{"title":"Photay","description":"\u003cp\u003ePhotay is the alias of Woodstock, NY-based composer, drummer, DJ, producer and musical polymath Evan Shornstein. As Photay, he has recorded a quartet of albums that organically bring together intricate chamber-pop arrangements, post-techno electronic textures, and a love of Black Atlantic polyrhythms.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.intlanthem.com\/artists\/photay\"\u003eLearn More\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"photay-with-carlos-nino-an-offering","title":"Photay with Carlos Niño - An Offering","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003eFlowing water is an essential element of Earthly existence, a living force, a process of nature, a path-making which combines infinite sources mixing imperceptibly into a singular energy. It’s also a potent metaphor. A childlike wonder at flowing water’s presence and power, all the impressions it makes and creative neurons that it fires, happens to be a personality trait shared by Evan Shornstein (aka Photay) and Carlos Niño. The two producers\/musical connectors may have grown up and reside a continent and daily realities apart — Photay in the forest serenity of New York’s Hudson Valley, Niño on Los Angeles’s ocean-adjacent west side — yet this magnetic power of fluidity, its sound, its meaning, what it can teach us about art and circulation, mesmerizes them both.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWater is the spiritual center of their first album-length collaboration, the vast and deep An Offering — from the visual on the cover, to the first sound you hear on the opening “Prelude,” to the underlying themes and images espoused by the poet-philosopher Iasos on the closing “Existence.” More importantly, the image of water-like flow is a continuous reflection of how these two musicians have come to work together and apart, of the way they made An Offering, and how they’re continuing to create, without a beginning and\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(hopefully) with no end in sight. An infinite flow of sound, from and to every direction.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSome of this work directly reflects the relationship between the two men, and of where\/how Photay’s electronic, often-dancefloor-oriented tracks found Niño’s far-reaching world of ambient spirituality and improvised soundscaping. The meeting point is precise: Laraaji, the new age zither legend with whom Niño regularly collaborates, including at a June 2016 show in New York City which Niño played and Shornstein attended. The connection initiated immediately after that performance did not simply find the pair participating in each other’s recording projects — Photay remixing a Niño-produced Laraaji track and involved in Niño \u0026amp; Friends sessions; Carlos showing up on multiple songs of Photay’s 2020 album, Waking Hours, some of which was recorded at Niño’s studio—but in a broad exchange of ideas.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNiño long ago established himself as one of Los Angeles’ great musical conduits, constructing environments that facilitate partnerships between far-flung artists, perpetuating the freedom of working in the present, outside expectations, trusting the work’s destination. When the younger Shornstein met Niño, his own creative process was ”almost too precious, and it was always my goal to break out of that.” Adapting Carlos’ pacing and free-flowing strategies — scenarios such as sharing recorded stems, bringing in old recordings to serendipitously fit new tracks, or mixing organic improvisations with stylized, post-produced rhythms — transformed Evan’s perspective. It made him rethink ideas like “finished,” shedding pressurized over-analysis for a process he calls “fluid” and “healthy.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt also made Shornstein reconsider some music they’d recorded but originally left off Waking Hours, “microscopic moments that were more expansive in my mind — there was so much honesty there.” What may not have made sense within the composed, hyper-stylized beauty of Hours, “felt really good” outside that context. Niño, who describes himself as “very album-oriented,” agreed, suggesting they create a unified body of work to match those moments — but not overthink it, make it quick, easy, productive, present. Which is how the re-imagining of pieces of music that became “Change” and “Exist,” sprung Photay and Carlos Niño into collaborating even more closely, and brought An Offering to the world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe sounds they gathered into an intentional, meditative whole, were made together and apart, and sourced from all over. The two producers made connections between new music and recordings they already had: Shornstein found hours of tape featuring solo playing by Upstate New York harpist Mikaela Davis, which became a central adornment on multiple tracks. Niño sent Shornstein a quartet improvisation he made with tenor saxophonist Aaron Shaw, keyboardist Diego Gaeta and synth-guitarist Nate Mercereau, which became the basis of “Honor.” They brought in trusted partners. The atmospheric blowing of LA-based tenor saxophonist Randal Fisher is a focal point throughout, at times processed by Photay’s machines. Photay’s trombone player Nathaneal Ranson, and Niño’s long-standing LA-based collaborator, vocalist Mia Doi Todd, float in-and-out of the mix. When Niño makes a record, another original “new age” legend, Iasos, is bound to be around, and his strong summation on “Existence” are the only words An Offering submits. The healing energy of Peterskill, a short rocky State Park waterway that ebbs through New York’s Ulster County (and across from Shornstein’s home — “a real environmental inspiration”), flows throughout. “Creating with no constructs,” is how Shornstein describes the process of bringing these elements together. “It was just a feeling, which maybe is what music or creating should always be.