S Annual Administrative Report 2016 s 1
Electronic Music Malta Registered VO: 1155 Registered Address: 42b, Paola Hill, Paola, Malta. Telephone: 9992 3000 / 9945 7445 electronicmusicmalta.org 2
Contents Chairman s Statement Yearly Activities Report Executive Committee 3
Chairman s Statement Following its formation, in 2015, during which Electronic Music Malta (EMM) set about establishing its first activities and initiatives which spanned philanthropic events, presentations, talks, performances and workshops, in 2016 we continued to grow and set about holding the very first electronic music convention in Malta. Circuits An Electronic Music Convention was a unique event that spanned two days and which involved a number of activities related to the aims and objectives of EMM and which included more than fifteen participants. During this event, we also hoped to encompass also the history and documentation of electronic music in our island, and this we did thanks to collaboration with another organization The M3P Foundation and also an exhibition held inside St James Cavalier. It is thanks to our multi-year agreement with Fondazzjoni Kreattivita, that later on in 2016, EMM planned another season of activities based in this cultural HUB located at the heart of our Capital City, a season which saw us launch our first event in collaboration with the MCAST institute. This again was a true example of the path in which EMM now will be steering towards. This path will see us collaborating with more entities and artists both national and international and also reaching out to new audiences, especially secondary school students in a program which we aim to launch especially to promote electronic music amongst teens. EMM as a voluntary organization is active on a daily basis as, thanks to the Management of Radio Malta 2, we continue to host a bi-weekly programme on National Radio - Metro which so far has featured more than 30 different electronic music artists from our island. Finally I would also like to point out that in 2016, we have finally launched our Vimeo Video library which aims to host all the footage recorded during our activities. This would be a unique resource in the Maltese islands which can be used by members and the public in general as a source of research in the field covered by our organization. As in our first year, I would like to conclude this yearly statement by showing my appreciation and gratitude to the Secretary, Treasurer and all members of the EMM executive committee for their dedication and hard work. I would also like to thank a growing list of people and entities who have helped and assisted us in the past months and to our members who have place their trust in Electronic Music Malta. Grazzi lilkom ilkoll!! Edwin Balzan Chairman, Electronic Music Malta. 4
Electronic Music Malta Annual Administrative Report 31st December 2016 Yearly Activities Report Beyond Egg Crates 22nd February 2016 Electronic Music Malta (EMM) held its first activity of the year by inviting its members to witness first hand the process of acoustic treatment. Members were invited to Noise Alliance Studios at Qormi where Stephen Psaila held a talk on the principles of acoustic treatment demonstrating also the process of acoustic measurement as performed on an untreated room. A further session is planned for 2017 whereby the process of acoustic treatment will be explained and further measurement will be made on the same room following treatment. 5
Circuits An Electronic Music Convention 19 th, 20 th March 2016 The first ever electronic music convention to be held in Malta was organized by EMM over the span of two days between Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th March 2016. Various activities and initiatives were be held with by the organisation s own members and committee with the participation of various guest musicians and artists. This convention was open to the public. An installation was setup throughout the duration of the convention whilst an exhibition explaining the aim, objectives and activities organized by EMM together with some exhibits related to the Maltese electronic music scene throughout the years was held for a period spanning 10 days prior to the convention. Throughout the convention, the following activities were held: Live Radio Transmission (Brian James, Owen Jay, Ray Bajada) Interactive Audiovisual Installation (Digital Nature) Documentation Space (An exhibition showing Electronic Music Malta s organisational aims, list of activities, achievements, membership, and Maltese electronic music memorabilia spanning 30 years. Material will be on display in static, audio and video formats together with a collection of vinyl, cd s and instruments). Below is a summary of the events held during these two days: Saturday, 19 th March 2016: M3P.com.mt Information Session (Dr Toni Sant and Joe Julia Farrugia) Artist at Work Showcase (Microlith, Stimulus Timbre, Acidulant, Owen Jay) Wikimedia Information Session (Wikimedia Community Malta) EMM Information Session / Annual Meeting (EMM Committee) Transit Performance followed by Interview (Tricia Dawn Williams) Music Production Workshop (Dean Demanuele) 6
