Collaborations featured on this page:
Me Too - Federman (words) and Obvious World (music)
Cold n' Grey - OrO and Obvious World
Skank - Joel Garnier
and Obvious World
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Obvious World began spinning in 1986. He had experience with tape to tape mixes and mashups and finally got to experience a live approach to mixing. with two technique 1200 turntables and a mixer he began to tap the primal urgings surging to the surface towards another dimension. He did some radio in the early nineties while in university and got turned on to the more underground techno that was going on. Similar in synth and beat to some of the music he was already playing, techno at that time was exactly what he was looking for.
While in university, Obvious World was not yet Obvious World. he was Matt Ahearn and he was a dual major in art and communications. He enjoyed taking courses in: sociology, environmental issues, psychology, communication, art history, film, the dada, surrealism, all religions, world politics, meditation, martial arts, linguistics, history and physical exercise. His passion for cooking, herbal remedies, gardening, poetry, music production, digital arts, and computer programming came later.
During his stint at the university radio station, Matt began to fold ideas over from his schooling into his live sets, setting them ablaze with an intelligent twist to find the right sounds and atmospheres that succeed in creating an "experience" when one listens to them. His passion was in the visual arts and in the skill of communicating and techno presented itself as the best vehicle for him to begin to really truly communicate.
Terence Mckenna popped up on a cd by the Shamen from the U.K. and he finally caught a glimpse of someone else who was experiencing some of the same mystical things he was. Mckenna's words, though complex and formed in a different manor than most other english speakers alive today, were a puzzle of intelligent linguistics which only began to make sense after the 100th listen. It propelled Matt into another realm of awareness, a state of total zen, balance and purpose. For his final art project in his drawing class, Matt constructed a small room that was only big enough to fit one full grown human in a sitting position on a chair. The environment he designed was meant to recreate a mushroom trip he had that led him through a series of musical meditations, high mystical experiences and deep human interaction.
There were lights and balls of energy that wafted into him, filling him with intelligence each time. This experience of light bouncing towards and into you was what he wanted to accomplish in this room. The intelligence came in the form of techno playing on headphones worn by the participant. the light bursts were from a small strobe that would blast slowly and to the pulse of the music. The light would shine on a painting of the mushroom experience which is placed in front of the audience member but extended itself throughout the black interior of the room; above you, below you and all around you. The class had been a drawing class and the final project had nothing to do with drawing, yet he got an A on the project and an A in the class.
So in the middle of his junior year, Matt dropped out of university and set out to expand the room into a larger room that could hold many people in an actual venue; to increase the experience. he would play loud techno over great big speakers and would only leave a small hole cutout of the painted canvas for you to see who was playing the music. The experience was less about the dj and most about the personal experience you would have with the combination of the music, light and artwork.
This project was what would pair him up with another "techno dj" who had come from Santa Fe, New Mexico; dj Oblivious Word.
The two of them began to perform at these art installation parties all over the United States. They cultivated a unique sound that spanned countless genres, but always coming back to the progressive sounds of electronic music pioneers and producers who were forging a new path in music. Obvious World was thus born and he and Oblivious Word turned on everyone from hippies and deadheads to punkers and country fans. Their attitude and approach to this was summed up in the name of their group, "Be Happie".
After some years of doing this, Obvious World took the sound of electronic music to a local venue in a large midwestern college town. He convinced the venue to give him their 80's night for an experiment. He would end up changing the face of techno and beginning the very important exploration into the music in that midwestern town. Still today the creativity and devotion continues to awe and inspire a whole nother generation.
This was when Obvious World began to seriously begin to create full pieces of electronic music. In 1997 he toured through europe for the summer playing music. He came back to the states where he started a small label known as "Freakie People" and released a compilation cd with a couple of friends. The genres were diverse; from downbeat to techno to ambient to drum n' bass. The release was entitled "Awake in the Lap of a Dream" and was well received by people all over the world.
Today, Obvious World continues to produce electronic music and always welcomes the opportunity to work with other artists, poets, vocalists and musicians of all genres. He performs every chance he has and still works hard to create environments filled with light and music and art that are intended to grant you something in exchange for being present.
Obvious World currently lives on a private mountain in a secluded forest with his significant other and their two small cats. It is ideal for creating phat thumping beats, sexy psychedelic basslines, organic gardens and barbequed chicken.
CALLING ALL ARTISTS:
TO HAVE YOUR MUSIC HEARD ON THE RADIO
SEND A MESSAGE WITH THE SUBJECT: "ITS ON"