ZapGossip

Grimes to unveil REALiTi project at Moogfest 2016

Grimes is to unveil an interactive project called ‘REALiTi: Inside the Music of Grimes’ at Moogfest 2016.
The 28-year-old Canadian singer – whose real name is Claire Elise Boucher – is a headliner at the music, art & technology festival, held in honour of the inventor of the Moog synthesiser Robert Moog, and will debut the works at the musical event, which takes place in Durham, North Carolina, between May 19 and May 22.
The unique instalment will allow fans of the musician-and-producer to listen to her song ‘REALiTi’, from her LP ‘Art Angles’ while also being able to "manipulate the music as they physically interact with the environment".
While little information is known about the project it’s believed to be powered by Microsoft’s Kinect – the motion sensor device used by gamers on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One video game consoles and Windows PCs – and is able to provide "unique sounds and visuals" for those who near to it.
Elsewhere at the festival, electronic music pioneer Gary Numan will be the recipient of the 2016 Moog Innovation Award.
The ‘Cars’ hitmaker is delighted to be chosen to receive the honour, which has previously been awarded to Devo, Brian Eno and Thomas Dolby.
Taking to his Facebook page, Numan, 58, wrote: "I’m absolutely thrilled to have just ready the following announcement from Moog. What a fantastic way to start a tour (sic)"
A statement released by the Moogfest organisers reads:
"Moog is proud to announce Gary Numan as the recipient of the 2016 Moog Innovation Award. Numan joins past honourees Devo, Brian Eno and Thomas Dolby.
"One of the original pioneers of popular electronic music, Gary Numan’s enduring pursuit of new sounds has led to a career spanning over 35 years, with over 50 releases … Replacing guitars with heavily affected synthesisers, Numan’s early work is almost single handedly responsible for introducing post-punk electronica into the popular consciousness, while propelling synth music beyond Prog Rock to inspire the wave of 80s synth pop that soon followed. His impact on the three generations of music since can’t be understated. Numan was massively influential on industrial rock icon Trent Reznor, the phased and metallic minimalism of Radiohead, and the dystopian production of hip hop genius, the GZA.
"Numan is a manifestation of electronic culture’s progressive nature to explore the limits of traditional sound develop new mechanisms for expression. We are honoured to name him the recipient of the 2016 Moog Innovation Award."