BlogEntries=Album+Release##In+case+you+hadn%27t+made+the+connection%3A+go+to+the+%3Cu%3E%3Ca+href%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecinestatic%2Ecom%2Fmichaelforrest%2Fmp3s%2Easpx%27%3EMichael+Forrest%3C%2Fa%3E+site%3C%2Fu%3E+to+download+my+album%2E+For+free%2E##Sunday%2C+November+06%2C+2005###New+Blog##Just+thought+I%27d+point+you+at+my+recent+bloggings+%2D+the+place+where+I%27ve+been+uploading+tracks+recently%2E+Get+yourself+to+%3Cu%3E%3Ca+href%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecinestatic%2Ecom%2Fsmunk%2Freality%2Easp%27%3ESmunk+Reality%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fu%3E%2E##Saturday%2C+September+03%2C+2005###Extropia+I+%2D+Saturday+25th+June##Just+in+case+you+thought+this+was+a+different+Smunk%2E%2E%2E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3ELive+%40+Clockwork+%28upstairs%29+%2D+Angel+%2D+see+%3Cu%3E%3Ca+href%3D%27%2Fextropia%5Fone%27%3Eflyer%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fu%3E+for+details%21%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EHope+you+can+make+it%2E##Monday%2C+June+20%2C+2005###Live+at+Ember+%2D+Farringdon+%2D+16th+April##%3Cu%3E%3Ca+href%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecinestatic%2Ecom%2Ffeatures%2Fcrisis%2Ejpg%27%3EClick+here+for+flyer%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fu%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EUPDATE%3A%3Cbr+%2F%3EThanks+to+all+for+coming+%2D+it+was+a+good%27un%21%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cu%3E%3Ca+href%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecinestatic%2Ecom%2Fsmunk%2Fsmunklive16Apr05%2Eswf%27%3EClick+here+to+see+the+video%2E%2E%2E%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fu%3E+%28needs+flash+player+7%29##Wednesday%2C+April+06%2C+2005###Never+Mind+The+Fireworks##Thanks+to+everybody+who+came+to+the+Lincoln+Lounge+on+Saturday%2E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EI+have%2C+annoyingly%2C+failed+to+come+back+with+any+photos%2C+and+the+recording+didn%27t+work+either%2E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EI+will+upload+one+of+my+practice+recordings+instead+%2D+as+a+Real+Audio+stream%2E+It%27s+more+or+less+the+same+thing%2C+but+with+extended+versions+of+everything%2E+Watch+this+space%2E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EUPDATE%3A+28th+Nov+04%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cu%3E%3Ca+href%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecinestatic%2Ecom%2Fsmunk%2Fsmunk%2520live%2520nov%25202004%2Eram%27%3EListen+to+the+stream+here%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fu%3E%2E%3Cbr+%2F%3E##Monday%2C+November+08%2C+2004###About+Smunk##In+the+first+person%2E%2E%2E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cb%3EI%27ve+been+making+music+for+as+long+as+I+can+remember%2E%3C%2Fb%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EI+was+taught+to+play+the+piano+on+my+Grandparents%27+piano+in+Germany+during+our+annual+visits%2E+I+started+having+trumpet+lessons+at+school+when+I+was+11+%28the+three+valved+brass+instruments+were+a+mystery+%2D+I+wanted+to+know+how+they+worked%21%29%2E+Playing+instruments+was+just+part+of+life%2E+I+played+in+the+school+orchestra%2C+concert+band+and+brass+band+until+I+was+18%2E+I+joined+my+first+%27rock+band%27+at+16%2C+playing+keyboard+and+bass+with+%27Dionysus%27+in+Nottingham%2E+It+was+mostly+Doors+covers%2C+and+the+indy+hits+of+the+day+%281994%2D%2796%29%2E+On+arriving+at+University+I+joined+a+trumpety+indy%2Drock+band+called+%27Pinstripe%27%2C+supplying+sampled+beats%2C+record%2Dskratchin%27+and+dirty+synths%2E+I+still+foster+fond+memories+of+winning+the+Warwick+%27band+competition%27+%2D+good+times%2E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cb%3EI%27ve+been+making+%3Ci%3Eelectronic%3C%2Fi%3E+music+for+as+long+as+I+can+remember%2E%2E%2E%3C%2Fb%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EMy+first+experience+of+%27sequencing%27+on+a+computer+was+with