Reflecting on the evolution of my music project, mockART, I’m reminded of the profound changes that have shaped the landscape of collaboration. Back in the day, when MySpace reigned supreme as the go-to network for musicians, connections flowed effortlessly, paving the way for numerous collaborations.

The Birth of the Black Beast

It was during this era that I composed and recorded La Bête Noire, a track that found its place on mockART’s inaugural album, Reflux Ux Bisou. Fast forward to today, and the dynamics of collaboration have shifted. In a world where connectivity isn’t as readily available, the pursuit of collaborative ventures remains a cornerstone of mockART’s ethos.

For me, collaboration isn’t just about merging sounds; it’s about embracing diverse perspectives and enriching the musical journey. However, in an age where self-interest often takes precedence, finding like-minded collaborators can be a challenge. Yet, amidst the sea of hesitancy, there are shining exceptions.

Becoming a Duo

One such exception occurred when mockART welcomed Christoph Dorner, a classically trained flutist, into the fold. Our musical backgrounds couldn’t have been more different, and initially, finding common ground posed a challenge. Yet, through experimentation and open-mindedness, we discovered a harmonious blend of our contrasting styles, propelling mockART into uncharted territories.

Our commitment to collaboration bore fruit with the release of our joint album, Men Who Lost Their Heads, featuring guest vocalists whose contributions breathed new life into our compositions. As we ventured into our second collaborative endeavour, views | Interrupted, we chose to embark on a different path, handling the recording process ourselves.

However, the question lingered: How would our tracks have evolved if we had enlisted the aid of other artists? Thus, the concept of inviting musicians to remix our album was born. The results were astounding, breathing fresh vitality into our music and paving the way for new sonic explorations.

The Story of the Beast Unfolds

This brings us to the present, where we find ourselves on the cusp of releasing our latest project – an album featuring remixes of La Bête Noire. As we eagerly await the final contributions, we’ve decided to unveil two tracks as a teaser of what’s to come.

The first track, remixed by Pharmakustik, delves into the realms of audioclinical investigation and sound-research, offering a mesmerising sonic journey. On the “B-Side,” Baco_Giovanni Cristino infuses his unique perspective as an independent toxic pianist, creating a captivating rendition that defies convention.

With each new version, we’re reminded of the power of collaboration to transform and transcend boundaries. As we anticipate the release of our album this autumn, we invite you to join us on this exhilarating musical odyssey.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to explore new horizons and push the boundaries of creativity with mockART.

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I started working on Country Songs more than 10 years ago. I asked people of different countries to send vocal samples I could use for some new tracks. While working on the album I moved to another city, my computer broke, the new one couldn’t handle Photoshop and music software at the same time and so I prioritized photography. Therefore my project mockART took a long break. As you probably know, I already remastered the old mockART albums last year and republished them and I also recorded Living with Human Machines to get back into sonic experimentation. This year I finally found the time to remaster the tracks that were already recorded and to compose and record the missing tracks. So prepare for a journey into experimental sounds, structures and words.

You can download the full album from Bandcamp or stream it via Spotify, iTunes, Deezer and others.

To get into the mood, here are the to latest tracks I recorded. The vocals for Русская народная песня (Russian Folk Song) were provided by Sergei Khukhrov and Shirtless’ Mom was build around vocals by Zan Hoffman.

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