We recently connected with Samvel Krajian and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Samvel , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Reflecting on my creative journey, the project that holds a special place in my heart is ASHKHAR. It was a collaboration with Armen Adamian, a multi-instrumentalist and a Ph.D. candidate in Ethnomusicology at UCLA. Together, we embarked on a transformative exploration of Armenian folk music, culminating in an electronic arrangement of Sayat Nova’s piece, “Ashkharums Akh Chim Kashi,” adapted for the duduk and digital instruments.

ASHKHAR was more than just a musical endeavor; it was a personal exploration of my Armenian heritage, allowing me to merge the aesthetic sensibilities of the past with my contemporary artistic vision. The project aligned with my own formative years as an artist, thus allowing the musical legacy of my ancestry to directly influence my budding skill set in composition and sound design.

We immersed ourselves in numerous recordings of Sayat Nova’s piece, delving into each performance to appreciate the unique interpretive nuances. This informed our version, a synthesis of traditional and original elements that felt authentic to our Armenian roots. I expanded this sonic universe using electronic tools, carefully curating a backdrop that amplified the emotional and aesthetic underpinnings of the music.

One of the project’s most intriguing aspects was its meta-dialogue about digital creative spaces, like Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs). Specifically, I questioned how traditional instruments like the duduk could co-exist within a digital realm, often defined by Western musical frameworks. It’s a fascinating discussion about cultural memory and technological interfaces—how do you preserve the essence of an instrument like the duduk within an ecosystem it didn’t originate from? My approach was to place the duduk at the heart of the arrangement, augmenting, not diminishing, its intrinsic tonal characteristics through carefully calibrated electronic effects and modulations.

ASHKHAR thus served as a space to create art and probe the ethics and aesthetics of digital music-making. This project remains an influential blueprint for my artistic practice, teaching me invaluable lessons about the creative and ethical considerations of blending tradition and technology.

ASHKHAR will be released on all streaming platforms in November 2023.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a Sound and Media artist navigating the interplay between art and technology. My creative endeavors span diverse fields but are unified by a singular mission: crafting innovative opportunities for human-machine interaction. Whether creating original music pieces, immersive audio-visual art, custom plugins, or dynamic sound installations, my work delves deep into the symbiotic relationship between humans and technology, celebrating our inherent synesthetic abilities.

I wear two hats—one of an artist and the other of a technician and craftsman. My dual role has been instrumental in shaping the way I approach creative challenges. Just as a painter might concoct their color palette, I design the tools—plugins, synthesizers, modulators—that fuel my artistic pursuits and empower others to enhance their creativity. This multifaceted approach enables me to deeply understand the objectives and aspirations of those I collaborate with, allowing me to effectively employ creative technologies to solve their unique challenges.

As a performing artist, I take my works and inventions onto the stage, translating them into real-time, immersive experiences. One of my notable projects, APAKI, serves as a prime example. It’s not just a technology; it’s a co-creator that interacts with me through deep learning algorithms. By analyzing my hand gestures and prior works, APAKI creates a dynamic, feedback-driven environment, allowing me to seamlessly incorporate my past and present creative endeavors into my performance. In essence, I am collaborating not just with a machine but also with the rich tapestry of my artistic journey.

I am profoundly excited about the future as I break new ground in sound, media arts, and creative technologies. I aim to craft mesmerizing experiences that captivate audiences and listeners while enabling others to realize their creative visions through collaborative technologies.

What sets me apart is my relentless curiosity and the holistic nature of my creative process. From developing the tools that serve my art to the art itself, every component is a piece of a larger puzzle aimed at redefining the boundaries of artistic expression. My goal is to challenge and inspire—to create art and experiences that engage, provoke thought, and enrich our understanding of ourselves in this ever-evolving digital landscape.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My immediate goal is to transition APAKI from its current localized setup—focused on generating digital artworks—to a dynamic live performance environment. But that’s just the beginning. I envision APAKI eventually evolving into a tangible instrument, allowing users to delve into their own synesthetic experiences and collaborate with AI in a genuinely interactive fashion. As this project progresses, it’s not just the technology that will expand but the team behind it as well. I’m actively looking to engage with other like-minded individuals to take APAKI to new heights of innovation and public engagement.

So, in essence, my mission is twofold: to push the boundaries of what’s possible in art and technology and to democratize this cutting-edge intersection, making it accessible and empowering for all.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

There was a pivotal moment in my journey where I grappled with the duality of my role—as both an artist and a technician. For a long time, I perceived these roles as inherently conflicting. I was apprehensive that an association with my technical work might overshadow or even invalidate the creative spirit of my art. The thought that my artistic pursuits could be diminished by the scientific inclinations of my technical explorations weighed heavily on me.

However, it was during this introspective phase that I experienced an epiphany. Instead of viewing these two worlds as disparate, I chose to see them as complementary facets of a singular, holistic creative vision. This realization transformed my approach and broadened my horizons exponentially.

Embracing this amalgamation of art and technology, I’ve discovered that they coexist and thrive when intertwined. They inform and enhance each other, leading to more multifaceted creations that represent my diverse passions. This fusion has enriched my work and deepened my understanding of both domains.

In essence, the pivot wasn’t just about merging two disciplines—it was about redefining my identity as an artist. Now, I proudly champion the synergy of artistry and technology, harnessing them to explore uncharted territories in sound and science.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.samvelkrajian.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samvelkrajian/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samvel-krajian-19b590172/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SKrajian

Image Credits
DSCF3462.JPG Credit: Louzhang 3421000.png Credit: Samvel Krajian 3793300.png Credit: Samvel Krajian 7575000.png Credit: Samvel Krajian