+an+IBM+086+PC%2E+Yes+%2D+%27086%27+as+in+%27286%27%2C+%27386%27%2E%2E%2E+the+first%2E+I+made+it+play+happy+birthday+while+it+rendered+a+message+for+my+step%2Dmother+in+ascii+text%2E+I+was+about+9+years+old%2E+%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EMy+first+sampler+was+the+Casio+SK%2D5%2E+You+know+%2D+the+one+with+the+built%2Din+dog+barking+samples%2E%2E+%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EFrom+the+age+of+11+I+obsessively+visited+the+%27Amiga+room%27+after+school%2C+sequencing+using+MED+%28from+an+Amiga+Format+coverdisk%29+until+I%27d+saved+up+for+my+own+computer+and+upgraded+to+OctaMED%2E+I%27d+rip+raw+samples+from+computer+games+%28when+the+computer+rebooted+you+could+listen+to+the+entire+memory+in+a+sampling+program+and+pick+the+sounds+from+the+static+leftover+after+a+reset%29%2E+By+15+I+had+a+little+sampler+and+recorded+my+5%2Dyear%2Dold+sister+saying+silly+things+over+distorted+breakbeats%2E+I+was+programming+computer+games+at+that+time%2C+and+a+lot+of+the+music+I+made+was+for+title+screens%2E%2E%2E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EI+continued+to+amass+equipment+%2D+MIDI+keyboards%2C+faster+computers%2C+watching+the+software+becoming+ever+more+powerful+and+flexible%2C+learning+each+new+feature+as+it+appeared%2E%2E%2E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cb%3ESynthesis%3C%2Fb%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EThe+%27bands%27+and+the+%27electronica%27+were+separate+until+the+time+of+Gaijin%2E+Cubase+had+appeared+and+it+was+now+possible+to+get+the+best+of+both+worlds%2C+and+we+exploited+this+%2D+post%2Drock%2Dfunk+organically+merging+with+electronica%2E+Unfortunately+the+machines+melded+a+lot+more+organically+than+the+humans%2E+One+EP+and+an+albums+down+the+line%2C+the+band+had+completely+disintegrated%2E+%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cb%3ESmunk%3C%2Fb%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EOriginally+intended+as+a+DJ+name%2C+Smunk+became+my+general+solo+avatar%2E+We%27ve+been+working+on+this+splintered+warping+sound+for+a+couple+of+years+now%2C+keeping+it+as+eclectic+as+it+ever+was%2C+with+a+wide+range+of+sounds+and+emotions%2E+Have+you+ever+danced+and+cried+at+the+same+time%3F%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cb%3ELinks+and+mp3s%3C%2Fb%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Ci%3Epeoplesound+pages%3C%2Fi%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%5Bfeaturing+intrusive+personal+info%2Dcollecting+interruptions+%2D+just+make+up+an+email+address%5D%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cu%3E%3Ca+href%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Epeoplesound%2Ecom%2Fartist%2Fpinstripe%27+target%3D%27%5Fblank%27%3EPinstripe%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fu%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cu%3E%3Ca+href%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Epeoplesound%2Ecom%2Fartist%2Fgaijin%27+target%3D%27%5Fblank%27%3EGaijin%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fu%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Ci%3Eother+stuff%3C%2Fi%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cu%3E%3Ca+href%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ek%2Dpunk%2Enet%2Funeasylistening%2Enet%2Fgaijin%2Ehtml%27+target%3D%27%5Fblank%27%3EReview+of+Gaijin+%2D+Mycelium+by+Mark+K%2DPunk%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fu%3E%2E+%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cu%3E%3Ca+href%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecinestatic%2Ecom%2Fgaijin%27+target%3D%27%5Fblank%27%3ELocal+Gaijin+page%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fu%3E%2E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cu%3E%3Ca+href%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecinestatic%2Ecom%2Fpop%27+target%3D%27%5Fblank%27%3EA+couple+more+mp3s%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fu%3E%2E##Tuesday%2C+August+24%2C+2004###