“…It takes a unique but a broad skill set to become a scrap art musician. In order to play my instruments, you sort’a have to happily walk away from established instruments and walk over to my power stuff and start investigating and then be prepared to run around a bit, carry it, jump on top of it…” says, Gregory Kozak one of the founders of the Scrap Arts Music Company. He, along with Justin Murdy, came up with an idea that was drastic even by its own measures in the spring of 1998, something which has since then been revolutionizing music itself.
After nine years of domestic bliss, these Vancouver denizens decided to try something which was new and that had never been done before. What they really wanted to do was build and create an ‘orchestra of invented instruments for original music’. Then, with no sturdy capital to bolster this vision, the challenge was to prepare and believe that one possessed such skill set to design and build something from scratch or, in this case, scrap. At that moment, Justin considered their collective talents –architecture and music — and the whimsical possibilities with his other half, Gregory, at the helm. They used the cheap material from construction and built instruments, perhaps a bit peculiar, but definitely out of their time and place. At that time, ‘Scrap Arts Music’ was born. With their diverse backgrounds, this eccentric duo began collecting materials and ideas, birthing new musical instruments and compositions; creations that were intricate, playful and powerful. Soon after that, professionals across the hemisphere were attracted to this new form of art and admiration for this couple of music architects kept brimming. Since debuting in the USA in 2001, Scrap Arts Music has performed for millions of people across the world. Many popular percussion artists trace their beginnings to Scrap Arts Music, including Spencer Cole from Weaves and Scott Bishop from Blue Man Group.
The ‘Children of Metropolis’ production is set to explore the theme of ‘one musician’s search for meaning in a world forever changed’, in a serious yet light-hearted way with original music, invented sculptural instruments and choreographed movements. This theme also plans on experimenting a non-verbal narrative with projected film elements. ‘Children of Metropolis’ is an imaginative envisioning of what happened to the children featured at the end of Fritz Lang’s great classic film of 1927, ‘Metropolis’. The movie has a tragic ending with the city marching towards the path of self-destruction. This theme focuses on delivering the idea of what happened to the next generation.
Michigan Tech welcomes this brave duo to perform at the Rozsa Centre for Performing Arts on Wednesday, March 28. The event is scheduled to begin at 7.30 p.m. The fee is $22.00 for adults and $10.00 for youth; however, students who have paid the experience tech fee have free entry. This is a remarkable event with some extraordinary music and visual art displayed together, making the performance visually appealing as well as a treat to the ears. To purchase tickets, contact the ticketing office at (906) 487-2073 or visit the Rozsa page at http://www.mtu.edu/rozsa.
