MICKI-LEE SMITH
Nuit BlancheToronto 2024
Independent Project:
1-800-INF-ERNO
By: Micki-Lee Smith & Zakriya Bashir-Hill
In collaboration with Diana Lawryshyn, Pratap Mathews, & Yun Young Lee
Featuring paintings by Diana Lawryshyn!
October 5th-6th
7PM-7AM
October 7th, 9th, & 11th
4-7PM
October 12th
12-5PM
@ The Lost and Found
420 Queen St E
A phone call bridges the gap between personal experiences and the grim realities that exist on the front lines of the global environmental crisis. A devastating forest fire comes to life. Melancholic melody and wistful lyricism weave into an unsettling crackle, forging together the layers of an uncomfortable and alarming soundscape. Audiences are invited to listen in on both sides of a phone conversation and hear how two extremes, ignorance and unobstructed, inescapable awareness, emerge.
On one end, an individual expresses their excitement and intent to be together with a partner who, amid the crisis, cannot respond. Additional phones surround the seemingly “one-sided” conversation, shedding light on the perspectives between them. A timeless tune cascades through the room, depicting a lover’s plea for connection. This familiar trope is recontextualized, prompting audiences to consider the unseen emotional tolls that hide behind statistics and reports. Explore how distance informs our sense of urgency and apathy towards the environmental crisis. Are you susceptible to disconnection?
Special thanks to Camilie Shiu, Alex Dobson, Nuit Blanche TO, and Nurielle Stern at The Lost and Found Gallery for helping bring this piece to life.
Supported by Toronto Arts Council with funding from the City of Toronto.
About the Artists:
Micki-Lee Smith + Zakriya Bashir-Hill
Micki is a violinist, composer and multimedia artist, whose work reimagines classical, jazz and folk music, wistfully whisking in drops of atmospheric emotion. As a hat connoisseur, Zakriya wears many: audio engineer, music producer, videographer, photographer and multi-instrumentalist. His work spans many genres. Having met through University of Toronto's Music Technology and Digital Media Master's program, the two first joined forces for Micki’s Nuit Blanche debut, “Submerge” (2023). The installation sparked conversations about underwater acoustic pollution with its eerie and imaginative soundscape.
https://www.mickileesmith.com/ @mickifiddlesaround
https://www.halfmilemusic.studio/ @zakriyabh
Diana Lawryshyn [Role: Lyric Visuals Artist / Painter]
With a style described as “tremulous” and “introspective”, Diana Nadia Lawryshyn is best known for painting on wood surfaces. Central to her practice is a willingness to let the wood’s grain guide her brushstrokes, facilitating an organic expression of what lies dormant in her subconscious. Diana holds a Bachelor of Arts and Education degree from Queen’s University and a Master of Music from the University of Toronto. These educational influences, combined with fine art electives, had unexpectedly given rise to her unique painting style. Her work has received notable recognition, including the City of Oshawa’s Emerging Artist award, "People’s Choice" at the Station Gallery’s Annual Juried Exhibition, and “Best in Show” at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery’s Cultural Expressions Juried Art Exhibition.
@Diana_Nadia_
Pratap Mathews [Role: Fabricator]
With a background in computer science, Pratap’s creative practice is driven by creative curiosity and a keen interest in tackling technical challenges. Following the completion of his master's degree in Music Technology at the University of Toronto, he has been passionately producing and releasing his own pop music under the name Tyas.
@tyasmusic
Yun Young Lee [Role: Creative Audio Editor and Producer]
Yun is a versatile musician based in Toronto, Canada. With a background in jazz, she has focused her skills as a keyboard player, and collaborates with renowned Kpop artists.Yun’s musical journey took her to the University of Toronto, where she delved into the intricacies of music technology, and earned her master’s degree. Armed with this advanced knowledge, she has since become a composer and producer, crafting compositions that span an array of genres.
https://yunyoung.bandcamp.com/album/hours
@yunyoungleeee
1-800-INF-ERNO: Reception Perception
A pop-up "teaser" for Nuit Blanche 2024
Looking for venues in Vancouver + Toronto to host this pop-up installation!
Contact mickismithmusic@gmail[Dot]com for booking and media coverage.
Submerge (2023)
An interactive installation that allows you to be immersed into the beautiful, sublime, and eerie world below — with no escape…
Submerge is an 7 minute interactive multi-media composition that sparks conversations about noise pollution and its effect on the preservation of the ocean environment. It features immersive audio, video, audience interactivity, and recordings of underwater sounds blended with synthesized water sounds. The interactive component allows a user to control both the sonic quality and visuals, as the transition from above water to below is initiated through a control device (knob).
"Submerge" premiered at 401 Richmond in Toronto at Nuit Blanche 2023.
Audio was mixed for Dolby Atmos compatibility.
Audio-Visual Work
Producing, engineering, mixing, and video production.
Don't hesitate to reach out if you need a hand with an upcoming project. I'd love to creatively assist you in bringing your vision to life!
Audio demo reel
Voiceover and background music
Visual demo reel
Music Video Directing/Production