Ships / Jyväskylä Condition (2023) is a city-specific soundscape composition created for SÄHKÖ, a long-running poetry club at Vakiopaine (a legendary venue) in Jyväskylä, Finland. It was presented as part of their 42nd club night on September 9, 2023. The composition formed the backing track of my solo live-set which otherwise consisted of improvised “afrorithmic cityscapes and futurhythmic environments” (my description).

The composition is made entirely of field recordings done by me in and around Jyväskylä between June and September 2023; the recordings have been further treated to make them sound more abstract and musical. In addition, the piece contains a Ginette performance by Petteri Mäkiniemi, played here lower and slower than the original and with added treatments of equalisation, compression and modulation (a subtle tremolo effect).

The idea has been to reflect the urban condition of Jyväskylä and present a musically complemental piece for the conclusion of the poetry evening: an elevating yet contemplative atmosphere drawing from the local environment and culture as well as some of the reading presented during the evening (I had also performed with poet Sanna Karlström and our performance was reflected in the live-generated material of my solo set through certain re-treated sounds and elements of Karlström’s voice).

Ships / Jyväskylä Condition (2023)

Composition, field recordings, treatments, mixing and production: Ilpo Jauhiainen

Ginette (composition and performance): Petteri Mäkiniemi

Video painting: Ilpo Jauhiainen

Supported by Keski-Suomen Kirjailijat ry