Catch my presentation today at the Neither Factory Records nor Madchester conference at the School of Digital Arts with support from Manchester Metropolitan University, The University of Manchester and Creative Manchester.
Markus Hetheier – Queer Resistance: DIY Culture in Manchester’s Contemporary Electronic Music Scene
While Manchester’s longstanding history of electronic music scenes has been widely researched in relation to DIY culture, the connection between Manchester’s electronic music and DIY culture has not been examined much in a contemporary context. In this presentation it is argued that DIY culture can function as a site of resistance for queer people within Manchester’s current electronic music scene. It opposes the corporate music industry and provides a space for queer people to empower themselves through electronic music performance. In order to demonstrate this the Manchester-based queer electronica night FLUFF will be used as an example. The night was set up by Anna Appleby (performing as Norrisette) and the presenter Markus Hetheier (performing as Industries) as a response to their desire to perform their electronic music live after Coronavirus restrictions were lifted, with the aim to also connect with and platform fellow queer electronic musicians. Setting up FLUFF can be understood as an act of resistance in the precarious post-Brexit and post Coronavirus economy as it aims to create a resilient space for queer electronic musicians despite the challenging economic situation. In addition, focusing on the queer community in the context of electronic music can also be interpreted as act of resistance as it includes and empowers queer electronic music producers. Both artists will reflect on FLUFF in relation to DIY as a culture of resistance through a reflective conversation which will inform a DIY toolkit intended to assist artists from marginalised communities with navigating the current UK music landscape.
Markus Hetheier is a Manchester-based electronic musician and researcher. Through his electronic music project Industries he explores and subverts musical structures ranging from field recordings, distorted sounds to harmonic melodies and large beats. Together with Norrisette he co-runs the Manchester-based queer electronica night FLUFF. The night aims to provide a platform for queer electronic music producers to perform and test out original music to a live audience, as opposed to being a club night, and has kickstarted the careers of many. Besides being an electronic musician, he is also undertaking a practice based and participatory PhD at the Manchester Metropolitan University investigating Manchester’s queer sonic geographies. In addition, he has years of experience working in the arts ranging from administrating and coordinating creative projects to facilitating participant engagement through sonic practices, often with a focus on community. Find out more on his socials @industriesmcr and visit his website www.industriesmcr.com.#industriesmcr
Shout out to Norrisette and our FLUFF adventures! 🐩