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Michael Robinson: Lotus-Pollen
by Hrayr Attarian
Multi-instrumentalist and composer Michael Robinson utilizes a unique amalgam of acoustic and digital technology to create captivating sonic tapestries. His genre-defying pieces are crafted with the rigour of a classicist yet they brim with a dynamic jazzy spontaneity and eastern mysticism. On his fourth 2020 release, Lotus-Pollen, Robinson performs four kaleidoscopic and mesmerizing originals, each with its own distinct captivating pattern. As with his previous work of past years, Robinson draws inspiration from the Indian musical tradition. “Second ...
read moreMichael Robinson: One Man Orchestra
by Hrayr Attarian
Composer Michael Robinson is a unique musician who is heavily influenced by the tradition of the Indian subcontinent. He is as prolific as he is creative having released 144 albums over the past 29 years. He uses an instrument he has invented that seamlessly incorporates acoustic and electronic elements into a digital platform. He calls it Meruvina. Robinson utilizes notated scores as a launching pad yet he spontaneously embellishes the melodies resulting in dynamic and uplifting sublime soundscapes.
read moreMichael Robinson: Where Composition, Programming & Raga Meet
by Mark Sullivan
Los Angeles-based composer Michael Robinson's work is full of contradictions. It is produced via computer programming, a system which he refers to as “Meruvina." The name comes from the sanskrit word for musical instrument, “vina" and the name of the mountain where the Hindu gods reside, “Mount Meru," and consists of software, a computer, and a sound module that accesses both sampled and synthesized sounds. The system is digital, but uses the sound of acoustic instruments; fully notated, but the ...
read moreMichael Robinson: Charukeshi
by AAJ Staff
Charukeshi, a modern update to the ancient tradition of North Indian classical music, stands at the crossroads between new tools and traditional forms. Michael Robinson, who's been doing this kind of thing for some time now, takes a holistic approach to his projects. Using the piano and a variety of instruments from all over Asia (and the world), Robinson assembles instrumental units and performs with the aid of electronic sequencing and processing. His approach most prominently relies on African percussion ...
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