Resonating Spaces: Mapping Paris Through GRM’s Lens by Aho Ssan

Resonating Spaces: Mapping Paris Through GRM’s Lens

Podcast

Episode 21 of the TIMEZONES podcast series, initiated and produced by Norient, takes you on a deep dive into the sonic landscapes of Paris through the lens of the legendary Groupe de Recherche Musicale (GRM). Electroacoustic musician Aho Ssan reflects on the enduring legacy of the institute through his own personal story and the experiences of three artists.

In conversation with the current director of GRM François Bonnet and sound artists Jessica Ekomane and KMRU, Aho Ssan explores the evolving legacy of GRM and its impact on the contemporary art of sound. Bonnet shares insights into the institution’s enduring relevance, while Ekomane and KMRU bring their unique perspectives on how GRM has influenced their creative processes. This podcast offers an intimate look at how GRM’s pioneering work continues to echo through Paris’ vibrant artistic scenes, pushing the boundaries of what sound can express.

Credits

A podcast by Aho Ssan

Produced by Norient

Featuring: François Bonnet, Jessica Ekomane, KMRU

Artistic Editor: Abhishek Mathur
Project Management: Abhishek Mathur
Outreach/Press: Janina Neustupny
Video Trailer: Karrl
Jingle Voiceover: Nana Akosua Hanson
Jingle Mix: Daniel Jakob
Mastering: Adi Flück, Centraldubs
Artwork: Šejma Fere

Listen on

→ Listen to further TIMEZONES episodes

Featured Artists

François J. Bonnet is a Franco-Swiss composer and electroacoustic musician based in Paris. He is the director of INA GRM (Institut national de l’audiovisuel / Groupe de Recherches Musicales – the latter being one of the birthplaces of electroacoustic experimentation in the late 1950s). He is also a writer, and a member of the collective Ende Wieder. As a musician, Bonnet often works under the project name Kassel Jaeger. Kassel Jaeger’s works are a complex balance between concrète experimentalism, ambient noise, and electroacoustic improv. He has released several well-received albums on various labels including the boutique CD imprint Unfathomless, the Italian experimental label Senufo Editions as well as Editions Mego where his fifth album, Deltas, was released on vinyl. Follow him on Instagram.

Jessica Ekomane is a French-born and Berlin-based electronic musician and sound artist. In her live performances and installations sound acts as a transformative element for the space and the audience. Her quadraphonic performances seek a physical affect through the interplay of psychoacoustics, rhythmic structures and melody. Her work investigates themes from individual perception and collective dynamics, and societal listening expectations. Following her debut album Multivocal (2019), she released Manifolds in 2024, a fully computer-generated work that explores the multiple possibilities of polyphonic writing. Jessica Ekomane has been chosen composer for the German pavilion of the Venice Biennale 2019, artist on the SHAPE 2019 roster and hosts the monthly radio show Open Sources on Cashmere Radio that connects folk and traditional music with contemporary musical experiments. Follow her on Instagram.

Joseph Kamaru aka KMRU is a sound artist and experimental ambient musician raised in Nairobi, Kenya and currently based in Berlin where he is a Master’s student in Sound Studies and Sonic Arts at the Universität der Künste. His works deal with discourses of field recording, improvisation, noise, ambient, machine learning, radio art and expansive hypnotic drones. He has earned international acclaim from his performances in far-flung locales as well as his ambient recordings, including the 2020 album Peel released on Editions Mego. Follow him on Instagram.

Tracks

Listen to a selection of experimental music tracks by artists who worked at the GRM studios curated by TIMEZONES producer Aho Ssan.

→ Kassel Jaeger «Meith»
→ Jessica Ekomane «Manifolds»
→ KMRU «Klang»
→ Tomoko Suavage «In the Liquid Amber Within the Ivory Porcelain»
→ Iannis Xenakis «Orient-Occident»
→ Pierre Henry «Mer Intérieure»
→ Michèle Bokanowski «Rhapsodia»
→ Éliane Radigue «L'Île re-sonante»
→ Beatriz Ferreyra «Demures aquatique»
→ Christian Zanési «Stop! l'horizon»
→ Lucy Railton «Forma»
→ Félicia Atkinson «Des Pierres»
→ Jim O'Rourke «Shutting Down Here»
→ Kali Malone «Living Torch I»
→ 9T Antipose «Dose I (Danse Macabre)»

Trailer

by Karrl

The TIMEZONES podcast series plunges into the world of artists and their practices, asking: what does living and working in culture and the arts involve in different countries, cities, and contexts today? The artists’ thoughts on their moods, their social, political, and intellectual realities and their philosophies (of life) have been worked up into experimental audio collages.

