Faith Coloccia (Mamiffer/Mára/Barnett+Coloccia, SIGE Records)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)
This year was amazing for music new and old! I have so many favorites:
- Abul Mogard - Circular Forms
- Arvo Pärt - Alina
- Loop - A Gilded Eternity
- Polvo - Siberia
- Puce Mary - Persona
- Nils Fram - Screws
- Sewer Election- Nära
- Jon Mueller - A Magnetic Center
- Jason Crumer- Ottoman Black
- Robert Curgenven - They Torch the Earth…
- Elaine Radigue - Vice Versa
- SUMAC - The Deal
- Oakeater - Aquarius
- Jessika Kenney - Atria
- Maica Mia live
- Tinariwen - Amassakoul
- Seeing William Fowler Collins and Jon Mueller live every night on tour!
2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
ENDON
Mamiffer performed in Tokyo, Japan with Endon and Daniel Menche this year. It was one of the best most potent performances I have seen. They are amazing human beings!
Lawrence English
We had the pleasure of performing with Lawrence English at Hopscotch Festival this year. He is also one of the best live performances I have seen, and the quality of his stage presence and sub-bass frequencies are very healing. He is also a great new friend and such an interesting person. I can relate to how he thinks about sound.
Abul Mogard
A new discovery this year based on an incredible interview he gave. I was so happy to hear about how he views sound, and his out look on life.
Helps me feel very hopeful about music making.
Loop and Polvo
I had never taken this music in before. Jussi from Circle (Finland) came to stay with us at our home this year with his family. We had so many great discussions about music and feeling, and Loop and Polvo were centers of some of those discussions.
3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)
I will remember 2015 in terms of music as overly busy! Both in terms of making my own music, and also in hearing other's creations. 2015 was such a great, inspiring and exciting year for music. The music world seems to be changing so rapidly and at times seems very confusing, yet there was so much good amazing music being made in 2015.
I will also remember 2015 as the year of performing live. Thanks to our amazing booking agents Ground Control, and our agent Merrick, this is the most I have ever performed, it was an amazing challenge! (Merrick if you are reading this: EUGENE! CHICO!)
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?
In December and January I have my first solo release coming out, I'm to happy to finally share it with the world. Its called Mára - Surfacing, I recorded my voice and piano onto a 4 track from 2011-2015, the release date is December 11, 2015.
Mamiffer has a full-length out in March 2016 called The World Unseen. It was written and recorded over a three year period. I am happy it's also finally coming out into the world. Mamiffer is touring the US around that time to support the record and also playing the Big Ears Festival.
And working on another Barnett+Coloccia record next year with my good friend and collaborator Alex Barnett.
I am also in some art shows in 2016, and have some art books coming out.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?
- SUMAC
- Oxbow
- Black Spirituals
- Circle
6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?
I have no idea! I am open to all possibilities about formats. It seem that regardless of PR, record sales, or digital formats, people are incredibly inspired, and are making amazing, and challenging music. I still have a fondness for the physical format, and producing that. Especially with SIGE's hand made releases. I like to know and feel that part of the artist's presence is still in and has interacted with the commodified object. That the personal can reach out to touch the listener through the physical format.
Although: I also really like knowing that someone far away who cannot get the physical release or afford it, can be touched by hearing the human voice come through foreign computer speakers, that the spirit of creation and the human pulse can still be felt through bad connections, broken systems and murky digital streams of capitalism. So I am hopeful that regardless of what format a release is on, that people still believe in the power of music, and the communities it helps foster and create.
