CZUCHWICKI reimagines Chester with a new remix before Fringe Festival appearance
Polish-Australian drummer, producer and multimedia tinkerer CZUCHWICKI (Jonty Czuchwicki) just dropped an enthralling remix in the wake of a handful of October performances.
The new version of Chester, reimagined by Wuhan-based producer 李紫兰Leah, is constantly reinventing itself during its runtime. Originally a piece of captivating trip-hop, the new version brings the song into more ethereal territory that trends a little hyperpop, a little liquid DnB.
But much of it is undefinable – fully meeting Jonty’s experimental knack, the song deconstructs itself, at times stripping itself back to just the truncated synth or tripping over its own tempo. The remix brands a new mystique to the questions posed by feature performance Bridget Tarquini: ‘Are we in control? Why aren’t we in control?’
李紫兰Leah’s additions breathe danceable air into the already mesmeric track, imbuing unified optimism and hope in a way that reaffirms and rephrases its wandering existentiality.
The release of the Chester remix precedes PHOSPHENES, a multifaceted audiovisual performance Jonty is set to play as part of 2024’s Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Using audio-reactive processing, the visual element of the performance is unique with every frame, building itself in real-time. Live camera feeds complement, creating glitchy silhouettes and feedback loops. Jonty’s musical journeys through trip-hop and industrial serve as a perfect match for the hypnotic sights of the project, providing satisfyingly unpredictable soundscapes and inventive rhythms for the screen to bounce off of.
Much of the sonics in PHOSPHENES originated during Jonty’s time studying Music Performance at Collarts, and his wider experiences in the city of Melbourne. The inception of the installation came about in Valencia, Spain through a master’s thesis in Music Production, Technology and Innovation at Berklee College of Music’s international campus (where he also met 李紫兰Leah).
It's the culmination of years of finetuning and dedication – a daring combination of video and sound unafraid to push tones and grooves to their absolute creative limits.
‘I’m honoured and excited to bring PHOSPHENES to the Melbourne Fringe Festival Hub,’ says Jonty. ‘The show represents coming into my own as a creative, embracing who I am and believing in my vision. There are creative risks in every layer of the process, and to be so unapologetic about it is empowering. I can’t wait to share that with audiences.’
PHOSPHENES is set to run at Trades Hall in Carlton’s Festival Hub from October 9-10.
Catch tickets to PHOSPHENES here.