| "I was in Calgary about a month ago and in 45 minutes I had been called a fag 15 times by redneck country dudes in tight pants and bright white hats," laughs electronic artist Sinfoni a.k.a. A. Michael Davies, relating his wonderful experiences in Cowtown.
But that’s what happens when people push borders both artistically and consciously.
Amalgamating the worlds of industrial with classical and progressive ambience, this Vancouver-based musician has not only been carving out a unique musical niche for the past two years, but has taken up a deeper cause with his latest EP, Close Guantanamo – protecting the environment.
Influenced by the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Tool, and Sigur Ros (as filtered through elements of punk rock and heavy thrash), Sinfoni’s sound may not be vastly unusual, but his commitment to planet Earth is virtually unequalled by his contemporaries.
Striving to offer multi-dimensional music delivering "social and political awareness and art in a world of temp-fame disposables," Sinfoni has taken the "disposable" cause one step further, releasing the album in 100 per cent reused (not just recycled) cases.
"I had been working at a music shop in Canmore, Alberta and the owner showed me the waste these non-recyclable cases were generating," he says. "I checked it out online to see if I could find any resources on the idea of recyclable cases and there weren’t any options out there at that time."
"I actually just took the used cases that were going into the trash and stored them for the release of Close Guantanamo," he says. "Of the initial 500 CDs, 125 were packaged in used cases and addressed to the media to put out the message."
See, industrial musicians have a hippie side, too. Proof positive, Sinfoni feels that music itself is instrumental in changing global consciousness, so the fact that people are picking up on his global message as much as the music itself is elating – even if some heads are slow to turn.
"Others in the entertainment industry need to make their voices heard as well to bring about change, whether it is sports heroes or movie stars," he concludes. "Music will get things going and will be there in the end, but more has to be done on all fronts to create a greater, more informed global awareness." |
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