Current+Status##Okay%2E+%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EI%27m+just+about+to+start+a+new+job+that+will+consume+most+of+my+time%2E+This+means+that+I+will+have+less+time+to+be+proactive+about+following+the+music+dreams+for+a+while%2E+The+purpose+of+this+page+is+to+provide+a+portal+for+record+labels+or+managers+to+find+out+about+what+I%27m+about%2C+and+my+current+situation+music%2Dwise%2E+Currently%3A+I+don%27t+have+a+manager+or+a+record+label%2C+or+anybody+promoting+me%2E%2E%2E+%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3ESince+I+am+contracting+%28as+a+programmer+%2D+see+%3Ca+href%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecinestatic%2Ecom%27%3E%3Cu%3ECinestatic+Research%3C%2Fu%3E%3C%2Fa%3E+for+all+of+my+other+stuff%29%2C+there+will+be+times+when+I+am+not+working%2C+and+that+is+when+I+will+pursue+the+music+career%2E+%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EI+can+play+live+%28using+a+laptop+running+Ableton+and+Reason%2C+playing+trumpet+through+crazy+effects+and+generally+shaking+the+dancefloor%29+or+DJ+%28mostly+hip%2Dhop+and+electronica%29%2E+I+have+lots+of+music+recorded+%28one+14%2Dtrack+album+%27Brainstorm+Dreamplate%27+and+a+second+on+its+way+when+I+can+find+the+time+and+possibility%2Dof%2Dreleasing%2Dit+motivation%2E%2E%2E%29%2E+A+lot+of+the+stuff+is+available+right+here%2E+There+are+%28at+this+point+in+time%29+9+tracks+to+listen+to%2C+covering+a+range+of+styles%2C+so+skip+away+until+you+find+something+you+like%21+The+video+I+started+is+available+here%3A+%3Ca+href%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecinestatic%2Ecom%2Fsmunk%2Fhumanthingpreview3%2Easp%27%3E%3Cu%3EHuman+Thing%3C%2Fu%3E%3C%2Fa%3E%2E+The+remix+I%27ve+got+on+the+Jukebox+was+an+internet+collaboration+with+nonGENETIC+%28based+in+Los+Angeles%2C+California%29+of+%3Ca+href%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eshadowhuntaz%2Ecom%27%3E%3Cu%3EShadow+Huntaz%3C%2Fu%3E%3C%2Fa%3E%2E+I+like+remixing+%27raps%27+so+I%27m+always+looking+for+new+people+to+work+with%2E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EAnyway%2C+I+hope+you+enjoy+my+machine%2E+Send+the+link+to+everybody+you+know%2E%2E%2E+%28If+you+use+%3Ca+href%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Esmunk%2Enet%27%3E%3Cu%3Ewww%2Esmunk%2Enet%3C%2Fu%3E%3C%2Fa%3E+then+I+can+keep+track+of+the+interest+this+page+is+generating+more+easily%2E%29+%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%2DMike##Thursday%2C+July+08%2C+2004###The+Trumpet+Thing##%2E%2E%2Eis+a+little+unpredictable%2E%2E%2E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EOr+%27organic%27%2C+if+you+prefer+the+term%2E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EThat+row+of+five+circles+above+the+little+wave+display+is+where+you+trigger+loops+by+clicking%2E+If+it+doesn%27t+play+straight+away%2C+hammer+away%2C+switch+the+thing+on+and+off%2C+or+whatever+it+takes%2E+Click+the+moving+wave+to+stop+the+sound%2E++Everything+else+responds+to+mouse+rollovers%2E+There+isn%27t+a+great+deal+of+logic+to+what+sounds+will+work+at+any+particular+time%2E%2E%2E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cb%3E%3CFONT+SIZE%3D%2716%27%3EThe+Jukebox+%3C%2FFONT%3E%3C%2Fb%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EPress+play+on+the+jukebox+to+hear+some+full+tracks%2E+Use+the+download+button+to+get+the+MP3s%2E+If+you+have+a+slower+connection+then+you+may+experience+some+stuttering+while+the+sound+buffers%2E+In+this+case%2C+just+mute+it+until+it%27s+all+downloaded%2E+Again%2C+a+little+jigging+may+be+required+for+optimum+effect%2E%2E%2E##Thursday%2C+July+08%2C+2004###New+Microsite##Introducing+the+new+Smunk+home+page%2E+%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EThis+page+is+where+you+will+find+all+the+latest+news+and+pertinent+information+about+the+personal+music%2Dmaking+avatar+I+call+Smunk%2E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3EHave+fun+with+the+music+machine%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