NYC report from mem1

Being new to the East Coast, I was incredibly excited to have the opportunity to perform in New York in December. With the help of Rachel Sokolow and the Om Factory, my electro acoustic duo mem1 was able to give our debut in NYC, in a small benefit concert for CMW.

I never really got to spend much time in New York and never really believed what people told me about it. How could a city be so vibrant and alive as everyone had been telling me? But after just a couple hours of being in town, I understood, and I was in love. There was this incredible energy everywhere we went and I felt as though the opportunities to experience amazing music, art, and food were endless.

After fighting horrible traffic packed with herds of aggressive cab drivers we made it to the Om Factory with just enough time for a sound check. We were greeted by our very warm and open hosts and felt very comfortable the whole the evening. mem1 did two sets, and then Mark and I each did solo performances: Mark presented an audio/visual work he had completed during his first semester at RISD and I played "Curve with Plateau" by Jonathan Harvey.

The Om Factory was a wonderful space to play in with great natural acoustics, a wonderful view, and an inviting audience. We couldn't have asked for a better introduction to New York. We look forward to returning this summer as Artists-in-Residence at Harvestworks, where we will be producing a surround sound recording that will be a "visceral sonic tour through the bowels and ephemera of the cello."

-Laura Thomas-Merino, CMW Fellow