The Sonic Side of Reincarnation

Listening to Death and Rebirth through the
Experimental Electronic Music of Sabiwa

SABIWA "INTERPRETS REINCARNATION THROUGH BASS HEAVY RHYTHMS,
DISSECTED SOUND ART, AND INTENSE VOCAL GYMNASTICS.” By XLR8R


SABIWA is an experimental electronic producer and performer from ㄒㄜ. She produces, records and dissects sounds and images from natural and synthetic sources, making them interact with complex texture and abstract patterns, also using her voice processed as guiding path in her compositions.  This page introduces her to Open Horizon viewers, with particular focus on the music of her album 輪迴’(Reincarnation).  


​Reincarnation in Process Perspective

Reincarnation is a constant process of death and rebirth, and it begins in this life, psychologically and sonically, as the many sounds of the past actual world become kaleidescopically unified in the momentary present.  Or, perhaps better, kaleidesonically unified.  Always the sounds become one in a new way, relative to the past, in ways both frightening and consoling.  We. the listeners, gather the many into one within the unity of our listening, and along the way we are never the same.  At every moment the listener becomes a new listener, shaped by the sounds of the past, weaving them into a new kaleidesoic whole, as best she can.  The listener's task is to offer weavings to the world that reveal the variety and, as possible, offer hope for others.  But first there must be a hearing, a listening.  Sabiwa's aim in 輪迴’, as I interpret it, is to provide an opportunity, a lure for listening. (Jay McDaniel)


Sabiwa's 輪迴’ 

​(reincarnation)

​"A kaleidoscope of references and musical textures, tribal, rumbling drums, dub step, ritualistic folk, chanting, modern jazz, horns bleating as delicate layers of found sound, hiss, percussion spark, her voice guide and foundation, whispers, reshaped vocal ruminations, the amalgmation dizzying in scope, true editing sorcery, sabiwa is fearless in her inclusion of influences and ability to weave them in to entirely new forms, reincarnation is an apt title, eagerly anticipating her next excursion."

Samples from 輪迴’ 
"Chinabot is a platform and collective created to change the dialogue surrounding Asian music. ​  Sabiwa is one of the many artists it sponsors and promotes.  In 2017, a digital diaspora community, a multi-disciplinary label and network of Asian artists decided to cooperate on a new way to collect and promote exciting Asian music. We want to show a slice of what we like, the cultures we come from and our own ideas. We’re an online community and a virtual home celebrating the music that falls between the gaps -- a place for adventurous listening."
​‘輪迴’ (English: reincarnation) is the second album from Taiwanese sound and performance artist Sabiwa. Over 12 tracks she interprets reincarnation through bass heavy rhythms, dissected sound art and intense vocal gymnastics.  The starting point of Sabiwa’s compositions is her voice - vocal performances abstracted into building blocks for her music. Jia sees her move from mournful ritual to a delay-soaked chorus as the track lurches into ultra-minimal dubstep. On I introduce myself, she takes the role of robotic narrator, while Wo de shijan has her chanting over field recorded tumult. Sabiwa creates multi-textured patterns through electronics, sampling and field recordings, shattering the barriers between synthetic and natural sound. Caronte jumps from high energy percussive workout into a bed of whispering voices. Taranta’s glitched samples meanwhile, seem to be in a constant process of decay and rebirth.  “‘輪’ means turn,” Sabiwa explains. “‘迴’ means return to, so “‘輪迴’ means reincarnation”.  “Those are the words of the singing I recorded in Taiwan and I use in the tape, it’s a funeral ceremony. It’s basically about the circle of life. With this album I left my previous form to transform in to something new. It’s like jumping into the void and not knowing what will be next. (from Bandcamp description).

Images from Facebook and Chinabot
Open Horizons