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One would be hard-pressed to consider a place in Winnipeg that is more suited to a sunset concert than the Garden of Contemplation at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Sound Lounge Events is adding to the ambience this weekend by placing electronic and looping artists in the garden to soundtrack a spring sunset.
Although this kind of performance is not where saxophonist and singer Alex Maher usually finds himself, he’s excited to contribute to an evening of DJ sets that match the atmosphere of the space while also ensuring energy still pulsates through the room.
“I think that any venue kind of brings out a performance in an artist that gets to play at it,” he said in an interview on Morning Light.
One of the considerations that Maher is putting more focus on ahead of this performance is the BPM (beats per minute) that constitute the songs in his hour-long performance. As an artist who creates an entire band using looping pedals, percussion elements, singing and his trademark saxophone playing, he will be thinking about transitions between songs in a continuous fashion so as to maintain the contemplative aura the space demands.
“I think the contemplation is going to live more in the realm of my sax solos, which I try to place as many as possible in my set,” Maher says. “That will definitely have to be part of the essence of what happens.”
Maher also notes while there is only so much one can do to prepare for musical events like this one, his experiences performing at venues like resorts in Mexico and Winnipeg Sea Bears games will help him to navigate whatever energy the audience is giving him on the night. “That’s a huge factor,” he says. “I'll still be doing my material, just not at concert volume.”
“Maybe a contemplative, face-melting vibe is what I’m going for,” he grins.
Maher’s performance in the Garden of Contemplation with Sound Lounge Events begins at 8:30 p.m. on May 17, with doors closing fifteen minutes prior to show time. Tickets and more information can be found at Sound Lounge Events’ Instagram page.