Electronic Music Malta Annual Administrative Report 31st December 2016 Sunday, 20th March 2016 Artist at Work Showcases (Duo Blank, Sonitus Eco, Melchior Sultana) Label Management Workshop (Owen Jay) Music Production Workshop (Tripy) Guitar Workshop (Wayne Camilleri) DJing Workshop (David Dee) EMM Information Session and Annual General Meeting Documentation Space: Exhibition and Information about EMM M3P Information Session Held by Dr Toni Sant Artist at Work Showcase : Microlith Informative Leaflets Distributed during the Convention Transit: Performance and Interview by Tricia Dawn Williams Visitors at the Artist at Work Showcase by Acidulant Interactive Audio Visual Installation by Digital Nature 7
Electronic Music Malta Annual Administrative Report 31st December 2016 Wayne Camilleri holding a Guitar Workshop Music Production Workshop held by Dean Demanuele Live Radio Transmission by Radio Malta 2 Music Production Workshop by Tripy Hardware vs Software: Public Workshop 29th October 2016 A public workshop by Edwin Balzan on how Hardware and Software applications can be adopted for music production, composition and arrangements was held at the St James Cavalier Cinema. Video interviews filmed at 3 studios in Malta were shown thanks to the assistance of Chris Buhagiar, Owen Jay and Cyprian Cassar. Participants to the Hardware vs Software workshop Edwin Balzan Holding the Workshop on Hardware and Software 8
Electronic Music Malta Annual Administrative Report 31st December 2016 The Sound of Belgium: Film Screening 17th December 2016 Electronic Music Malta in collaboration with Spazju Kreattiv presented the screening of the documentary The Sound of Belgium at the St James Cavalier Cinema. This documentary explores the rich but untold story and origins of the Belgian electronic dance music. Several of the artists and record label owners featured in this documentary actually have connections with the Maltese electronic music scene. A discussion was also held following the screening. Electronic Music in Gaming: December 2016 Talk in Conjunction with MCAST 28th A public discussion was hosted at the St James Cavalier Cinema which will featured the aspect of musical creativity when blended and used in the contest of digital games or better yet, video games. Danjeli Schembri holding a talk on Music in Video Games Participants to the Electronic Music in Gaming Talk During the discussion, Silvio Nocilla and Kris Domancich from MCAST explained how this College prepares its students in this field. Danjeli Schembri, who works with the Audio Team of video game developer Rockstar North (Grand Theft Auto / Red Dead Redemption) in Edinburgh, Scotland, and who is also an electronic music producer and composer with Maltese bands such as No Bling Show, Sixth Simfoni, Kazinska and Brikkuni, gave a talk about his professional experience in the field of interactive audio and music. 9
Metro Radio Programme The Voice of EMM on Radio Malta 2 Throughout 2016 Electronic Music Malta produced a regular radio show which was aired on the national radio station - Radio Malta 2 weekly every Thursday at 9:30pm with a repeat on Sunday at 11:00pm. This show ran from the months of January to June and the months of Octuber till the end of the year. The 90-minute radio show is hosted by DJ Brian James and Owen Jay and features electronic styles such as house, deep house, deep techno, dubby techno and electronica. Each week this show features a different electronic music artist who would provide original productions, a mix and is interviewed by the show presenters. Artists featured in this radio show included: Sonitus Eco, Woody Aki, Dj Liam, Dean Demanuele, Boifunk, Jewel T, Craig Kerg, Migz, Manthrax, Hail Blk, A-Mag, Melchior Sultana, David Dee, Acidulant, Zadiq, Faddy, Gordon Flash, Duo Blank, Marcellus, A-Call, Owen Jay, Brian James and Roberta Nicholls. 10
Executive Committee Chairman Edwin Balzan Secretary Neil Hales Treasurer Owen Bezzina Members: Frank Cachia Bjan Jensen Darmanin* Keith Farrugia Toni Gialanze Andrew Magro* Stephen Psaila** Note: *As from June 2016, Andrew Magro and Bjan Jensen Darmanin resigned from the committee to due other professional commitments however continued to assist the organization in its activities. **Stephen Psaila joined the committee as from July 2016 acting as Vice Secretary. 11