END OF TIME
12th MAY 2021 - by Jimmy Kyriacou
‘We believe we are at the very beginning of a revolution in sound. It’s where spatial audio meets ancient and future technology. End of Time is an immersive meditative sound experience fusing acoustic and digital instruments, creating music using space (3D spatial audio) as an instrument.’
As live immersive performances continue to evolve - Amsterdam-based 'End of Time' have been developing their sound and unique live experience. They have performed all around the globe including festivals in Germany, the Netherlands, BlockBase at Davos & Ibiza.
End of Time does not approach music in a traditional way. Instead of creating songs or beats, they create sonic scapes that form an aural field through the use of ambisonics technology. This enables them to use space as a part of the composition, in the same way as the tones and harmonies are. To create this immersive sonic field they use an array of speakers surrounding and enveloping the crowd within an ambisonic field or sphere. This field holds the aural space, filled with the natural harmonic frequencies tuned to the planets of our solar system and the colors of our visible light spectrum, enabling the consciousness of the listeners to access deeper parts within themselves while present in this field.
I recently caught up with STACEY GRIFFIN who is one of the founding members and is based in Amsterdam. Originally from Canada, Stacey is also the founder of SHIFT MEDITATION
How did End of Time begin & what is the origin of the name?
We were introduced through a mutual friend and immediately felt a connection and within a few hours, the concept was born, like something we were remembering we had done before. The name comes from the idea that we strive to create a space that expands the listeners' consciousness. When they step into the End of Time Experience, they are leaving the linear concept of time and entering the now or present moment. ‘’At the End of Time, there is only Now.’’
How would you describe your sound?
We create our music using space (3D spatial audio) as an instrument. And we perform this multidimensional music spatially with a mix of acoustic and digital instruments. Fusing ancient, mystical instruments such as the gong, quartz crystal singing bowls, chimes, shamanic drum, Tibetan singing bowls and, tuning forks, with synthesizers, samplers and sequencers and an array of futuristic effects and gadgets to expand and innovate the way we express this new music. We perform in multiple dimensions instead of just two (stereo) to reach higher dimensions. Our setup is adaptive and can range from a minimum of 8 speakers to arrays of 32, 64, or more both in setups surrounding the crowd as well as in a full sphere.
What is the most unusual location you have performed?
It’s hard to come up with just one as most of our performances are pretty out of the ordinary. From the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to a mountainside in Ibiza and a forest festival in Poland. We consider space as an integral part of the experience.
How do you envision the future of live music performances?
We feel the experience of music performances hasn’t been innovated on in a long while, so we feel there is a role for us to play in exploring new ways to approach this relationship and this experience. People can really take the time to connect with themselves, with the space, with the group. We start really slow, disconnecting from the fast-paced lives that we all normally experience. Then we take the listener on a sonic journey. The spatial audio really works well for this, because suddenly you’re enveloped in the story that we tell. The distractions become less and because we start sitting or lying down, you are really there and present, actively listening to a sonic story. Everything we do is completely improvised, it all comes up right then and there in that specific moment, and because we improvise everything on the spot, the experience of listening/dancing to music and the relationship between audience and performer is completely different. We’re in it together, immersed in a story, that we also don’t know where it will take us, but the journey always ends up where it was supposed to all along.
Amsterdam has always been an exciting city - also hosting AMSTERDAM DANCE EVENT / ADE every year - what’s hot there right now musically?
This is a tricky one as one of the great things about Amsterdam is its eclectic nature!
DAVOS BLOCKBASE is an incredible gathering of minds - how did you get involved?
Stacey from the group already had a relationship with the founder and was involved with the whole concept, so it was a perfect alignment to have us create in the first year daily 3D spatial performances with live reactive visuals and in the second year a fully interactive art installation. Was a truly incredible experience having some of the world’s top leaders of countries and companies as your audience.
What’s coming up next for End of Time?
We’re currently working on a residency at a unique location in Amsterdam to experiment and push the boundaries of spatial audio and frequencies. We’re also working on some cool events and festivals coming up later this summer and into early Fall here in the Netherlands and in the US. And of course, always making music.
Seven Rays Audio Visual Installation