Sound Shifts Stuff:
An Interview with Fabeku Fatunmise
July 6th, 2009
I'm so thrilled to be sharing this audio interview with the wonderful musician, artist, and sound healer, Fabeku Fatunmise!
I had hoped to have this ready for the month of sound for the Creative Every Day Challenge, but because of some technical difficulties with the recording vanishing temporarily, I couldn't do it. But the recording survived (phew!) and I just know you'll love hearing about Fabeku's work with sound and how it connects with art and creativity. Magical stuff. (Click on the link below to listen right here or right-click to download.)
Creation, Fabeku Fatunmise
Cymatics: During the interview, Fabeku and I discuss the science of Cymatics, which is the study of visible sound and vibration. It's absolutely fascinating to see how sound can impact form. (Turn down the volume if you watch the video.)
There's a great video introduction to Cymatics here and above is a demonstration of how it works, with sand on an aluminum plate. What blew my mind was how sound vibrations move the sand into patterns that look like mandala shapes or turtle shells. It certainly gives me pause about the impact of sound on the body when I see it like this.
Fabeku's New Website: Fabeku has just launched his brand-spankin'-new website, Sankofa Sound and it is awesome. Really. Go check it out. The about page alone is killer! I love the music memories Fabeku shares there.
You can also learn more about sound healing and how it works, schedule a session with Fabeku (in person or distance), and purchase one of Fabeku's amazing cds or downloads. I was also quite enamored with the collection of singing bowls he has for sale, each one in the shop has a recording of the sound it makes. So cool. Oh, and there's a blog too! Fabeku is also on Twitter as @fabeku.
Free Download! Yay!: Also be sure to check out Fabeku's fabulous *free* sound healing download right here. There are ninjas involved. Yes, ninjas. Go see for yourself.
Blue Deer, Fabeku Fatunmise
Thank you, Fabeku, for sharing your work with me and everyone here!
10 Responses
Oh, I love to hear your voice, Fabeku, after all this time seeing your smiling face and reading your tweets.
There’s so much I appreciate about this post, but especially the following two ideas:
- that the sounds we make and play change the way we feel! You mentioned this in regards to playing drums fast and slow; I wonder if your emotional change has something to do with the interaction between the movement of your arms and the sound you were creating. I don’t play any instruments, but I sure notice this with vocalizing. In fact, just the other day I rolled my MuseCubes and got “twist and howl”. I let myself have such a full howl that I didn’t even twist, and I felt so bold and courageous afterwards!!
- In regards to the relationship between sound and art, I think you said, “The sound creates the room and the art paints the walls.” Such a beautiful idea. Makes me want to play with this idea more.
Thank you, Leah, for interviewing Fabeku! You are both completely delicious.
Posted by: Gretchen Wegner | Jul 6, 2009 at 2:36 pm |
What an amazing interview with two of my very favorite creative people!!!
And so much of what Fabeku is saying resonates with me. I always use sound in my workshops with my students to help them get in touch with their creative energy in their bodies before they start painting! And I loved what Fabeku said about how what is created through art is a living presence in and of itself. That when you are painting or creating something it is not a representation of something real ( which is what we are trained to think about art in western culture) … it IS something real and totally ALIVE!!!
So Cool!!!
Love you both SO MUCH!
And thanks for doing this and being creative lights of inspiration for the rest of us.
Posted by: chris zydel | Jul 6, 2009 at 4:41 pm |
[...] This post was Twitted by ExpressiveHart [...]
Posted by: Twitted by ExpressiveHart | Jul 6, 2009 at 4:58 pm |
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Posted by: Twitted by ktteemu | Jul 6, 2009 at 7:45 pm |
Loved the interview! Thanks Leah for sharing this and thanks Fabeku for the wonderful work that you do. Off to get your download
Posted by: Jennifer Lee | Jul 6, 2009 at 8:11 pm |
Whoa–what a great interview! Thanks to you both, Leah and Fabeku! I know from my experience as a drummer (Indian tablas) how rhythm can affect our emotions and states of consciousness, but it’s all intuitive for me…fascinating that Fabeku has studied this so formally and for so long.
I’m also especially intrigued by cymatics. It reminds me of Masaru Emoto and his work with the vibrations of water (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaru_Emoto). It’s amazing to watch those patterns form!
Posted by: Michelle Russell | Jul 6, 2009 at 8:44 pm |
Great interview Leah. Fabeku, as always, had great things to share. I agree, sound is very powerful. Thanks also for sharing some of his beautiful paintings.
I’m really looking forward to the sound for creatives release.
Posted by: Christine Martell | Jul 6, 2009 at 11:13 pm |
Wow, this is truly amazing stuff. I really enjoyed this. Such a powerful conversation around the intersection of audio and visual. You both are the awesomest! Lots of love ~ Eileen
Posted by: Eileen | Jul 7, 2009 at 2:33 pm |
“Awesomesauce!”
Posted by: Barbara Martin | Jul 8, 2009 at 6:32 pm |
Hey everyone!
Thanks so much for all of your awesome comments. I am so excited about this interview, and grateful to Leah for doing it and grateful that you all dug it.
@Gretchen – I know there are some pretty cool links between movement and sound. Indigenous cultures around the world combine both through music and dance, and in the context of storytelling. So I’m sure that plays a part in the experience.
I also know that during a session, where people lay perfectly still, they experience great shifting too. So there’s lots of shifting happening due to the sound, and I’m sure that shifting expands when you introduce movement into the equation.
@Chris – The indigenous relationship to art is one that has been huge for me. Because art has been such a healing thing in my own life, it was cool to meet people who have maintained such a deep relationship with the living nature of art. They so completely get it, and approach art in some incredible ways.
Making art is, I feel, an act of birthing something in a very real way. It’s not about completing a project, or making an idea tangible, but it’s like giving something life, which then has the potential to teach and heal and transform. Cool stuff!
@Jennifer – Thanks for the kind words and support. I hope you dug the download!
@Michelle – The fact that you play the tablas just rocks my world. I LOVE the tablas, and hope, one day, to learn them. I have been so affected by listening to them. And seeing Arjun Bruggeman, the tabla drummer for Krishna Das, play live was one of the sweetest experiences ever. That guy has some serious mojo!
And cymatics… well, it totally blows my mind. To watch sound creating these amazing forms, and to see sound shift stuff is such a clear and concrete way amazes me. Dr. Emoto has done some interesting work too. Glad you mentioned him.
@Christine – Thanks for your interest in the sacred sound project for creative stuff. I’m really excited about it. And I’m glad you liked the interview.
This is actually the first time I’ve shared my art in such a public way. It was a bit of a stretch for me, but I’m glad I did it here. Leah has created the most perfect, supportive space.
@Eileen – I think you’re all kinds of awesome too. Since the interview I’ve been filled with all kinds of additional thoughts and sound and art, and the way they come together. It’s such a big subject, isn’t it?
@Barbara – Another round of awesomesauce for everyone!
@ExpressiveHart & ktteemu – Thanks for sharing this interview on Twitter. I appreciate that a ton.
@Leah – Thanks again for giving me the chance to talk about two things I love. I’m really grateful.
Posted by: Fabeku | Jul 10, 2009 at 5:15 pm |