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePeterskill was also the source for a long extra track\/outro when An Offering debuted as a Bandcamp-exclusive cassette in October 2021 — and quickly sold out. (A gorgeous Shornstein-directed film accompanied the release as well.) The notion of this music as “offering” came to life in its immediacy (the tape was released only a month and half after the idea for it was seeded) and in its gift-like nature (you can still get the digital version at a price of your own choosing). Scott McNiece of International Anthem found it, and instantly connected with its natural essence, a sound that accompanies one’s movements through difficult moments, the motion of instinctive change, a way to mark the radical period of our time with incremental alterations. Like flowing water affecting an ancient landscape. International Anthem offered to give An Offering a full vinyl release, which is why you are reading this one-sheet right now. And like any current, the interconnectedness between Photay and Carlos Niño, their symbiotic way of informing and influencing each other’s sounds, continues to naturally move forward and shapeshift. They are working on multiple projects together at the moment, and have already completed More Offerings. Flow on!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- Piotr Orlov, August 2022\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"credits-label\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003ereleased October 14, 2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProduced, Arranged, Mixed and Released by Photay.\u003cbr\u003eCo-Produced by Carlos Niño.\u003cbr\u003eMastered by Phil Moffa.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. P R E L U D E\u003cbr\u003ePhotay - Synth, Saxophone Manipulation\u003cbr\u003eRandal Fisher - Tenor Saxophone\u003cbr\u003eCarlos Niño - Percussion\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e2. C U R R E N T\u003cbr\u003ePhotay - Synth\u003cbr\u003eMikaela Davis - Harp\u003cbr\u003eRandal Fisher - Tenor Saxophone\u003cbr\u003eMia Doi Todd - Voice\u003cbr\u003eCarlos Niño - Percussion\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e3. C H A N G E\u003cbr\u003ePhotay - Guitar, Synth, Voice\u003cbr\u003eCarlos Niño - Percussion\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e4. E X I S T\u003cbr\u003ePhotay - Synth\u003cbr\u003eNatt Ranson - Trombone\u003cbr\u003eCarlos Niño - Percussion\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e5. P U P I L\u003cbr\u003ePhotay - Synth\u003cbr\u003eRandal Fisher - Tenor Saxophone\u003cbr\u003eCarlos Niño - Percussion\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e6. M O S A I C\u003cbr\u003ePhotay - Piano, Synth, Voice\u003cbr\u003eMikaela Davis - Harp\u003cbr\u003eNatt Ranson - Trombone\u003cbr\u003eRandal Fisher - Tenor Saxophone\u003cbr\u003eCarlos Niño - Percussion\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e7. H O N O R\u003cbr\u003ePhotay - Synth\u003cbr\u003eCarlos Niño \u0026amp; Friends:\u003cbr\u003eAaron Shaw - Tenor Saxophone\u003cbr\u003eDiego Gaeta - Keyboards\u003cbr\u003eNate Mercereau - Guitar Synth\u003cbr\u003eCarlos Niño - Percussion\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e8. O R B I T\u003cbr\u003ePhotay - Synth, Processing\u003cbr\u003eCarlos Niño - Percussion\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e9. E X I S T E N C E\u003cbr\u003eWords and Rain by Iasos\u003cbr\u003ePhotay - Synth, Processing\u003cbr\u003eIasos - Voice\u003cbr\u003eCarlos Niño - Percussion\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"license-label\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"license\" class=\"info license\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"cc-icons commercial\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eall rights reserved\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"International Anthem","offers":[{"title":"IARC0062 Classic Black vinyl LP","offer_id":52121007292690,"sku":"IARC0062LP","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"IARC0062 Limited Edition *Serene Stream* Clear color vinyl LP","offer_id":52121007325458,"sku":"IARC0062LPS","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"IARC0062 Limited Edition Cassette","offer_id":52121007358226,"sku":"IARC0062CASS","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"IARC0062 Digital Download","offer_id":52121007390994,"sku":"IARC0062","price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0751\/6989\/0578\/files\/a1631055869_10.jpg?v=1773615715"},{"product_id":"photay-with-carlos-nino-more-offerings","title":"Photay with Carlos Niño - More Offerings","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003eNotes by Carlos Niño:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs the title makes clear, the 'More Offerings'\u003cbr\u003ecassette and digital release is a direct extension of\u003cbr\u003ePhotay with Carlos Niño - 'An Offering' (IARC0062).