Farsheed Hamidi-Toosi is a Chicago-based sound artist who runs Soapbox Music with Brendan Finucane. Farsheed is working with Eric Laska, a New York-based sound artist who has created "Chicago Equinix," a project during which 60 Hz audio noise will travel 792 miles -- from New York to Chicago. "Chicago Equinix" has happened several times so far, and its final transmission will happen on Sunday, October 10 (9 p.m.). Recently I spoke with Farsheed about his influences and ongoing projects. 

Dan: How did you first get interested in the arts?

Farsheed: After getting my first tape recorder in 2nd grade or so I got really interested in sound and loved messing with cassette tapes. From there I met some amazing music friends, and we pushed each other and questioned what music was throughout grade school and college, and still do today. Both of my older sisters were interested in the arts as well and I think that was a big part of it too.

Dan: Who are some of your influences?

Farsheed: I love the d.i.y. ethos of a lot of late 80s and early 90s bands, and sonically the late 90s electronic stuff, particularly Luke Vibert and Aphex Twin. Steve Reich, John Cage, Coltrane, Miles Davis, and various DJs/producers (Pete Rock, Hi-Tek, J Dilla, Timbaland, DJ Shadow) also come to mind. I like musicians who are soulfully experimental.

Dan: What is an early memory you have of doing something in the arts?

Farsheed: I remember experimenting with handheld cassette recorders as a kid -- opening two cassette tapes and taping the spools together. One tape recorder would be recording, and the spool would fall out of that and go into another tape recorder which would immediately play it back. There would be this crazy delayed feedback-howly tunnel thing as the audio would layer over and over on the tape and the noise of the tape hiss would get amplified.

Dan: What are some interesting things that you like about working in audio and sound art?

Farsheed: It's just crazy to me the sense of movement that comes from sound and music, something that is invisible but contains not only a physical power (pushing air particles around), but also an emotional power as we try and listen to it. It always feels like an event to listen to something, even if it is a static recording because just the process of listening to something is different every time (electrical noise, oscillators drifting, acoustics in the room, the speakers used, our ear frequency response, our spatial orientation in the room and overall listening context).

Dan: How did you get the idea to start Soapbox Music?

Farsheed: My friend Brendan and I wanted to figure out a way to support independent music in a way that was sustainable but also not dependent on selling music commercially or selling alcohol. Originally we wanted to do an all-ages venue but Chicago politics pretty much makes it impossible. So we figured we could make an awesome rehearsal and d.i.y. recording space for musicians, but combine that with a social mission to connect and empower the music community. We do this by volunteering our own time to curate events, workshops, recordings, documentaries and interviews.

Dan: What are some recent activities with Soapbox Music?

Farsheed: We have recently started a music series called 48 Volts which profiles musicians and artists in Chicago. We invite artists into our space and create a audio/visual snapshot by recording a live performance in our space and conducting a short interview, similar to Daytrotter. We hope it will help strengthen musical connections between musicians in our geographically challenged city. You could probably live your whole life on one side of Chicago and never know what's happening on the other side.

Dan: I enjoyed watching the video of Black Tie Elephant, with you playing typewriter. How long have you been working with that group?

Farsheed: That is a group that I started with my friend Brendan (who plays cello) in college, I think in 2003 or so. The group combines elements of classical music, jazz music, and electronic music, with a dash of sonic slop -- something we jokingly refer to as jazz-punk.

Dan: How did you first start working with Eric Laska?

Farsheed: I went to college with his brother Jason who introduced me. I knew he was doing sound stuff at NYU, and I think we talked a bit last year about trying to do a project together. We ended up submitting a non-sound related Rhizome proposal last year called "Really Fast Syndication" which was about the ridiculous speed that we consume information today. This year we wanted to do something more sound related, and having Soapbox enabled us to do that.

Dan: How have the “Chicago Equinix” events / transmissions been going?

Farsheed: They've been really great and very challenging -- the people who have stopped by don't know what to think. We've had some great reactions. Here's a sound that a lot of people don't notice, or try to ignore or eliminate, and you enter this room where the scale of the sound is incredibly immersive and massive and it's sourced almost 800 miles away. It's such a fundamental part of everyday life - 60 Hz hum comes from the AC power pumped to every electrical socket in America - but it's always a background sound. It's like taking an ant hill and making a human scale version of it. Personally I don't think I'll ever hear it the same way again.

Dan: What other ongoing projects have you been working on?

Farsheed: We have an ongoing string workshop that explores alternative techniques and ways of playing classical string instruments. Alternative bowing techniques, applying guitar effects and looping, things like that...we also have a composer workshop that brings together songwriters to work on or share what they are currently working on. It's a good way to get feedback as well as just hear what others are working on. A lot of composition happens in isolation, but a group setting is invaluable in motivating and inspiring you to create new work. And as mentioned before, we just rolled out 48 Volts, our new music series highlighting artists in the city. 

     "Chicago Equinix" happens at Soapbox Music on Sunday, October 10 (9 p.m.), as part of the Fifth Annual Chicago Calling Arts Festival. Soapbox Music is at 1612 N. Sawyer Ave. in Chicago. This event is free and open to the public; call (773) 800-0729 for more info. 

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