Georgia Tech and legendary audio engineer Young Guru present The Atlanta Sound Project by recording and sound engineer Finis White, known popularly as KY Engineerin’. The project, described as “for Atlanta, by Atlanta,” incorporates students in the exploration of different ambient sounds from various neighborhoods, and considers “What does the culture of a place sound like?” The A3C will present a demonstration of the project as part of its 2014 festival experience in Atlanta,October 8-12.
Every day we are immersed in sound. Whether it’s walking to the bus stop or browsing in the mall, sound is all around us. Young Guru and Georgia Tech artist in residence KY Engineerin’ want students to consider turning everyday sounds into beautiful music, asking the questions: “What if people took their ear-buds out of their ears and let nature’s sound take over? Would different ambient noises from different neighborhoods fit in their own unique genre of music?”
The project will begin in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, with Georgia Tech students recording the sounds of the neighborhood. KY Engineerin’ and Young Guru will demo the work to date at the A3C Festival, which also hosts The Era of the Engineer, a panel discussion on the relationship between audio engineers and computer engineers.
Students from other local schools will also participate in the project, which will culminate with a professionally produced sound and visual art installation in the spring of 2015. The final project will incorporate sound, technology, visual art and the soul of the communities it represents.
KY Engineerin’: Grammy-nominated recording and mixing engineer KY Engineerin’ finds himself on the cutting edge of sound in all aspects and understands the importance of creativity within the music industry. After making a name for himself in 2006 working at Hot Beats Studio in Midtown Atlanta, KY began to work exclusively for Young Money/Cash Money records in Miami recording Lil’ Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj. In late 2010, he moved back to Atlanta and started working with publishing companies BMI and ASCAP to understand the landscape better, knowing his sound was starting to attract the biggest names in music. This was also the time that KY Engineerin’ started to become a household name in music, mixing records for industry heavyweights.
Young Guru: Revered as “The Sound of New York,” Young Guru possesses over a decade of experience in sound engineering and production, and is most recognized for his work with Jay-Z. Young Guru was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2011 for his work on Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. Young Guru is currently an Artist in Residence at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. Influenced by early hip hop, rock, electro, house and soul music, Young Guru’s skill set has branded him as a true sound genius and orchestrator. As a result of his passion for music education, Young Guru has established The Young Guru Foundation to assist students with scholarships in the study of sound production.
Arts@Tech: The intersection of art and technology is the hallmark of the Arts@Tech initiative at Georgia Tech, which serves to enhance the Tech community by fostering programs and events spanning the arts spectrum through technological innovation and creative expression. Vibrant signs of the initiative are visible across campus, from outdoor art installations to the annual TechArts Festival. Exploring the arts prepares Georgia Tech students for leadership, collaborative thinking, problem solving, and success in a world where art, science, and technology intersect to touch every aspect of the human experience. For artist residency information see http://arts.gatech.edu/content/8/artists-in-residence.