NI3

In the mere 42 seconds played in the opening of the DJ mix of Mount Kimbie, my heart was taken away by the delicate sounds which seemed to have been sucked from the deepest depths into the heights of heaven. The author of this piece, Madalyn Merkey, once studied the visual arts but currently works on experimental electronic music, utilizing various tools such as analogue synthesizers, computers, and occasionally raw sound. Although I personally don’t dislike this sort of music, it can be somewhat difficult to warm up to when it is heavily experimental and avant-garde. However, emotion thrives in the depths of her performed sound, and the spicy pop accents with the groove are refreshing. With that said, her responses to my interview were filled with lines of technical terms, and although those answers should have left me puzzled, I actually felt mystery and a shared sense of emotion within them. Her performance, which we are fortunately able to view online, is impressive not only for the music, but also for the generosity with which she revealed her talent, and above all else, her carefree nature where she couldn’t help but smile in enjoyment.