Program

Sontag Shogun is a collaborative trio that makes use of analogue sound treatments and nostalgic solo piano compositions in harmony to depict abstract places in our memory. Textures built from organic materials such as sand, slate, boiling water, brush and dried leaves, both produced live in performance and recorded to weathered 1/4\' tape warm up the space between lush piano themes. All of which is abstracted coolly in the reflective digital space of treated vocals and a live-processed feed from the piano. Bringing us back, like a faded passing scent or any natural emotive trigger, but to where? The wordless journey there will inevitably be more revealing than the destination itself.

Ian Temple, piano
Jeremy Young, tapes, oscillators, piezo mics
Jesse Perlstein, laptop, field recordings

Sontag Shogun has shared the stage with notable artists such as Hauschka, Dawn Of Midi, Julia Kent, Todd Reynolds, R. Luke DuBois, Edwin Van Der Heide, Aki Onda, Tom Carter, Alexander Turnquist, Matana Roberts, Akron/Family, William Parker & Hamid Drake, Chris Forsyth, Ben Vida & Koen Holtkamp, Sam Shalabi, Noveller, Christof Migone, Loren Dent, thisquietarmy, 10 and Yan Jun, as well as many others.

music
Stream Sontag Shogun\'s recent performance with Hauschka
https://www.wnyc.org/widgets/ondemand_player/#file=http%3A%2F%2Faudio.wnyc.org%2Fqlive%2Fqlive051815sont.mp3.

Watch a live performance in Tokyo, Japan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UdodjOVj_E

http://cargocollective.com/jeremyyoung
http://chantsbeneath.net

\'The merging of classical piano playing with laptop-generated textures, field recordings, and tape materials makes for a thoroughly captivating sound that\'s Sontag Shogun\'s alone.\'
Textura

\'Before we start, let’ s just call this album beautiful. Absolutely beautiful....the album’ s ability to transport you and transfix you elsewhere is unique.\'
Louder Than War

\'...The manner in which \'Tale\' captures conversations and sounds that happened in real life, recontextualizes them into a framework that has no immediate past or future, opens a bottomless pit of free associations to attach meaning that was probably never intended...In that way, every listen of \'Tale\' opens the chasm a bit further. Do yourself a favor and bury yourself in this record for an afternoon.\'
Tome To The Weather Machine

“It’s not music easily walked away from; subtle and creeping, it’s got that classic minimalist pull that makes each and every second seem like the beginning of something new and terrifying. It’s music that may seem ambient at first but inevitably reveals itself to be much fuller than any of that. It’s the kind that makes you pay attention, the kind that demands consideration.”
DMNDR

\'The band has allowed its fans to be in on the creative process from start to finish, polishing its pieces to a bright sheen... [\'Tale\'] is a statement on behalf of the band: that their desire is not to rest on their laurels, but to continue to venture into the great beyond.\'
A Closer Listen

\'Q: What is something that most fans don\'t know about you?
A: We are weird as shit. And we know way more than you do about Shaquille O\'Neal.\'
Absolute Punk

Julia Kent is a Canadian-born, New York City-based cellist and composer. She has written music for film, theatre, and dance, has released three solo records, and has toured throughout North America and Europe, including appearances at Primavera Sound in Barcelona, the Meltdown festival in London, the Reeperbahn festival in Hamburg, the Unsound festival in New York City, and Substrata in Seattle. Her most recent solo record, Character, was released by The Leaf Label in March 2013.

music & video
Playing live http://vimeo.com/30662908
Stream Julia Kent\'s 2013 album Character at https://soundcloud.com/julia-kent/sets/character

On Asperities:

\'The finesse and dexterity of these compositions makes Asperities her most complete record to date. Essential.”
Drowned in Sound

“A masterclass in tonal diversity, expressionist narrative and finespun drama… Recommended without reservation, Asperities is an edifying and invigorating spectacle.\'
5* The Skinny

\'Asperities is Julia Kent’s most mesmerizing album. Every moment is shot through with tones that entrance and moods that transfix.”
The Out Door

\'This is a cinematic journey, meticulously sculpted to keep you on the edge.”
Headphone Commute

\'Accessible yet deep...Her new album offers a mix of pensive, emotional tunes and the stringed equivalent of bangers.”
A Closer Listen

“Julia\'s fully devoted to the exploration of the relationship between emotive cello-generated constructions and electronic manipulation. Her new record demonstrates brilliantly how fruitful, fascinating and effective this relationship can be”
Igloo Music

Aidan Baker is a Canadian musician and writer currently based in Berlin, Germany. Classically trained in flute, he is self-taught on guitar, drums, and various other instruments.

As a solo artist, Baker explores the deconstructive sonic possibilities of the electric guitar as a primary sound source, creating music that ranges from experimental to post-rock to contemporary classical.

Baker has released numerous recordings on record labels around the world and has published several books of poetry. In addition to his solo work, he also performs in Nadja, BBS, Caudal, Adoran, Whisper Room, and ARC.