Janek Schaefer is a London-based sound artist, musician, and composer born in England to Polish and Canadian parents in 1970. He is known for his innovative work with sound and installation art.
[audio:Stephan Mathieu and Janek Schaefer – Fugue.mp3] In 2008, Schaefer won The British Composer of The Year Award for Sonic Art for his project Extended Play Triptych for the child survivors of war and conflict. The same year he won The Paul Hamlyn Award for Composers Prize.
He was the ‘McKnight Composer in Residence’ for the American Composers Forum, USA 2002/3.
In 2004 his Random Playing LP called ‘Skate’ received the ‘Award of Distinction’ at the Prix Ars Electronica. He works as a full time sound artist/composer/musician/sound designer from the audiOh! Room in Walton-on-Thames on the edge of London.
Janek Schaefer at St Nicholas Church in Leicester on the 6th March 2009
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=tzd45KKL-q8
While studying architecture at the Royal College of Art RCA annual prize, he recorded the fragmented noises of a sound activated dictaphone travelling overnight through the Post Office. That work, titled ‘Recorded Delivery’ 1995 was made for the ‘Self Storage’ exhibition Time Out critics choice with one time postman Brian Eno and Artangel.
Since then the multiple aspects of sound became his focus, resulting in many releases, installations, soundtracks for exhibitions, and concerts using his self built/invented record players with manipulated found sound collage.
[audio:Janek Schaefer – vinyl violin duo.mp3]
His Tri-phonic Turntable is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the ‘World’s Most Versatile Record Player’. He has performed, lectured and exhibited widely throughout Europe Sonar, Tate Modern, ICA, USA/Canada, The Walker, XI, Mutek, Princeton, Japan, and Australia Sydney Opera House.
Janek Schaefer will perfom at the MADEIRADIG Festival 2010. To get an idea what goes on there and why it is so unique have a look at the last year Pictures & Comments, watch the documentary or visit the Website.
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THE MADEIRADIG FESTIVAL 2010
03-06.12.2010 | Madeira Island / Portugal
with Janek Schaefer, Simon Whetham & Hugo Olim, Ben Frost, Richard Skelton, PITA, The Beautiful Schizophonic, Peter Broderick, Caro Mikalef & Stephan Mathieu, Max Tundra uvm.
www.madeiradig.net | http://www.audioh.com
