Frank Schaeffer In Conversation with Emmy-nominated composer McKenzie Stubbert, exploring the traditions of film music, 20th Century Minimalism, and his forthcoming album, Waiting Room.
Refresh Page for Podcast
Curious Music is pleased to announce the release of Waiting Room by Emmy-nominated composer and musician McKenzie Stubbert. A hand-numbered limited edition (of 500) cd and digital download releases on May 31, 2022 and is available for pre-order now.
Waiting Room explores the relationship between machines and spirit. It was conceived around the organic idiosyncrasies of the Acrosonic piano loaned to me after a pair of reputable piano movers dropped my console piano down two flights of stairs onto a city sidewalk. With its unique tone and aching internal mechanisms, this replacement brought a percussive, organic texture often repaired out of other instruments. This album blends new classical and electronic elements through experimentation, frustration, and eventual resignation with the instrument’s limitations.
Curious Music is pleased to announce the release of "Iešana" the first single from the forthcoming album Waiting Room by Emmy-nominated composer and musician McKenzie Stubbert.
This beautiful video, filmed in Riga, Latvia - choreographed by Lily Skove and directed by TJ Hellmuth, is organized by the Contemporary Dance Choreographers Union.
"Iešana" highlights the depth and intricacies of Stubbert's work. We hope you enjoy it.
Waiting Room is available as a hand-numbered limited edition (of 500) cd and digital download releasing on May 31, 2022. Available for pre-order now at curiousmusicia.bandcamp.com
From the artist:
Waiting Room explores the relationship between machines and spirit. It was conceived around the organic idiosyncrasies of the Acrosonic piano loaned to me after a pair of reputable piano movers dropped my console piano down two flights of stairs onto a city sidewalk. With its unique tone and aching internal mechanisms, this replacement brought a percussive, organic texture often repaired out of other instruments. This album blends new classical and electronic elements through experimentation, frustration, and eventual resignation with the instrument’s limitations.
McKenzie Stubbert is an Emmy-nominated composer based in Los Angeles. His work is steeped in the traditions of film music, electronic art-music, and the minimalists of the late 20th Century. Collaborators include Katherine Bigelow, Pharrell Williams, Alex Gibney, Black Francis, and Tim Fain. His work has shown at international film and music festivals including Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Tribeca, and Sonar+D.
Receiving a formal music education from the University of Oregon, he initially pursued a freelance career scoring ads for brands like NETFLIX, NIKE, and LAIKA.
In 2014, he began a multi-year collaboration with immersive artist Chris Milk, scoring VR experiences. EVOLUTION OF VERSE (Annapurna Pictures) premiered at Sundance 2015, eventually showing all over the world, including President Barack Obama. In 2016, The New York Times’ THE DISPLACED, won the Cannes Lions Grand Prix and he live-scored Milk’s TED Talk, The Birth of VR. In 2017, he was invited to speak at the Sonar+D festival in Barcelona and scored the Emmy-nominated documentary ELIÁN for Jigsaw Productions and CNN Films.
In 2018, with writer James Nestor and Allison Pelissier he created the light inducement cinematic experience AETERNA, which premiered at Grey Area’s RECOMBINANT 2020 in San Francisco.
From 2019-2021, he was part of the musical project ELLETRO with cellist Caleigh Drane, creating modern classical works only using a single instrument and studio techniques from contemporary electronic music production, releasing two acclaimed EPs.
In early 2021, he completed his first solo album entitled, WAITING ROOM.