The Thousands

Multiple vintage synthesizers, electric organs and keyboards fill the wood-paneled Recital Hall. Trained composer Julian Day, and his group of musicians, key towards a haunting, meditated soundtrack – and all spacial awareness is lost. Or found.

An Infinity Room opens this Friday. We asked Julian Day to answer a few questions and compile a mixtape so we could get clued in to his influences.

What makes the best mixtape?
Well, normally I’d say variety and contrast but that’s pretty lacking here. Instead I’ve given you something like an A.I.R. set, a collection of dreamy ambient tracks to while away your day or night. About the most extroverted is ‘Slow This Bird Down’, which as the title suggests is still quite soporific.

The best track on this one, and why?
Well, ‘Prelude’ by Julian Day is pretty damn fine. But I’d seriously have to say ‘Shimenawa’ by Bjork. It sounds like nothing else, really; the ancient Japanese sho pulsing through these mysteriously built chords, like the first fragrant breeze of spring…

For A.I.R, you’re using a bunch of vintage synthesizers. Any rare one’s that you want to brag about to us synth-heads?
Actually, most of my synths are pretty crappy. I found them in country towns or on the outskirts of Sydney, hiding out in people’s sheds and garages. Some I even found on park benches. Essentially they are musical orphans: nameless, scared and lost. But they still sound beautiful.

Are your works structured and rehearsed, or do you rely on improvisation for the most part?
They are definitely structured pieces which are pre-planned and rehearsed. They are, however, naturally flexible which means you’ll never hear them exactly the same way twice. I trained as a composer so I always design my structures quite carefully, but I also love organic shape and movement. A.I.R. is unique in that my players don’t actually need to be musicians specifically; they just need to have concentration, commitment and the ability to sit still. I aim to make inclusive art.

And finally, why should we experience A.I.R?
Because I’ve seen your hectic schedule and you seriously need to wind down.