Pioneering DJ/producer Richie Hawtin has launched a revolutionary iPhone application Plastikman SYNK that will allow his fans to experience a unique integration of audio, visuals and interactive technology on his forthcoming Plastikman world tour.

Debuting at Time Warp festival in Mannheim, Germany on March 27, the show will continue through a total of 15 dates, and Hawtin has partnered with visual architects Derivative and visual designer Ali Demirel to create a completely immersive experience.

Conceptualized by Richie Hawtin and developed with Rob Fischer (http://hexler.net) and Bryan McDade (Minus), SYNK is the official companion iPhone/iPod Touch application of the 2010 Plastikman Live worldwide tour. SYNK users will participate in an experiment in audience-performer interaction aiming to blur the lines of perception and participation.

“It has always fascinated me how sound, lighting, visuals and human interactivity define and deepen a concert experience. By focusing  on my own unique Plastikman sound I hope to find new freedom and explore  the extremes of where these elements converge, challenging our senses,  stimulating our memories, and creating an experience of physical and  mental intensity that can be only Plastikman.” – Richie Hawtin

Live performance interaction components include:

LOGIKAL
Based upon earlier “Lodgikal Nonsense” and “Vokx” voice tracks, this state invites the audience to re-organize the word samples using a user interface of 20 touch buttons. In this state the centre of performance control is moved from the stage and into the audience.

KAMERA
This state is accessible throughout the show and gives users a live video stream of an internal perspective of the performance.

SYNKOTIK
This state explores the synkronicity of realtime-generated percussion patterns and their visual counterparts, integrating the stage LED wall and the built in displays on each SYNK activated iPhone/iPod Touch.

KONSOLE
This state is active during the entire show with realtime performance information. At specific moments an extended Konsole state becomes activated, allowing further insight into the realtime programming of the performance’s drum and percussive elements, while also providing visual feedback of musical and effect parameters.  A simplified remote Konsole is available to all SYNK users worldwide and will be activated during all Plastikman Live performances. Participants should connect to the Plastikman Wi-Fi network at each peformance and will be notified of the activation of the different states by their iPhone/iPod Touch at specific moments during the show.

The SYNK experience will not be limited to viewers of the live show. In between the performances the SYNK application will be in sleeper mode and function as a Plastikman atmospheric location shifter. By using visualizations inspired by Derivative, combined with the iPhone’s built-in microphone and accelerometer, users are immersed in a Plastikman environment. For best results, please use headphones.

SYNK is available now in the iTunes App Store: http://itunes.apple.com/app/synk/id354695489

Compatible with iPhone or iPod touch, SYNK requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later.

A short teaser video of the first Plastikman Live technical rehearsal in Mannheim is available to view here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AkJEOsDyV0

Also check out www.plastikman.com for photos of the rehearsal, more information about the visuals contest with Derivative, the iPhone/iPod Touch SYNK application, and continuing updates of the tour schedule.

TOUR DATES

27.03. Time Warp – Mannheim, Germany
18.04. Coachella – Indio, USA
08.05. WeLoveArt – Paris, France
21.05. Dissonanze – Rome, Italy
29.05. Movement – Detroit, USA
18.06. Sonar – Barcelona, Spain
11.07. T in the Park – Balado, Scotland
06.08. Sonne, Mond & Sterne – Saalburg, Germany
07.08. AudioRiver – Plock, Poland
21.08. Lowlands – Biddinghuizen, Netherlands
10.09. Sunday Best presents Bestival – Isle of Wight, UK

with more to be announced soon.

Plastikman Live is presented in cooperation with Cosmopop, Clonk, Derivative, and Minus.

Special thanks to JazzMutant, Native Instruments, Ableton and Cycling74. Front screen visualization inspired by Greg/Derivative.