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Biography

Janek Schaefer

'Architect of Foundsoundscapes'

"Where you'd thought that Fluxus and everything that came after it had turned almost every stone, this man keeps coming up with concepts that are so simple they enthral you." Uzine, Belgium.

Biography:
Janek was born in England to Polish and Canadian parents in 1970. While studying architecture at the Royal College of Art [RCA annual prize], he recorded the fragmented noises of a sound activated dictaphone travelling overnight through the Post Office. That work, titled 'Recorded Delivery' [1995] was made for the 'Self Storage' exhibition [Time Out critics choice] with one time postman Brian Eno and Artangel. Since then the multiple aspects of sound became his focus, resulting in many releases, installations, soundtracks for exhibitions, and concerts using his self built/invented record players with manipulated found sound collage. The 'Tri-phonic Turntable' [1997] is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the 'World's Most Versatile Record Player'. He has performed, lectured and exhibited widely throughout Europe [Sonar, Tate Modern, ICA], USA/Canada, [The Walker, XI, Mutek, Princeton], Japan, and Australia [Sydney Opera House]. In 2008 he won The British Composer of the Year Award for Sonic Art & The Paul Hamlyn Award for Composers Prize.

The context of each idea is central to its development and resolution. His concerts and installations explore the spatial and architectural aspect that sound can evoke and the twisting of technology. Hybrid analogue and digital techniques are used to manipulate field recordings with live modified vinyl and found sound to create evocative and involving environments. His CD 'Above Buildings' [2000] was released on Fat Cat to considerable praise, [The Guardian CD of the week]. He plays in duos with Philip Jeck (Songs for Europe CD), Robert Hampson  (Comae CD), and Stephan Mathieu (Hidden Name CD). Janek runs his own label [audiOh!Recordings] and web site [audiOh.com] as well as releasing work with Asphodel, Sub Rosa, Hot Air, Sirr, Rhiz, [K-RAA-K]3, Alluvial, DSP, Diskono, BiP_HOp, Cronica, LINE, ::Room40::, Fat Cat, and Staalplaat. He currently works as a full time sound artist/sound designer/musician/visiting lecturer and composer from the audiOh! Room in London.

Selected Awards:
Winner of The British Composer of the Year Award [Sonic Art] - British Academy of Composers and Songwriters > [Extended Play] > 2008
Winner of The Paul Hamlyn Award for Composers 2008
Runner-up for The British Composer of the Year Award [New Media] - British Academy of Composers and Songwriters > [Vacant Space] > 2007
'Jury Selection' at the Bourges 32nd International Competition of Electroacoustic Music & Sonic Art > [Cold Storage] > 2005
'Award of Distinction' at Prix Ars Electronica music competition for 'Skate' [2nd out of 600] > 2004
'McKnight Composer in Residence' for the American Composers Forum, USA > 2002/3
'Honorary Mention' at the Prix Ars Electronica Music competition for 'Above Buildings' > 2001

Education:
1994-96 MA Royal College of Art [RCA Annual Prize] - [Architecture - focus on sound/space/installation]
1990-94 BA Manchester Metropolitan University [1st Class] [Architecture]:

Selected Exhibitions:
2007 'Extended Play' at Huddersfield Art Gallery, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival commission.
2007 'Two by Two byTwo by Two', Canary Islands Modern Art Museum.
2006 'Vacant Space' starts at South Hill Park Gallery, Bracknell, MAC Birmingham, Ars Electronica, Strasbourg Modern Art Museum.
2005 'The Science of Aliens' exhibition soundtrack composition, The science Museum, London [touring 5 years]
2004 'Weather Report' shown at The Walker Art Centre, Minneapolis + ISEA festival, Estonia.
2003 Lisbon Biennale: Tri-Phonic Turntable audience user installation.
2003 'Love Song' installation at Niewe Vide, )Toon)4 festival, Holland [in a shared space with Philip Jeck]
2003 'Pulse Field' Work shown in extensive sound art exhibition, Georgia State University, USA.
2002 'Skate [in the Attic]' Sound, reactive light and turntable installation at Vooruit Arts Centre, Belgium.
2001 'The Rumble' Exhibition of Twin Turntable and On/Off LP, Royal Society of British Sculptors, London.
1995 'Self Storage' Recorded Delivery installation with Artangel & Brian Eno. Acorn Self Storage, London.

Selected Concerts:
2003 Solo tour of Australia playing Sydney Opera House, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne.
2003 Concert at the Tate Modern 'user_mode' weekend.
2003 Concert at 'Cut and Splice' series, ICA & BBC Radio 3, London.
2003 Solo tour of Japan playing Tokyo and Kyoto + Lecture at Space Invaders show.
2002 Concert at Sonar, Barcelona alongside Christian Marclay, Yasunao Tone.
2002 Concert at Mutek Festival, Montreal.
2001 Solo tour of USA playing: NYC,Baltimore,Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto,
2000 Concert at 'National Phonographic' The Dutch Architecture Institute, Rotterdam
1999 Concert for The Wire 'Interference' series at The Lux Cinema, London alongside Philip Jeck.
1998 Concert at the International Symposium of Electronic Arts [ISEA] 98. Liverpool.

Selected Media highlights:
2002 BBC World Service interview at the Sonar Festival
2002 Leonardo Music Journal [MIT Press] publication of in depth autobiographical essay.
2000 The Wire one page article and cover credit, issue 201.
1995 BBC Radio 4 'Kaleidoscope' Self Storage interview.

Click here to find out more from my personal website www.audiOh.com