Photo: Brian Guido
Los Angeles-based composer, synthesist and multi-media artist Jeremiah Chiu has announced his new solo album Edge Conditions, due out on October 9th through International Anthem. Following his recent records with Marta Sofia Honer and his work with SML, as well as his 2023 solo album In Electric Time, the forthcoming album finds Chiu bringing together several sides of his musical practice into his most expansive solo statement yet. Written and recorded mostly earlier this year, Edge Conditions draws on new compositions alongside field recordings, live collaborations and material going back several years, with contributions from Marta Sofia Honer, Booker Stardrum, Ben Lumsdaine, Patrick Shiroishi, Takako Minekawa, Marquis Hill and Will Miller of Resavoir.
As the press release describes, Edge Conditions is “the first full-frame look at Chiu as a composer”, moving beyond the more immediate and experimental approach of his previous solo record and giving his ideas more room to develop. The album title comes from the architectural idea of an “edge condition”, a space where different environments meet, which Chiu found fitting for a record shaped by boundaries and limitations. As he puts it:
“Thematically, the idea of an architectural edge condition came to mind during the process of making this record as it, too, felt like a practice bound by (environmental) restrictions, or boundaries.”
Ahead of the album’s release, Chiu has shared ‘Plastic Mind / Elastic Machines’, a gripping and entrancing two-part track featuring vocals and field recordings from Takako Minekawa and drums from Booker Stardrum. Speaking about it, he comments:
“‘Plastic Mind / Elastic Machines’ was truly the guiding beacon for the entire record. Prior to rediscovering this track, I imagined an album with a more defined ensemble that was less drum-centric. Once I heard this, I felt drawn to follow this direction and let it take me wherever it was headed.”
The single comes accompanied by a hand-drawn animated video by Korey Martin, who also designed the album cover. Chiu had this to say about it:
“Korey’s artwork holds visual resonance for what I was trying to create—something analog, abstract, and beautiful, but with some tension and energy that felt like the music. His repetitive visual motifs create a hypnotic quality that perfectly accompanies the song.”
Watch the video for ‘Plastic Mind / Elastic Machines’ below.
