dark waves by steven leak

released December 11, 2024

"dark waves" came about during a one week period where enough music to make two albums suddenly arrived. i wanted to make music with treated voices so i started by using my own. but i soon realized that i was looking for something more "disembodied" and so I used shortwave signals. what i didn't anticipate is how very dark and difficult the music those signals brought with them would be.

when you listen to this album, track 1 ("wish shop") is at the extreme of what i was looking to create. as the album moves on, different layers of colour and texture are brought in and by the sixth track "fallen" (my favourite), a lot of the learning that went into creating these tracks
shows up.

My hope is to bring what I learned in making this music into future music projects, having "acquired" several new voices and approaches in the process. A special thankyou is extended to my dear friend Erik Emil Eskidsen whose contributions to this music in the form of additional and intuitive sonic treatments and reconfigurations, brought it much closer to what i wanted to hear.

steven

releases November 18, 2024

"dark waves" was created using Arturia Minifreak and Microfreak synthesizers. i ran many of the signals from these two synths through Red Panda Tensor and Particle pedals, a TC Infinite pedal, a Zoom multiplex pedal. i also incorporated shortwave radio signals, my voice, tuned wine glasses and found objects and sounds. all of this was at some time or another, live-room recorded onto a Zoom H4N.

Composed and Produced by Steven Leak
Intuitive sonic treatments and reconfigurations by Erik Emil Eskildsen
Cover Art by Steven Leak
Mixed and Mastered by Erik Emil Eskildsen in Denmark