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By Alice Alsup

Noah Clough has been making music for a few years, and earning respect along the way. You will see him on stage at Free Press Summer Fest 2024, for instance. He has fans and credibility, and he’s making a huge point of keeping both however he can.

Clough releases tracks on Soundcloud, for a long time as Josiah Gabriel and now as Make (mkabeats.soundcloud.com). They sound like this one. But sometimes not at all like that one. What Noah tells me he enjoys is “to see a large amount of people lose themselves” to the music he makes.

That could be why he’s so focused on being a talent, rather than an all-in-one act. “It’s what he want’s to stay, an artist,” says Kelly Townsend, his new manager. Kelly is fresh to this talent management stuff, but he’s been running an audio production venture called Lynchpin for 3 years. He’s got the full faith of Noah and FLCON FCKER, his other signed act. Between these two artists and Townsend’s work in audio, they’ve put in years to creating this moment and now, Kelly assures us, “everything we’ve done will feed everything we do.”

Part of why this style of music—which is not just future bass, or even trap—because “that’s a catchall,” says Kelly—is picking up is the convergence of new technology. These guys believe that they are “challenging what it means to be an original artist: as Townsend describes their work. They have a few reasons to support that assertion.

What Clough does to make tracks and then perform them live isn’t easy to explain. But there is an MPD 18 with a 3rd party midi shift he uses to hack the controller. What he does is essentially to “hijack” equipment fully suited to one task, but weren’t designed to do  “momentary effects.”

And it’s all about the momentary effects in what Noah does, as in “how do I get this shit to be expressive in general? Whereas one, zero, zero, one is unexpressive.” It’s a point in music making where new tech is converging. What Make does, say Townsend, “synthesizers do it, but digital advent is not audible, but adds to the physical sensation of being at a concert. [Noah’s] sub-base stuff is just at another level.”

That’s why, says Kelly, “this is the new frontier of what it means to be original.”

Make’s tracks use synth samples, bass patterns, all original content often from bizarre sources—kind of standard fair for modern sampling. But Clough does it well, and gets as weird as he wants to. In terms of sample types, Noah says, “what I like are more… they’re strange stuff I see on the internet. Groupings of words with energy behind them. They’re really just moments.”

He cites The Color of Pomegranates, a visual biography of Armenian poet Sayat-Nova, as a source. It is one of the strangest, most beautiful movies I’ve ever watched clips of on YouTube.

He’s got threads of Reggaeton, isolated vocals from theme songs, and what he does with them is interesting. But keep in mind that Clough isn’t ready to define his sounds. “The only narratives that you should draw from what he likes,” says Noah, “are yet to be seen.”

But “it’s OG,” says Kelly.

On the horizon for Noah Clough is the Make mix tape (out May 5th).

This release coupled with Make’s performance at FPSF will mark the official launch of the Josiah Gabriel artist’s new incarnation.

June 7-8 at Sam Houston Park: The annual Houston Beer Fest is back for another two day amazing experience with a wide variety of beers, live music, great food, and an official beer pong and flip cup tournament.

This is a great place to try beers from around the world with a selection of macro, micro, regional, local, craft, import and domestic, without the perquisite of being a beer snob. There’s no need to be overwhelmed thanks to the representatives and brewers that will be there to help you.  The best part is the Tournament of Champions Beer Pong and Flip Cup with a monetary prize of $100 per player and a 90 minute private testing session at Karbach Brewing Co for up to 20 people!

The festival has a great line up of performances including Rick Ross, Juicy J, Black Pistol Fire, and many others. For a list of their tentative line up, click here.

While the Early Bird and Holiday Bird passes have sold out, the Band Bird and Normal Bird passes are still available. Purchase the Band Bird now to receive general admission at a cheaper price for festival dates of June 7th, from 12 to 10 pm, and June 8th, from 11 am to 9 pm.

Leave the kiddos at home, this is a 21+ event.

April 23 at the University of Houston - The University of Houston’s India Studies Program will host a free screening of the highly-acclaimed film,Fandry, at the Farish Hall. The Marathi film questions the validity of India’s discriminatory caste system by incorporating a romantic relationship and leaves behind the glitz and glamour of typical Bollywood films.

