Driven by a challenge
Kent Macpherson is a man of many talents. He’s a composer, sonic artist, researcher and tutor at Waikato institute of Waikato (Wintec).
He spent his childhood on a farm in Hawkes Bay. He started a passion of music at a young age.
Macpherson said “The first instrument I learnt was the piano but when I as got older I realized it wasn’t a great way for meeting girls so then I learnt the guitar, in fact my first teacher was a shepherd that worked for my father”.
When he started high school he joined a rock/punk band and started to write his own music.
“I started high school in 1981, which was a big year for music. A lot of things happened like post punk, so that got me into writing music”.
After finishing high school he traveled throughout many different countries. He then ended up moved to Melbourne, Australia and completed post graduate studies in Contemporary Music Technology at Latrobe University. In 2009 he then completed a certificate in Screen Music Composition at the Australian Film Television & Radio School.
Throughout his time in Australia he made many works of art. From 1994 to 2009 he did such work with Ryohei Iwasaki and Jodi Rose.
“I’ve always been interested in the sonic aspects of music rather than the lyrics and pop melodies, I’ve always been interested in things more challenging and darker”.
His most recent collaborations have been with Luke McConnell and Haco.
Haco visited Wintec in 2012 during Spark week. She worked with MacPherson performing to a crowd her bug scope system, other known as ‘Bugloop’ which she has won awards for. McConnoll done the graphics and lighting for the show.
“I’ve always been a fan of Haco’s work, particularly her album Happiness Proof and I just thought it would be cool to invite her to Spark week and I couldn’t believe when I emailed her just cold though her website, she just when yeah that sounds awesome and I was able to secure some funding through the Asian New Zealand foundation”.
Interference is a Hamilton based NZ/Chinese performance ensemble which MacPherson performs as Burning Giraffe, It is one of the many projects that he is a part of . The name ‘Interference comes from interfering with traditional music.
