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Elizabeth Millar

Elizabeth Millar is an experimental musician, sound-artist and clarinetist, based in Montreal since 2009. Engaging with sound, noise, free improvisation and self-made instrument building, her creative practice explores the merging of acoustic and electronic textures using amplification and extended techniques.

Active locally, nationally and internationally she has performed throughout Canada and in Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Mexico. Alongside her solo work, she is also one member of Sound of the Mountain, an amplified clarinet and trumpet duo with Craig Pedersen. She performs regularly with Montreal-based Ensemble Supermusique and with a variety of collaborators, including Érick d’Orion, Joane Hétu, Anne-F Jacques, Tetuzi Akiyama and Toshimaru Nakamura. She is co-founder of Mystery & Wonder Records.

Her 2019 solo release no instrument machine, air, extends the timbral and textural scope of her work with amplified clarinet, adding machine hums, metallic resonances and low frequency air noise, generated by self-made instruments made from recycled electronic components.

Recent highlights include performances at Open Waters Festival Halifax (2019), Rencontres de Musique Spontanée Rimouski (2019), IMOO Festival Ottawa (2019, 2018), Open Ears Festival Kitchener Ontario (2018), Make It Up Club Festival Australia (2018), Codes d’Access Montreal (2018), Suoni per il Popolo Festival Montreal (2019, 2018, 2017) and KLEX festival Malaysia (2017); a residency with Tone List in Perth, Australia (2018) and a 3-month independent residency in Tokyo (2017).

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“There is quite a wealth of music to be heard in these five pieces. One could perhaps expect this to be in the world of improvised music but it is not; not really… It is all great sound art, reminding me also of some of Toshiya Tsunoda's work.” Frans De Waard (Vital Weekly, 2019)

“There is a narrative within this treasure of produced noise… The message is resolute and profound even if not quite within the grasp of reality or understanding.” Saul Bleaeck (Toneshift, 2019)

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