Fandry has snagged up 8 awards abroad, including its selection in the Abu Dhabi Film Festival and winning the IPRESCI – India Film Critics Award.

What better way to celebrate the counter culture of the 80’s and 90’s but with Houston’s best club kid inspired party, Rave to the Grave. This is the place to be to unleash your inner Party Monster and ferociously party the night away decked out in feathered wings and eccentric looks.

This Saturday, April 19th, Maryoceane and Pegstar will be hosting the third annual Rave to the Grave at Fitzgerald’s complete with set performances and a costume contest to end the night successfully. The best part is this event is completely free for those who are 21 years of age and over. If you’re under this age, the entry fee is $5, which still isn’t too bad for the amount of fun you’ll have.

Don’t know who the club kids are? You’re missing out since the dance party is inspired by the hit film, Party Monsters, based on the true events of the New York club scene and the horrific murder of Andre “Angel” Melendez by Michael Alig. The movie, definitely worth checking out, will give you an idea on how to come dressed up as. This is a party that will make you feel under-dressed.

Dutch Small will Emcee the event with performances by Max Xandaux and Depressed Mode featuring Omar Afra, Austin Smith, Chris Landry, and Omar Al-Bochi (covering Depeche Mode and other 80’s and 90’s hits)! Spinning the night will be sets by DJ Fredster and Lacey Youngblood. Waiting outside to treat your sweet tooth will be Custom Confections.

This will be a night to remember so be sure to not miss it, you might regret it later! Slap on that glitter and bring your friends out to this year’s Rave to the Grave.

April 19 at Fitzgerald’s - It’s time to bust out your club kids costume, silver body glitter and release your inner Party Monster. The popular dance party inspired by the cult famous club kids scene from the late 80s and early 90s is back at Fitzgerald’s hosted by Maryoceane and Pegstar. If you haven’t watched the famous film Party Monsters based on the infamous Michael Alig and the club kids scene, you should!

Emcee-ing this hit party will be Dutch Small with performances by Max Xandaux and Depressed Mode featuring Omar Afra, Austin Smith, Chris Landry, Omar Al-Bochi (covering Depeche Mode and other hits)! With DJ Sets by Fredster and Lacey Youngblood.

You’ll need to dress up if you want to participate in the club kid costume contest for MONEY. SUCCESS. FAME. GLAMOUR. and remember to hashtag any party pictures with #ravetothegrave. Don’t be afraid to go over the top!

It’s free to enter if you are 21+ and $5 for under.

]]> http://freepresshouston.com/rave-to-the-grave-3/feed/ 0 http://freepresshouston.com/ramachandra-guha-reading/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ramachandra-guha-reading http://freepresshouston.com/ramachandra-guha-reading/#comments Thu, 17 Apr 2024 16:08:59 +0000 http://freepresshouston.com/?p=27681 VIA the FPH Event Guide

April 21 at The Menil Collection – The Menil Collection will be hosting a reading by Ramachandra Guha in anticipation of their upcoming exhibition based Experiments with Truth: Gandhi and Images of Nonviolence. Guha, a native of Bangalore, will be reading from his book considered to be the upcoming prominent biography of Gandhi. The biography uses untapped documents to create a narrative of Gandhi from birth through his years of a lawyer in South Africa.

Ramachadnra Guha is also the author of India After Gandhi, and has taught at Yale, Stanford and the London School of Economics.

The book will also be available for purchase at the Menil Collection Bookstore and the event is free to the public.

April 12 at Contemporary Art Museum of Houston - Gracelee Lawrence, an award-winning artists from North Carolina, will teach 15 participants technical and creative macramé, crochet, finger knitting, and woven structures. Lawrence will take this traditional art form a step further by teaching participants how to create an abstract work of art and functional objects such as baskets.Each participant will also receive a take-home illustrated workbook created by Lawrence that complements and expands on the topics covered during the workshop.

ENTRY IS $15 FOR CAMH MEMBERS AND $20 FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.