098: Amy Knoles (Cal Arts, California E.A.R. Unit)

The Trap Set with Joe Wong

Joe Wong

Joewong, Drums, Comedy, Performing Arts, Arts, Drummers

4.8 • 709 Ratings

🗓️ 23 November 2016

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For the past four decades, Amy Knoles has pushed the boundaries of percussion and contemporary music in general. As the executive director of California E.A.R. unit, she has championed the work of living composers worldwide. She serves as a mentor to bright, young musicians at CalArts. As a composer, she stretches the limits of sound and light. She's also worked in the rock world, with everyone from Flea to Zappa. She and Joe talk about their native Milwaukee, empathy, embracing lack of control, and how much crying is healthy.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of The Trap Set is brought to you in part by Collecivo Coffee, handmade coffee since 1993.
0:07.4	Check them out online at collectivo.com.
0:23.6	This is Joe Wong. Welcome to the Trapset, where each week we explore the lives of drummers.
0:28.6	I want to play something for you. The
0:40.3	The You're hearing buildings composed and performed by my guest Amy Knowles.
1:05.4	Born in Milwaukee, Amy was educated at Cal Arts in the late 70s during one of that institution's most fertile, exciting periods.
1:13.8	In a career that has spanned four decades,
1:16.5	she's consistently pushed musical limits
1:19.1	in an astoundingly wide variety of contexts.
1:22.6	As director of the Modern Music Ensemble,
1:24.8	California Ear Unit,
1:26.3	she traveled the world performing the work of living composers.
1:30.3	As a composer, Amy has expanded the sonic palette of percussion and fearlessly championed the role of new technology.
1:39.3	Respected in several musical circles, she's worked with everyone from the LA.A. Philharmonic to John Luther Adams to flee to Frank Zappa.
1:48.4	I spoke to Amy at her home studio in the desert, where she's currently exploring new possibilities in modular synthesis and light manipulation.
1:58.7	And now my conversation with Amy Knowles.
2:01.6	I got arrested for smashing a pumpkin.
2:20.3	And we were chased by kids who sort of cornered us.
2:24.5	And then the police came and took me home.
2:26.9	And I went inside and said, Mom, there's a cop outside.
2:29.8	I just got arrested for smashing a pumpkin.
2:32.2	And she started laughing.
	...

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