Reliquary V is an electronic music project that crosses the realms of avant garde practice and underground subcultures. My work is visual, poetic, and sonic; steeped in a neo-gothic sensibility wrought from murky threshold zones and liminal states.

For my live performances, I use an Elektron Octatrack, Waldorf Blofeld, and Korg Minitaur run through my Yamaha analog mixer. I also produce in Ableton Live when I crave a more varied sound palette.

Reliquary V evolved out of an artistic shift away from commercial and institutional art structures, toward an expanded community of collaborators and connections. My work develops on its own timeline, with the inspiration and support of creative cohorts.

When creating sound, I search for dissonant, deep, and dark frequencies. There is often something fragmented, shadowy, and rough-edged about the structure and design of my work. I want to create sounds to dream, dissociate, and dance to.

Project statement:

“T Threshold” was made from audio samples and software instruments using a voice memo app and DAW. I recorded the sound of a packet of testosterone gel being opened and applied to skin, and reworked the audio into parts for a drum kit that I used to write beats with. The other sounds in the track were developed from instruments and effects that I tweaked in an effort to evoke contrasting moods of weight and weightlessness. I layered a lot of spatial/timing effects, like different kinds of delay, reverb, and panning, to create an atmospheric feel. I also used the spectrum tool to tune the frequencies of each channel to resonate with each other, and creative EQ to shape and isolate intentionally harsh, soft, or punchy sounds.

My original concept for the piece was exploring the process of “self care” through the lens of gender affirming testosterone, which I had recently started. The subtle positive changes in my body and mind from the hormones inspired me to foster and care for myself in new, intentional ways. In terms of creating a sound art piece that reflected this concept, I looked toward symbolic and allegorical significators of gender fluidity that I connected with.

I was drawn to the mythological figure of Mercury as a messenger who moves between thresholds and acts as a psychopomp to souls in a transitory state. Alchemists ascribed transcendent qualities to Mercury because it’s a metallic substance that takes on a liquid state. “T Threshold” is meant to convey this morphing, transitory state between solid and vapor as an analogue of an evolving sense of self.