There are people who make music and there are people who make sounds. And then there is Martin Lutz, who makes music and sounds that blend in a unique format to accommodate dance and theatre performances.
Having studied musicology in Berlin, the bangaloREsident@Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts brought down by the Goethe-Institut, is a composer, musician and sound artist for dance, performances, theatre, installations and film. The focus of his work is the examination of sound and its relevance in various spaces. He believes in field recordings and experimental sound production which form the basis for his compositions by taking sounds out of their natural context and giving them a new content-related and spatial sense.
In the city to work on the sound concept and music score for the new dance production ‘Bhinna Vinyasa – Multiple Assemblages’ by the Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, Martin was in Bangalore two years ago to work with Attakkalari on the performance ‘AadhaaraChakra - A Dancelogue’, which was performed in India and Europe. Martin will use a similar strategy this time. On his third trip to India, he says the land is incredible in many ways. “I like it very much here.”
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Indian music, for Martin is like being a child again. “I cannot understand this music completely or analyse it like western music. I know a lot about western music and why they are doing what. When I listen to Indian music, especially classical, I can only feel what it’s trying to convey.” He adds that in his music, he likes to play with different sounds. “Indian music has a lot of special sounds and not just melody, harmonies and rhythms.” Recalling his musical journey, the 41-year-old says he started playing the violin at the age of six. “My first experience of making my own music was at the age of 15 in a punk band. A few years later, I started making music for theatre and realised the innumerable possibilities for creativity in this field.” He points out that making music for theatre and dance is his forte.
“I cannot say I like it more than making only music, but I like the thrill of playing music influenced by what’s going on around me.”
On what he discovered about himself musically during his journey, Martin says: “A very practical thing I discovered was that I really like to listen. Not only to sound environments, but also to other people because I have to understand what other people like.”
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Looking ahead, the artiste says India is very important to him. “I like challenges and adventures in new cultures and environments that take me one step further in my journey. I have learnt to be brave and will continue to make things for people across the world.”
To impress upon other musicians his vision, Martin says: “Don’t only think of music. Think of the environment and space. Music is always a part of space so you must have a feeling for what kind of space you want to make music for.”