The podcasts run the gamut of formats and content, from straight journalism to experimental and documentary approaches, ethnography and fiction, sound art, and improvisation. The TIMEZONES series endeavours to create new artistic forms of storytelling, listening and exchange across the boundaries of geography, time zones, genres, and practices.

Biography

Aho Ssan is the artist name of Paris based Niamké Désiré. After studying graphic design and cinema, he began composing electronic music and creating his own digital instruments. In 2015 he went on to win the Foundation France television prize for his soundtrack to the film of Ingha Mago and has worked on several projects related to IRCAM/GRM in France since then. His debut LP Simulacrum released in 2020 based on the work of Jean Baudrillard, navigates society’s presentation of inclusivity and equality against his own experience of growing up black in France. In 2023 Aho Ssan released his new solo album Rhizomes on Nicolas Jaar’s Other People label. His music has been acclaimed by various media such as NPR, Pitchfork, Resident Advisor, Liberation and Les Inrockuptibles, and received a Honorary Mention at Prix Ars Electronica 2023 Digital Musics & Sound Art.

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Resonating Spaces: Mapping Paris Through GRM’s Lens

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Episode 21 of the «TIMEZONES» podcast series takes you on a deep dive into the sonic landscapes of Paris through the lens of the legendary GRM. The episode offers an intimate look at how GRM’s pioneering work continues to echo through Paris’ vibrant artistic scenes, pushing the boundaries of what sound can express.

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Published on February 26, 2025

Last updated on February 26, 2025

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Khayam Sanu Sandhi – The Joy of Songwriting

Podcast

by Thomas Burkhalter

In this episode of Long Take: Life as an Artist, we meet Khayam Sanu Sandhi, a singer, songwriter, and producer from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Inspired by poets Kazi Nazrul Islam and Rabindranath Tagore – two towering figures in Bangladeshi culture – Sandhi aims to create new music that resonates deeply. «They created thousands of songs – I’ve made hundreds so far, but I aspire to compose thousands», he shares. Tune in now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or other platforms!

Sandhi’s musical repertoire spans pure Indian folk and classical music, rock, punk, romantic love ballads, children’s songs, and jingles for advertisements. His compositions reflect the rich cultural heritage of Bangladesh, interwoven with his personal touch and sensibilities. Born into a family deeply rooted in music, Sandhi began his journey on the lap of his father, Khodaboksh Sanu, a trained musician from Rabindra Bharati University, a BTV music composer, and a teacher at Bangladesh Shishu Academy. At their home, which doubled as the music school Anondom Shongeetangon, Sandhi learned to play the harmonium and mastered Indian classical rags at a young age. He performed on stage as early as two and a half years old, later excelling in competitions and winning prizes as a child artist.

In his teenage years during the early 2000s, Sandhi explored rock music. Over time, he fused his classical training with contemporary genres, creating a distinctive sound that appeals to diverse audiences. We talk about his creative process, influences, and the role of Indian classical music in the Bangladeshi pop industry.

His path has not been without challenges. Sandhi speaks about the difficulties of the music industry in Bangladesh, particularly the struggles of receiving agreed-upon payments for his work. He emphasizes the importance of taking time to «feed his soul», ensuring he remains inspired and ready to compose his next piece.

In this episode, Norwegian photographer Ørjan Ellingvåg, who also captured the portraits featured here, will join the conversation.

Credits

Host: Thomas Burkhalter
Sound: Daniel Jakob, Melodies In My Head
Mix and Mastering: Daniel Jakob
Graphic Design (Cover): Pamuditha Zen Anjana
Photography: Ørjan Ellingvåg
Editorial support: The Norient team and Rebecca Favale
Support in Dhaka: Kazi Tahsin Agaz Apurbo

Listen to the full episode on YouTube and find outtakes in this YouTube playlist.

The podcast «Long Take: Life as an Artist» dives into deep conversations with artists from across the globe, focusing on musicians and sound creators. Hosted by Norient founder, anthropologist, writer and audiovisual artist Thomas Burkhalter, it explores the personal journeys of these artists – their aspirations, successes, challenges, creative processes, and perspectives on the world. The podcast is minimally edited, offering authentic portrayals of each artist, revealing the person behind the art. It serves as a valuable, freely accessible resource for anyone researching music, sound, culture, and politics.

The podcast is funded by