The Music Industry Research Collective (MIRC) at School of Media and Communication, RMIT, in partnership with Liquid Architecture, is pleased to announce an artist talk and interactive workshop with renowned Indonesian experimental vocalist, composer, and digital instrument creator, Rully Shabara.

More information about Shabara’s work is available on his website: https://www.rullyshabara.id/

Shabara is celebrated for his groundbreaking collaborations with fellow Indonesian artists, especially as part of the groups Senyawa and Zoo, alongside his work with international figures in experimental music including Keiji Haino, Stephen O’Malley, Otomo Yoshihide, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Justin Vernon, among others. His artistic practice centres on the voice as a primary tool for creation, showcasing Shabara's remarkable vocal range which enables him to navigate across emotional and sonic landscapes, from raw intensity and beauty to reflective contemplation and wild, unrestrained expression.

In recent years, Shabara has ventured into what might be described as a 'post-human' exploration of voice, challenging traditional notions by treating the voice as an algorithmic and endlessly adaptable object, increasingly independent of the human form. To this end he has developed a collection of experimental, browser-based instruments termed 'Xhabarabot Voice Machines.' These tools utilise artificial intelligence and machine learning to manipulate, sequence, and transform voices, expanding the boundaries of vocality and musical expression.

This free event is accessible to faculty, students, and the general public. Rully Shabara will introduce his artistic philosophy and methods, followed by a hands-on workshop where participants will have the opportunity to work with the Xhabarabot Voice Machines.
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What: Rully Shabara workshop and talk
Where: RMIT University, Media Portal, Building 14, 414-418 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000 (corner of Swanston St and Franklin St)
Cost: free by RSVP, all welcome
Bring: open ears, a laptop, and headphones.