound and Visuals
Courtesy of the artist and MUTEK.JP
Line up:
Sinjin Hawke & Zora Jones [CA/AT]
Scotch Rolex & Shackleton + Pedro Maia — Death by Tickling – Live AV [JP+UK+PT]
Friday Night Plans + Leo Iizuka [JP]
食品まつり a.k.a foodman & Ramza + Kezzardrix [JP]
404. zero [RU]
On Friday, December 8th, Nocturne 2, focussing on an experimental and multifaceted approach to sound and immersive visuals, will take place at Spotify O-EAST. It presents a world premiere live A/V show by Scotch Rolex & Shackleton, in collaboration with Pedro Maia fuses adventurous dub sounds with aesthetics and challenges the conventions between analog, digital, and live cinema. Bringing the cutting edge of futuristic club music and interactive audio-visual art, Sinjin Hawke & Zora Jones, founders of Fractal Fantasy, will showcase their latest A/V live performance.
The event will also feature a special live session by the electronic musician foodman and beatmaker Ramza. Visual artist Kezzardrix will collaborate with them to create an A/V live show that expands the space through programming-driven expression. Adding to the lineup, Tokyo-based singer Masumi, a.k.a Friday Night Plans, will perform a set focused on her 1st album, Visitors, which blends R&B and experimental sounds produced by ENA. Leo Iizuka, who made the album’s music videos, will participate as VJ, sharing previously unreleased material.
Sinjin Hawke is a DJ/producer hailing from Montreal, Canada, while Zora Jones is a DJ/producer from Austria. They form a globally recognized creative duo. Their work has been featured in Pitchfork’s Best MIX on an online music media based in Chicago, USA, which introduces new music ranging from indie to mainstream. Known for their relaxed and global sound, they have garnered a substantial fan base in Japan, making them one of the performances to look out for.
MUTEK.JP 2023 [Nocturne 2]
Date: Friday, December 8th
Open 18:00 / Start 19:00 / End 23:00
Venue: Spotify O-EAST
Tickets:
Advance standing (Nov 10th – Dec 7th) ¥7,500
U-25 ¥4,000 (limited number)
Door ¥9,000
A passport is also valid for this event.
*A drink fee of ¥600 will be charged separately.
*Admission for over 18 years old.
*ID check will be conducted at the venue. Bring a photo ID with you to the venue.
Ticket page: https://mutekjp.zaiko.io/item/359664
[Nocturne 3] From electro-acoustic to media art
Courtesy of the artist and MUTEK. JP
Line up:
Phew & Oren Ambarchi + Akiko Nakayama [JP+AU+JP]
Ida Toninato & Pierre-Luc Lecours –– Homeostasis [CA/QC]
Black Boboi + Yanneek [JP+CA/QC]
On Saturday December 9th, Nocturne 3 will be held at Spotify O-EAST, showcasing a wide range of electro-acoustic music to media art. The lineup features the debut live performance of a duo made up of two legends in the experimental music scene: composer/experimental guitarist Oren Ambarchi and singer/electronic musician Phew. Renowned painter Akiko Nakayama will join them in a captivating collaboration with her Alive Painting.
Additionally, electronic music band Black Boboi, consisting of Kobayashi Utena, Julia Shortreed, and ermhoi, will present a unique performance combining arrangements from their two albums, Agate and SILK, as well as new songs. From Québec, Canada, saxophonist Ida Toninato and composer/visual artist Pierre-Luc Lecours will present an immersive audiovisual performance.
Akiko Nakayama organically expresses the energy inherent in the movement of paint, capturing the interplay of color and fluidity. In past performances, amoeba-like forms rich in color dynamically moved, creating visuals filled with power and tranquility, evoking a sense of something coming to life. Nakayama’s art not only highlights the role of technology but also emphasizes the importance of human expression in the form of painting. Her performance is one of the highlights to watch in this event.
MUTEK.JP 2023 [Nocturne 3]
Date: Saturday, December 9th
Open 18:00 / Start 19:00 / End 23:00
Venue: Spotify O-EAST
Tickets:
Advance standing (Nov 10th – Dec 8th) ¥7,500
U-25 ¥4,000 (limited number)
Door ¥9,000
A passport is also valid for this event.
