Local musician Dialectic is operating in a rare space for the Central Coast music scene, and he's wanting to transform the way we approach electronic music.
For some, going to an electronic music show might mean seeing a DJ mix, modify and play recordings of their music. There’s a lot of skill in this, though most of us would agree that a lot of what you’re hearing isn’t entirely live. And while this isn't the case for every electronic show, it is a sector of the scene one local is trying to change.
Patrick Sharples, the man behind Dialectic, is keen to transform the way we think about a live electronic show, particularly on the Central Coast.
Sharples believes that a good electronic act will do more than just play their mixes and have some flashing lights, but rather physically play instruments at the same time.
"My background is in drumming", Sharples explained.
"I really like electronic music, but I never liked electronic shows - I like to see someone sweat when they play.
"Often it's them pushing buttons with really nice light shows and visuals, but sometimes it feels like listening to their music on really nice sound systems.
"So, I wondered if I could infuse my live drumming, my acoustic sound, with the electronics, and try and perform something. That's what I've been really refining over the last five years."
A Dialectic live show consists of Sharples playing the songs through a sampler behind the drum kit. He triggers tracks and effects using his drum sticks, whilst also playing an acoustic drum kit.
Sharples is admittedly a music theory geek, but he says he doesn't try to understand a lot of the theory behind his music.
"I have no theory background - I'm self-taught. I taught myself the drums, I taught myself the software, I taught myself electronic music.
"I can't tell you the chords or the octaves in the songs, I just know I like the sound.
"I try not to understand intellectually what's happening, because music for me is always supposed to be an emotion, it's supposed to move me."
Creating music, and more specifically drumming, is a very cathartic exercise for Sharples. Like a songwriter getting their emotions out by writing on a page, Sharples gets his emotions out through drumming. He's likened drumming to a "counterweight" to his everyday life of work and parenting.
Electronic music has formed a large part of Dialectic's life and music, and it appears to be having an increase in its popularity. Sharples compares the shift hip-hop and rap undertook in the 90's to what we are seeing with electronic music today.
If you want to jump on the trend early, or just see what Dialectic is trying to do, we'd suggest getting along to a gig! He's playing a show at the Block N' Tackle in Kincumber on April 13. and another at Link and Pin in Woy Woy - date TBC.
Listen to our full chat with Dialectic here.
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