Whether you know it or not, Houston has a thriving electronic music scene. The fact that this genre is relatively unrecognized is what has been bugging composer Paul Connolly for a while. So, he decided to do something about it and that something is called Brave New Waves, which is a monthly music series focusing on electronic, electro-acoustic and other music forms, now in its third month.
We spoke with Connolly a few months back when the series launched, but it's gone through some growing pains with a new location and a brief hiatus.
Connolly is a music man through and through. Hailing from Calgary, Connolly has studied music composition and recording since he was just a wee lad. He traveled around much of the globe and eventually planted roots in Sugar Land. In his seven years in Texas, the rich and varied musical talent in the city has continuously blown him away, specifically pertaining to his own passion of incorporating technology into music.
"With electronic music," Connolly says, "the possibilities are limitless." He is a music-boundary pusher and enhances his compositions with modern-day techniques.
Immersing himself in the world of electronic music, Connolly noticed that amidst that massive amount of talent, there was a gap: these artists did not have the support needed to showcase their crafts. With this in mind, Connolly decided to start a monthly platform where electronic musicians could come and play in an attempt to get a broader audience.
The result of these efforts is Brave New Waves, which has returned from a short break. Each given show may feature various genres such as ambient, drone, traditional electronic and noise, among others. The shows are somewhat themed, with three to four acts on the bill, as well as a featured "historical" piece. This month's piece is by noted musician Brian Eno.
The performers on the docket this month include Night at Noon, an experimental drone/trance musician, electronic composer Chapman Welch, Pulse Rifle and the experimental noise project of ILLICIT RELATIONSHIP.
Connolly curates each show and finds the performers through various channels. He has an open call for anyone who wants to participate, but also handpicks artists that he admires. Despite the change in location -- the event has moved from 14 Pew to Studio 101 -- Connolly hopes it will continue to gain traction.
"We've been getting roughly 40 or so people," he says. "We're looking for it to grow."
Moving forward, Connolly hopes that the series will grow into a large, annual festival. In his mind, musicians from around Texas would take the show on the road in a statewide capacity and then bring it on home to Houston.
"I would love for this to become a positive thing for the city," Connolly mentions, "and make this be something for Houston to own."
For now, you can catch this month's series on Sunday, August 26, at Studio 101, 1824 Spring Street at 7 p.m. For more information, visit Facebook.com/brave-new-waves.