*A drink fee of ¥600 will be charged separately.
*Admission for over 18 years old.
*ID check will be conducted at the venue. Bring a photo ID with you to the venue.
Ticket page: https://mutekjp.zaiko.io/item/359664
Experimental sounds abound in the all-night program!
Courtesy of the artist and MUTEK. JP
MUTEK.JP × WOMB
Date: Friday, December 8th
Open 23:00 / End 04:30
Venue: WOMB
Tickets:
Advance standing (Oct 17th – Dec 7th): ¥3,000
Door: ¥4,000
A Passport is also valid for this event.
Ticket page: https://mutekjp.zaiko.io/item/359664
Line up:
Jane Fitz [UK]
Sodeyama – live [JP]
Haruka [JP]
And more
The annual all-night program, MUTEK.JP x WOMB, will take place over two days on
December 8th and 9th. On the first day, renowned UK DJ Jane Fitz, known for her skillful blend of acid, spacey house, psychedelic techno, trance, and ambient music, will perform. Additionally, the event will feature Haruka, co-founder and resident DJ of Future Terror, and Sodeyama, the techno producer, will also perform live.
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MUTEK.JP × WOMB
Date: Saturday, December 9th
Open 23:00 / End 04:30
Venue: WOMB
Tickets:
Advance standing (Oct. 17th – Dec. 7th): ¥3,000
Door: ¥4,000
A passport is also valid for this event.
Ticket page: https://mutekjp.zaiko.io/item/359664
Line up:
dBridge – live [UK]
Shackleton – live [UK]
Itti & HAIOKA +strings VY – live [JP]
Lynne [JP]
And more
The festival will close with MUTEK.JP x WOMB on Saturday night, featuring dBridge, a mainstay of the UK drum & bass scene since the early 1990s, who will make his first live appearance in Japan. Additionally, Shackleton, who runs Skull Disco and is known for his polyrhythmic tribal sound will take the stage with a solo live set. Representing local talents, Tokyo-based producers Itti and HAIOKA will join forces as a duo for an exciting live performance. Additionally, Lynne, known for her experimental explorations in the realms of experimental, drum & bass, and techno, will take the stage as a DJ.
Conference Events including XR Exhibitions, International Talk Sessions, and Workshops
Courtesy of MUTEK.JP
MUTEK.JP will feature a collaborative event with Mawari, a leading provider of a renowned 3D/XR Content Streaming Platform. This collaboration, named the ‘MUTEK.JP Pro Conference in collaboration with Mawari’ is set to take place from December 9th (Saturday) to 10th (Sunday), 2023.
This conference will delve into cutting-edge technologies like XR, AI, and WEB3, exploring themes related to digital creation and enhancing experiential value. The program encompasses an XR exhibition, an inclusive international conference, workshops, and more, spread across three floors (4F, 5F, 6F) within SHIBUYA STREAM Hall.
Mawari & MXR present: 6th Floor Main Hall: Immersive Program
Crafted by the renowned choreographer and visual artist Hiroaki Umeda in collaboration with MXR , the world’s first mixed-media immersive XR installation “assimilating XR” will be held in the main hall on the 6th floor of SHIBUYA STREAM Hall.
Here, you will be transported into an awe-inspiring universe, crafted through a seamless melding of contemporary dance, avant-garde digital art, and the evolutionary power of MR (mixed reality) technology.
This exhibition leverages the revolutionary MXR visual art tool to create unprecedented choreographed visuals. Powered by Mawari Network’s Core XR streaming technology, it results in a never-seen-before pioneering experience that reshapes the landscape of immersive art.
5th Floor Foyer: Conference Program
On December 9th (Sat), an engaging talk event centered around digital creativity and focused on key topics like XR, AI, and WEB3 is set to take place in the 5th Floor Foyer. Esteemed figures will join artists, creators, technicians, experts, and companies in coming together for insightful panel discussions, keynotes, and presentations. These sessions aim to foster exploration at the crossroads of cutting-edge technology and art, examining the community’s roles, potentials, and challenges.
