Max MacDonald

Sonyx

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Sonyx is the name of my musical alter-ego.

I loosely base my compositions around the electric guitar, which has stoked my interest in musical creativity for three decades now.

Beyond enjoying that instrument for its own sake I'm interested in exploring uncommon sonic textures and colours. I tend to build

layers of guitars and do my own supplementary bits with bass, keys and other tools; loops and found sound via field recording supply

the rest. My themes are often as abstract and lateral as many of my paintings; in both instances, what one removes from the mix is

at least as important as what one injects. I'm forever crossing a wavering, rather precarious line and then, after a time away,

returning to carefully strip out the superficialities and excesses, eliminating yawning voids and unfortunate lapses. It's a cyclical

approach.

The selection below is from the past few years, including reinterpretations of other artist's songs as well as remixes of collaborative

sessions with old friends and fellow musicians.

 

Map Ref 43 degrees N 110 degrees W, cover of the Wire song from the '79 album 154, 6:22

 

One Day, 5:55

 

Tirpitz, 8:51

 

Casimir Pulaski Day, cover of Sufjan Stevens' song from 2005's Illinoise, 8:02

 

Untitled, cover of the Interpol song from their debut album Turn on the Bright Lights, 6:29

 

Nexting, 4:36

 

Little Elephant, 3:30

 

FrankenMax, with Frank Perna on keys, loops & ambience, 3:44

 

RedEye, with Kevin Hogg on bass, 7:28