Paul Abbott, PhD.

Contact

First Floor Flat, 7 Primrose Road, London E105ED, UK.

paulxabbott-ed@pm.me

www.paulabbott.net

Education

2022-2024        Two Year Research Project, Royal Conservatory & Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp

2019-2021        PhD Creative Music Practice, The University of Edinburgh

2010-2009        LUX Moving Image Agency, Artist Associate Program

2001-2004        BA (hons) Graphic Design, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design

2000-2001        BTEC Foundation Art, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design

Selected Teaching Experience

2023        Workshop Leader: Music as a Living Landscape, Royal Conservatoire Antwerp
        One day group practical workshop exploring body movement exercises and listening practices,         non-verbal processes, music beyond sound, practices of attention, improvisation.

2022        Workshop Leader: Grow Music Week, Meteo Festival

        One week intensive day-long group workshops focused on experimental and improvised                 musical play. ‘Growing’ situation-specific structures for improvisation using natural/organic                 processes as a model. Exploring ‘non-standard’ ways to make music.

2020        Tutor Semester 1: Creative Coding for Sound, The University of Edinburgh

        Assisting course leader; Supporting students with practical work exploring relationships between         code and sound; Teaching interactive music technology, and developing sound work that changes         according to context. Teaching Max programming environment and working with DAWs.

2015        Visiting lecturer: BA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Arts
        Facilitating group crits, BA Fine Art (yr2) students around their second-year exhibition

Selected Professional Experience: Sound

Freelance professional sound work for film, screen, and bespoke artists projects.

2023        Film: Hit Him on the Head with a Hard, Heavy Hammer, Rebecca Jane Arthur

        5.1 Surround. Sound recording, original music & sound design creation, editing.

2022        Film: The Hide, Keira Greene

        5.1 Surround. Sound recording, original music & sound design creation, editing, mixing.

2022        Performance: Seasferic, Anna Barham

        Live broadcast performance for underwater speaker & hydrophones: technical, planning and         performance assistance.

2022        Installation: Above Front Tears Oui Float, Laure Provost

        Bespoke 4.0 channel sound work for installation. Original sound design creation, edit, mix.

2021        Film: Keira Greene, Folds

        2.0 Stereo. Original sound design creation, mixing.

2018        Film: Keira Greene, Eustatic Drift

        2.0 Stereo. Sound recording, creation, editing, mixing.

Technical & Creative Skills

• Location Sound & Audio Post-Production: use of specialist microphones, field recording.
• DAW: Pro Tools, Logic, Reaper, Ableton Live
• Audio Editing, Mixing & Restoration: Adobe Audition, iZotope RX
• Sound Design & Electroacoustic Composition.
• Creative Computing for Sound: MaxMSP, Max for Live, Pure Data, Supercollider
• Live Sound for screen based work, performance and bespoke artist installation
• Video editing: familiarity with Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro

Selected Creative Practice Experience

• My creative practice focuses on experimental and improvised music.
• I work with hybrid & acoustic drums, digital sound and improvised-algorithmic composition: through performance, composition and writing.
• As a performing drummer and musician, playing experimental and improvised music, I have performed  - across art and music contexts - at venues and festivals internationally, working with numerous artists and musicians.
• I have previously produced award winning experimental video work which has screened internationally, including at London Film Festival and Rotterdam Film Festival.
• In 2022 I completed an innovative creative practice based PhD about embodied performance and language at the University of Edinburgh under the supervision of Florian Hecker and Nikki Moran.
• I was a co-founder and co-editor of Cesura//Acceso journal for music, politics and poetics, and in 2015 and 2023 a resident artist at music venue Cafe OTO.

For  A longer list of my activities can be seen at paulabbott.net/activity

Selected Recent Releases & Publications

Awards and Grants

2022        Diaphonique (Institut Francais) Grant for XT + Anne Gillis tour

2019-2021        Postgraduate Research Expenses Grant(s), University of Edinburgh

2019        ACE Grants for the Arts: Nathaniel Mackey & The Creaking Breeze Ensemble

2015        ACE Grants for the Arts: Cesura//Acceso

2008        The Dick Arnall Award for Rogue vision in the manipulated moving image