As the head of Playing For Change, Mark Johnson travels the world with a small crew, a high-end mobile recording rig, and video cameras, to capture buskers and other undiscovered musicians — perhaps a drummer deep in the Congo, a guitarist on a New Orleans street corner, or a choir in South America. But this isn't just an anthropological expedition — after a little coaching, Johnson has them all play the same song, along with the same metronome and/or backing track, stacking overdubs to create a "virtual collaboration" between musicians who otherwise would likely have never met. The resulting videos and albums have turned his project into a viral sensation. The humanitarian spirit of peace and unity at the root of all this makes the goals lofty and the logistics difficult; yet, somehow, Johnson cuts no corners, even in the wildest destinations.
Women in Audio | No. 69
Christina Files: Shipping News, June of 44 and more
by Lauren K. Newman
I met with Christina Files on a crisp sunny afternoon at Peninsula Park in Northeast Portland. We discussed her past and present experiences as a live sound engineer, studio engineer and musician....