Innovative Listening Party Unites Tech and Community at Bowdoin
Bowdoin's 'Give Way' listening party redefines collective music experiences, blending technology, jazz, and community togetherness.
With the advancement of technology, music listening habits have leaned more towards solitary experiences, often confined to personal headphones and car stereos. Embracing the idea of collective enjoyment, Bowdoin College recently hosted a listening party for “Give Way,” a debut jazz album by Kate Campbell-Strauss, Director of Jazz Ensembles, in the state-of-the-art Center for Experiential Multimedia Art (CEMA).
The CEMA Soundscape
CEMA’s contemporary space, distinguished by its impeccable acoustics and visual setup, set the stage for this unique event. Lit with captivating pink and purple lights, the room became an immersive auditory haven. Saxophonist Campbell-Strauss and trumpeter Emily Mikesell, the masterminds behind “Give Way,” produced this evocative album during the pandemic, binding the attendees not only through melodies but through shared human experience.
To Sit and Feel the Music
Picture this: a floor cushioned with soft seating to absorb the subtleties of the powerful subwoofer-enhanced soundscape. Attendees shed their shoes, savoring the palpable vibrations that resonated directly from the intricate jazz notes. Assistant Professor of Digital Music Badie Khaleghian explained the concept: feeling sound doesn’t just happen in your ears—here, it vibrates down to the bones.
High-Quality Dreams
With top-tier speakers delivering top-tier sound, this session allowed “Give Way” to shine as it should. Campbell-Strauss embraced the technology’s role in accentuating every nuance of the music. “It felt like it was close to how it should sound,” she said, reflecting on how technology elevates the listening experience beyond conventional means.
Technology Fuels Connection
Rebecca Jordan, Visiting Assistant Professor of German, vividly described the event’s marriage of visual and auditory elements. “It really made the experience visually interesting,” she shared, highlighting how technology and art meld to enhance perception and enjoyment.
Looking Forward
Inspired by the evening’s success, Campbell-Strauss expressed excitement for future projects, hinting that the next album is closer than ever in her pursuit of bringing people together through the magic of music.
Witnessing the potential for music as a unifying force in a high-tech world was nothing short of exhilarating. As stated in The Bowdoin Orient, it’s a testament to how beautiful harmony can exist between technology and togetherness.
