AFIARA QUARTET featuring Skratch Bastid
STAGE ONE: The Quartets
Four of the hottest, young composers in the Canadian scene write new string quartets for the Afiara Quartet (winners of Concert Artists Guild, Banff, and Munich ARD International Competitions and the Szekely Prize for "Best Beethoven Interpretation") as the bedrock of the project, Spin Cycle. All hailing from Toronto, the city’s lauded multicultural elements all co-exist and dialogue off each other. With classical music as a common denominator, the group explores all the different types of music that have influenced individual upbringing, be it pop, reggae, hip hop, world, or other musics.
STAGE TWO: The Remixes
In a specific element of engagement and collaboration, the works are repurposed and re-envisioned by the scratch stylings of renowned DJ Skratch Bastid. Skratch is one of the brightest lights in the scratch DJ scene as a multi-time world champion at the prestigious Scribble Jam competition. His ability to put together different sounds, songs, and genres, and make them into something wholly new is of the rarest talents in his field.
STAGE THREE: The Composer Responses
The idea of remixing is not new, but rarely if ever does the original artist or composer hear a remix and feel inspired to write another verse or bring again something new to the conversation. This true dialoguing of innovation and creation is the third stage of this project. Each composer hears what Skratch Bastid has done and have a chance to “respond” by writing parts for the Afiara to play with (or against) the DJ’s remix. The idea true collaboration coming from true conversation.