#armenchakmakian

[armenchakmakian]

Spotify link in bio - This track is a jam session caught on tape. Tape - literally. The working title was “The Peter Gabriel Song” because the baseline I played reminded me of Tony Levin not playing on the downbeat in Shock The Monkey. Chuck was playing his sax through his new DigiTech digital harmonizer they gave him while in Shadowfax. We played over a pattern he programmed in his Sequential Circuits TOM drum machine while I played the baseline on my Korg M1 with my left hand and the synth marimba patch with my right on my DX-7 synth. I overdubbed the pads later. It was one pass, jamming around the initial 6 bar “hook” that Chuck had come up with. Tweaking his harmonizer, programming the loop, me coming up with my sounds, the overdub - beginning to end we probably spent a total of 20-30 minutes on this track. #jamsession #saxophone #keyboard #music #vintage #synthesizer #funky #jazz #fusion #newage #spotify #chuckgreenberg #armenchakmakian (at Atascadero, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpzz73DH_nC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=f7g4s5yduqbj

[avunjian]

https://soundcloud.com/armenchakmakian/last-dance

[armenchakmakian]

I programmed some “pops” in @uheplugins Zebra2 and sent them over to my friend Pablo. I wanted to see him what he would do with them in his @makenoisemusic Morphagene module. He came up with this very cool nugget of sound. . . . . . #Repost #sound #audio @pablokris (@get_repost) ・・・ Bastard Pop...thanks to @armenchakmakian foe the pops samples #morphagene #eurorack #modularsynth #beats #edm #techno #dancemusic #synthesizers #music #pabloperez

[armenchakmakian]

https://soundcloud.com/armenchakmakian/please-come-home

[armenchakmakian]

#Repost @biko259 with @repostapp ・・・ It's raining again. Round 1 completed. Roger's Great Show @rogerhodgson @bryan_head @bassdavidj @armenchakmakian #backstage #music #concert #supertramp #musician

[armenchakmakian]

#Repost @shawnjonesmusic with @repostapp ・・・ Shawn Jones Band at Copperblues Oxnard Saturday, April 23rd 9pm featuring: Armen Chakmakian- keys, Sam Bolle - bass, Christopher Allis - Drums! Please join us! @copperbluesoxnard @ghsstrings @vcbuzzmag @lowdenguitars @shawnjonesmusic @armenchakmakian @topherdrum @salmoneye1 (at Copper Blues Oxnard)

[armenchakmakian]

#Repost @biko259 with @repostapp ・・・ TONITE Armen's solo in "Child of Vision". Hear the audience... Roger Hodgson Tour. @rogerhodgson @armenchakmakian #show #music #keyboard #piano #band #keyboardplayer cash #rogerhodgson (at Teatro Gran Rex)

[armenchakmakian]

"SOULS AND SAINTS”

Today at 12:00 AM AMT I released a new music art piece titled “Souls and Saints.” The piece is 100 seconds in length played at a tempo about 100 BPM

The simplicity of the solo piano piece reflects the simple request that the Armenian Genocide be recognized

I intended a bit of optimism but also impatience

The ending is a bit unfulfilling by design with a bell that rings symbolic of the bells ringing today after the Armenian Church made saints of all the Genocide victims

The music offers no closure as it is incomplete and offers no direction for an ending as it was forging ahead

If it lacks impact, it does so in a way that countless voices lack impact on Genocide deniers

“SOULS AND SAINTS”: THE INTENTION I set out to compose and record a piece with the intention of resonating what Armenians experience as a whole when it comes to the topic of our Genocide.  To create something that was beyond the channeling of my emotions through music seemed more important than attempting to create music that ended up being polished and produced.  I wanted to be real and raw with this piece and be left with somewhat unfulfilled after the music stopped because that’s how I feel about the Genocide, especially the primary components of that subject which are the deniers and those who refuse to call it what it is.

I won’t speak for anyone else, but I know others must have shared my experiences:  Most times that the subject of our Genocide comes to mind, with each documentary I watch, story I read, anecdote I hear or recall, a barrage of thoughts and emotions come over me.  I’m transported back and forth between hate and spiritual love; revenge and divine forgiveness. But the constants that remain other than sadness are feeling unfulfilled and dissatisfied with any kind of justice as well as the deniers.  There’s no closure yet; no end in sight for the day when could stop the demonstrations and the noise.

All of this was to be reflected in the music somehow.  The simplicity of the piece reflects a simple request: Acknowledgement. The performance isn’t perfect, as is the case when our voices crack at times when we talk about the subject at hand, but we continue to speak, regardless.  If the piece lacks impact, this is in parallel to the many petitions signed and all of the demonstrations and marches that have not made an impact to a number of countries, governments, politicians and citizens, but we forge ahead.  I played it with a hollow sense of hope that ultimately there may be justice and healing some day.

Armen Chakmakian (originally posted at www.armenblog.com)

[armenchakmakian]

This track makes me want to eat a bag of chocolate chip cookies! No wonder - it features the not-so-often-featured baritone saxophone.

[armenchakmakian]

A down-tempo-ish, retro-ish, organ heavy-ish, cue with a simple horn line to make all horn arrangers proud.

[armenchakmakian]

A comedic and quirky track where you can feel the hustle and bustle in my head as I burn the candle at all 3 ends!

[armenchakmakian]

There's something shifty and sneaky about this fun and quirky track. Please don't let this reflect on the character of the composer.

[armenchakmakian]

An up-tempo kinda-Latin-kinda-kitsch-kinda-not sorta track for those of you who kinda sorta have a sense of humor.

[armenchakmakian]

A slow, jazzy cue and perfect accompaniment if you're feeling down cuz Dennis Rodman's hangin' out with the wrong crowd.

[armenchakmakian]

Celebrate your exuberance by crankin' up this newest made-for-tv track!

[armenchakmakian]

Best of Buddha-Bar

Big news! I just signed an agreement with George V Records to have DJ Ravin remix my track “Gypsy Rain” for the new Best of Buddha-Bar album - release Sept 2012.