On December 10th (Sun), VIE, Inc., dedicated to advancing next-generation wearable in-ear EEG devices and the societal integration of neurotechnology will organize an extensive conference program in partnership with Ableton. The event, titled ‘VIE presents “Neuro Music – Dive into your brain,”’ encompasses a range of activities, including workshops, talk sessions, live performances, and more. As part of the morning program on the 10th, there is a slated workshop featuring the innovative creator tool ‘MXR,’ specifically designed for music and creative audio-visual projects. This marks the introduction of MXR to Japan as a cutting-edge tool for the evolution of concert visuals in the next generation.
4th Floor Entrance Hall: XR Program
At the 4th Floor Entrance Hall, two immersive experiences will be presented featuring the latest MR content powered by Niantic’s AR development platforms, “Lightship ARDK” and “8th Wall.” These experiences showcase ‘GOFL by Liquid City’ and ‘Magical Forest by Designium.’
In collaboration with MUTEK.JP, the XR project and community NEWVIEW will present the XR piece “Humarium.” Created by Tomoro Kinoshita, a finalist of the global NEWVIEW AWARDS 2022, this exhibition offers a dual-viewing experience. On top of that, the “Immersive Collection,” a pioneering category of audio-visual art utilizing state-of-the-art XR technology produced by MUTEK Montreal will unveil three new VR pieces, building on the success of last year’s release.
Festival Outline
MUTEK.JP Pro Conference in collaboration with Mawari
Dates: Saturday 9th – Sunday 10th December, 2023
Venue: SHIBUYA STREAM Hall
Time: 10:00-19:00
Tickets:
6th Floor Main Hall “assimilating XR”: ¥3,000
5th Floor Foyer “MUTEK.JP Pro Conference 2023,” “VIE presents Conference Program,”
“Neuro Music – Dive into your brain”: Free
4th Floor Entrance Hall: “GOFL by Liquid City,” “Magical Forest by Designium,” “NEWVIEW” “Humarium” “Tomoro Kinoshita,” “MUTEK.JP Immersive Collection”: Free
Organiser: MUTEK Japan AC, Mawari Co., Ltd.
Collaborator: Niantic, VIE,Inc. Derivative – TouchDesigner, Ableton Co., Ltd., Roland Co., Ltd., Prism Co., Ltd., Sony PCL Inc., TOKYO ONKEN, NEWVIEW, MXR and Shure
Special Collaborator: SHIBUYA STREAM
Institutional and Government Partners: Shibuya City, Gouvernement du Québec,
Corporate Partner: YOKOHAMA DANCE COLLECTION 2023
Grant Support: Arts Council Tokyo
Official website: http://conference.mutekjp.org/
Editor’s Note
MUTEK.JP is packed with essential keywords for contemporary society: technology, human art, diversity, social issues, and community. From legendary artists to those who are not yet widely known, MUTEK.JP offers a diverse range of content.
According to MUTEK.JP, in Europe and North America, it’s common for governments and municipalities to recommend promising newcomers saying, ‘Please have them perform at MUTEK.JP.’ Through this cutting-edge cultural exchange event, it is earnestly hoped that such forward-thinking attitudes will also take root in Japan.
MUTEK.JP 2023 Edition 8
Dates: Thursday 7th – Saturday 9th December, 2023
Venue: Spotify O-EAST, WOMB
Tickets:
Advance passport (Nov 9th – Dec 6th) ¥25,000
*A drink fee of ¥600 will be charged separately at Spotify O-EAST
*A Passport allows admission to all of the following events:
December 7th [Nocturne 1] Spotify O-EAST
December 8th [Nocturne 2] Spotify O-EAST
December 9th [Nocturne 3] Spotify O-EAST
December 8th MUTEK.JP x WOMB
December 9th MUTEK.JP x WOMB
Organiser: MUTEK Japan AC
Special Collaborator: Shibuya Stream
Collaborator: Mawari Inc
Institutional and Government Partners: Arts Council Tokyo, Shibuya City, Gouvernement du Québec, Federal Ministry Republic of Austria Arts, Culture, Civil Service & Sport, AUSTRIAN CULTURAL FORUM TOKYO
Corporate Partner: YOKOHAMA DANCE COLLECTION 2023
Official website: https://tokyo.mutek.org/
Ticket page: https://mutekjp.zaiko.io/item/359664
