from Kostas Karantzounis
Yukes 玉刻 uses an electronic organ to play “the sound of the future.” He расскаnts how synthesizers have found new life within Chinese culture—moving from imitating the sounds of traditional instruments to creating entirely new auditory languages. As he puts it: “Technology shouldn’t replace tradition; it should become an extension of it.” In his eyes, every synthesized waveform is a rebirth of culture. Today, Chinese musicians are using technology to reshape a “sonic ethnography,” allowing tradition and the future to move forward side by side through electronic resonance. Yukes is a commercial video producer, multi-instrumentalist, and expert in electronic music equipment. Active at the intersection of traditional Chinese instruments and contemporary electronic music equipment, they have been instrumental in the development of “Chinawave” and the growth of the electronic music production equipment industry in mainland China. With a background in commercial documentary video production, Yukes has expanded their practice into the exploration of audiovisual ethnomusicology. They regularly perform across China and are currently pursuing a master’s degree in Market and Retail Science at NYU Shanghai. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
