Micah Frank

The Kamoni Agenda

For the past 5 years, one of my most rewarding and time consuming projects has been “Kamoni”. It started off with some experimentation in 2002 but wasn’t fully realized (the way I envisioned it) until technology caught up a few years later.

The process is still not manifesting exactly how I would like (in the ideal world). I would prefer less rehearsed, more spontaneous content to trigger and perform live with. The system is still too rigid with certain patterns being locked into one another. At times I wish I could load new content into an improvisation the way a DJ throws a new plate on the decks.

I’ve had a great time playing live and demonstrating what can be accomplished in real-time with a simple percussion controller. It has taken a while, but I think the “controller as instrument” concept is in full bloom now. I know some kids with crazy chops will be taking this concept to the next level soon.

Thanks to everyone for all the support and questions over the past few years. I’m taking an indefinite break with Kamoni as I pursue some other projects (ones that I hope will be as equally rewarding for me). Stay Tuned…

Kamoni Live Performance Audio

Over the past few years I have received loads of requests to upload “tracks”. While I do produce music for others and have released my own original material (a simple search on iTunes will yield a moderate dose of house and techno), I generally find sequencing my own original music over a span of bars and beats too 2-dimensional and (to be perfectly honest) a tiresome process. I much prefer to program interactive kits in the studio then bring it out live, reacting in real-time with the sound, the space and the audience to create something unique for that moment.

I have dug up some past live performances and bounced out excerpts that are freely available for download. They are not mixed or mastered, rather raw real-time bits of performances from various places I have played. I really like some of these and I hope that you do too. I also intend to add to this collection as I play more in upcoming years, perhaps with a more “live” sound using a mic on stage as well.

Live performance ‘Viviparous’ - Earthdance Tampa, Florida by micahfrank

Live performance ‘Margauy’ @ Q Club - Birmingham UK by micahfrank Live performance of “Echidna” from Phuq Radio show. by micahfrank

Biography

Micah Frank, born 1977 in Columbia, Missouri, is a New York City based composer, sound designer and live performer. He studied Jazz and Contemporary Music at The New School with legends such as Benny Powell, Reggie Workman and Junior Mance. In the years following college, Micah quickly progressed into electronic composition and sound design while being employed as an engineer, composer and session drummer for leading New York City scoring houses.

As Kamoni, his live improvised onslaught of chopped-up jungle beats, dubstep grooves and raw cerebral soundscapes has captivated enthused audiences worldwide. On stage, Kamoni’s real-time assemblage of sound is juggled between a hardware percussion controller and music software employing sophisticated sound programming techniques.

From leading music software developers such as Ableton and Native Instruments to many television and online ads Micah’s work has been published as a unique sonic stimulus behind numerous commercial products. Micah has been an integral part of Ableton’s sound development team since 2004. He is the founder and lead developer of Puremagnetik, a pioneering Brooklyn-based sound design company. Micah is a frequent guest lecturer at SAE and other educational institutions. His work has been featured in Electronic Musician, Sound on Sound, XLR8R, Remix, Computer Music, Recording, Knowledge, Keys and other publications.