The Australian Art Orchestra are proud to announce the long- awaited release of im/modesty through UK based label Flaming Pines as part of the AAO Recordings – Praxis Series.
A staple of the Canberra underground music scene, the artist Shoeb Ahmad proudly identifies as a person of Bangladeshi heritage and a transgender woman. Her music is known for exploring deeply personal experiences and vulnerabilities, in an evocative mix of acoustic and electronic indie pop.
Originally developed as a multi-speaker installation during a residency in Kerala, Southern India, Ahmad was commissioned by the Australian Art Orchestra to turn ‘im/modesty’ into an ensemble performance piece that would go on to be premiered live as part of the AAO Meeting Points Series in 2018.
This ground-breaking work was inspired by the cultural barriers people from the Indian sub-continent face when exploring their sexuality and features text spoken by three voices in different stages of life – interspersed with electronic music and atmospheric recordings from the streets of India.
Sia Ahmad – electric guitar, voice, loops, harmonium, percussion
Australian Art Orchestra:
Aviva Endean – clarinets, percussion
Sunny Kim – voice, loops, percussion
Peter Knight – trumpet, Revox, laptop, voice, percussion
Maria Moles – drum kit, percussion
Tilman Robinson – four track, synths, pedals, harmonium, percussion
Recorded live by Jem Savage in the Potter Foyer, Arts Centre Melbourne on 9 December 2018
Words & Music by Sia Ahmad
Mixed by Jem Savage with Peter Knight
Mastered by Simon Scott
released November 16, 2020
Photos by Kate Ahmad
This performance was curated for the Australian Art Orchestra’s
Meeting Points series, with support from City of Melbourne
For purchases outside Australiasia, please head to flamingpines.bandcamp.com