Between remembering and forgetting

Year-To-Date: We take into account the temporal and spatial coordinates when designing our programme: music, performance, art are read in the context of today's day at today's time, as a commentary, as a testimony to the times. What does it mean for you to be making music today, in contrast to perhaps a few years ago? 

Alpha Maid: It's always always meant having an outlet in response to anything going on in my life, I've always tried to protect making music as that. It’s more apparent for me than a few years ago that it’s not only a way of life for me, it's also my work. Maybe that sounds simple, but there’s quite a complicated tangle there that I'm starting to unravel. Making music meaning a form of work feels way more balanced and less toxic and gross compared to a few years ago and actually, accepting that has meant I have way more agency to set things up to still use making music as an outlet.

What do you think about the relationship between current events and making music? 

Current events are broad, I take current events as what's around me and part of me, things like biology, family, friends, dynamics, industries and communities I'm involved in. I often think everything trickles down and evaporates up, my life encompasses that. Again there’s this straddle position needed to really harness making music as an outlet - remembering and being honest about why you’re even making the music, then forgetting where you are currently to access the escape, whatever that may be. 

The word “glitch” got used in announcement texts for your music. We found ourselves intrigued about it and we were looking up its definition; as a sudden, usually temporary malfunction, often both unforeseen and unpredictable. Where is the potential of a “glitch” for you if it is welcome or even somewhat expected? 

Nice! Yeah. “Glitches“ are so exciting. To be sudden and unpredictable is powerful and dangerous. To go from that to anticipate or welcome a “glitch“, that's doing something to the goal posts. That's like changing states - pretty magical. There must be a subconscious trust in yourself to welcome a “glitch“ as a listener too.

You are coming to Zurich for a few days with your band, as you are rehearsing unreleased music here. Do you think that the time you spend here in Zurich changes the music and that this becomes audible? 

I'm really looking forward to my time in Zurich. I will trailer themes and sounds from some unreleased music that will be coming out later this year. This music was written between Manchester and south London and written across a few years in a few different life phases so it's great to have time in one set place to focus on bringing it to a live setting,  and for this to be in a very different city to where it was written as well. I wouldn't say my time here will be audible by the end, but also who knows, though I'm sure being in Switzerland will inform something and I'm open to however that lands. It could well inspire something audible at another stage, these sorts of variables have plans of their own.