Useful Bio

Brendon Bussy is sometimes called a sound artist. But prefers the less threatening description ‘mandolin player’. Or even just the old fashioned ‘composer’.

He enjoys exploring all aspects of sound – writing music, creating sound installations and performing.

A fan of experimental electronic production, he also champions the use of cheap and available tools and materials, hence his recent forays into the design of DIY musical instruments using waste materials.

As a mandolin player he performs using software (Audiomulch), electronics and recordings of the urban environment. But will happily write notes on paper for those who need it (one day there might even be a new string quartet).

He enjoys consulting as a sound specialist, showing people how to develop and use sound in their creative work. And as an inventor he finds opportunities to make fanciful proposals to make people listen more carefully to their rich sonic
environment.

In short Brendon enjoys being useful whilst living in Cape Town, South Africa.

Soundtracks

A Novel In Parts 2011:  Composed soundtrack “If Walls Could Talk Would They Sing?” in collaboration with Renee Holleman for her exhibition at WhatIfTheWorld, Cape Town

Door 2011:  Jori Snell’s production for Janet Buckland’s Ubom! theater group.

Alive and Dying 2010: Kai Losgott’s ‘Alive and Dying’ at Out the Box Festival, Cape Town

Joyce’s Choices 2009: Eco-theatre production directed by Jacqueline Van Meygaarden.

Rain 2007, New York: Soundtrack for Ralph Borland’s site specific installation Clinton Street.

Twelfth Night at Maynardville Theatre, Cape Town 2006: Two works for quartet (mandolin, guitar, violin, cello) for Geoffrey Hyland’s production. (Key) Album Releases

Performances

Edge of Wrong, Cape Town 2013:  Directed and developed a performance ‘Normal Noise’ with four young deaf performers from the Dominican School for the Deaf (Wittebome).

Inside Out Festival & Out The Box Festival, Cape Town 2011:  Live theatrical performance “Land of the Underneath” with Jori Snell using improvised sound, Cape Town

On The Edge of Wrong, Cape Town 2010: Performance with As Is (free improvisation group)

Pan African Space Station, Cape Town 2008: Songs for Biko – all night performance

New Media Fest online 2007: Work “Tidal Pool” selected for this online festival curated by Julian Jonker.

Signal and Noise Vancouver, Canada 2007: Electro – acoustic work “Track” performed.

Unyazi (electronic festival) Johannesburg 2005: Live performance of “CMYK”, solo work for mandolin and electronics based on the artwork “Segue” created by SA artist Paul Edmunds.

Incidental Amplifications Brisbane, Australia 2005: “Glassheater” (with Charles Maggs) played a shopping malls in Brisbane in celebration of Muzak.

Sculpture and Installation

Sounding Out, Johannesburg 2012: Developed and exhibited Earshells (hearing contraptions).
Bag Factory

Drawing Machine, Cape Town 2008: eight speaker installation capable of ‘drawing’ sound on a vertical plane. Blank Gallery

Jetty Square Sharks Cape Town 2005: designed wind activated ‘flute resonators’ for artist Ralph Borland’s life size sharks (permanent public installation).

Workshops

Dominican School for the Deaf (Wittebome) 2013 – 2014 (ongoing): Music and rhythm project with senior phase students. Focusing on rhythm skills and sign language song.

Out The Box Festival 2011: “How to Make Noise Makers with Personality” – instrument building workshop for theater makers

Visual Arts Association of SA, 2010: Physical Sound (A Hands on Exploration) – theory and practice of installation sound

University of Stellenbosch, Fine Art Department, 2008: Sound installation practical and conceptual skills

Visual Arts Association of SA, 2009: An Introduction to Spontaneous Audio – a 4 session crash course in digital audio

CAPE, Cape Town, 2008: Hear Without Fear – listening skills for young curators

MFM (Radio Station) Stellenbosch 2006: Radio Journalism studio skills

Recordings

Tales of an Unstable Nature 2005: Works for Solo mandolin and Audiomulch software. Self released.

Diesel Geiger 2003: Electro – acoustic works featuring the Geiger Ensemble (violin, oboe, cello, mandolin, piano, and Audiomulch). Open Record.

Ricky Gass, Rock ‘n Roll Cowboy 2000: Audio exploration of the life and music of Ricky Gass, a Durban based fringe music legend. Co – produced with Dean Henning. CORRECTIVE records.

Radio Shows

Bush Radio, Cape Town 2004: co – producer with Martin Sims on the series “Made Up Sounds from the Then and There”

Pan African Space Station, Cape Town 2009: New Old Old New – 4 part internet radio show on unusual instruments

AWARD

Community Safety Award for Offender Reintegration 1999:
Award given by South African organisation NICRO, for establishing a photographic facility in Durban Westville Prison for juveniles awaiting trial.