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen Scottie McNiece of International Anthem\u003cbr\u003elet me know that he wanted to release a vinyl edition,\u003cbr\u003ean updated tape, and the full digital distribution for\u003cbr\u003e'An Offering' on the Fall Equinox of 2022, I immediately\u003cbr\u003ethought about putting together a second set of music\u003cbr\u003eand energy to share soon after that. Photay and I had\u003cbr\u003ealready been discussing the making of Remixes, or having\u003cbr\u003eothers Remix, releasing source material, full versions\u003cbr\u003eof pieces that were sampled for songs on 'An Offering',\u003cbr\u003eand pieces that were in the same flow as the first release,\u003cbr\u003ewhile we were finishing the original project. International Anthem\u003cbr\u003eagreed to release 'More Offerings' as well and so we\u003cbr\u003eproceeded to finish it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'An Offering' was originally released exclusively on the\u003cbr\u003ePhotay Bandcamp page, Friday, October 1, 2021.\u003cbr\u003eThe self-made tape run of 111 sold out in a\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecouple weeks\u003cbr\u003eand we were stoked that people were feeling the sound.\u003cbr\u003eThat rippled on greatly with the next phases by\u003cbr\u003eInternational Anthem in September 2022.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf you listen to both records, in either order, you will\u003cbr\u003ehear the connections. These are kindred spirits that\u003cbr\u003etwin flame, dance, twirl, entwine, form concentric, eccentric,\u003cbr\u003ehelixing around each other . . . The same guest collaborators\u003cbr\u003eare present, and this time there are a few more pulses,\u003cbr\u003erhythms, two special doses of the inspirational Iasos talk,\u003cbr\u003ethe sound of Laraaji's Voice, additions by Diego Gaeta\u003cbr\u003eaka Club Diego, a live excerpt of Photay with Carlos Niño\u003cbr\u003eand Randal Fisher playing in front of the Marina in Los Angeles\u003cbr\u003eas part of the floating series (\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.feelslikefloating.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow ugc\"\u003ewww.feelslikefloating.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e)\u003cbr\u003eand the premier of the new Carlos Niño \u0026amp; Photay\u003cbr\u003eProduction Project: Sagegreenfloors - that samples\u003cbr\u003ethe Carlos Niño \u0026amp; Friends Improvisation from 053021\u003cbr\u003efeaturing Nate Mercereau, Aaron Shaw, and Diego -\u003cbr\u003ethat was previously sampled for \"H O N O R\" on 'An Offering'.\u003cbr\u003eIt's like rippling waves, wind in the trees,\u003cbr\u003ebreathing . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Single, \"Feeling, Now\" (with accompanying Video by Photay)\u003cbr\u003eis the first taste of the new Beat Project by Sagegreenfloors,\u003cbr\u003ereleased here in this Loving Moreness . . .\u003cbr\u003eHope You enjoy it!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=duHIM5j0Jwg\" rel=\"nofollow ugc\"\u003ewww.youtube.com\/watch?v=duHIM5j0Jwg\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThank You for reading this\u003cbr\u003eand for listening . . .\u003cbr\u003eLOVE!!!\u003cbr\u003eCarlos\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"credits-label\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003ereleased December 9, 2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProduced, Arranged and Mixed by Photay.\u003cbr\u003eCo-Produced by Carlos Niño.\u003cbr\u003eMastered by David Allen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMusic by:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e01 Photay, Carlos Niño, Randal Fisher\u003cbr\u003e02 Photay, Carlos Niño, Randal Fisher, Laraaji, Mia Doi Todd\u003cbr\u003e03 Photay, Carlos Niño, Iasos\u003cbr\u003e04 Photay, Carlos Niño, Iasos, Club Diego\u003cbr\u003e05 Photay, Carlos Niño, Randal Fisher\u003cbr\u003e06 Carlos Niño \u0026amp; Friends featuring Nate Mercereau, Aaron Shaw and Diego Gaeta\u003cbr\u003e07 Photay, Carlos Niño \u0026amp; Friends\u003cbr\u003e08 Photay, Carlos Niño \u0026amp; Friends\u003cbr\u003e09 Photay, Carlos Niño, Nate Mercereau, Pablo Calogero\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTrack 05 - Recorded and Mixed by Adrian Garcia at Burton Chace Park, Marina Del Rey, California as part of the floating concert series.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTrack 06 - Produced, Recorded and Mixed by Carlos Niño\u003cbr\u003eTrack 07 - Produced and Mixed by Carlos Niño and Photay\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"license-label\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"license\" class=\"info license\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"cc-icons commercial\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eall rights reserved\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"International Anthem","offers":[{"title":"IARCRM62 Limited Edition Cassette","offer_id":52121007423762,"sku":"IARCM62CS","price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"IARCRM62 Digital Download","offer_id":52121007456530,"sku":"IARCRM62","price":7.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0751\/6989\/0578\/files\/a2494758490_10.jpg?v=1773615691"},{"product_id":"photay-with-carlos-nino-public-records-poster","title":"Photay with Carlos Niño - Public Records Poster","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeluxe 18\" x 24\" screenprinted poster designed by Goatmother Industrial celebrating the release show for Photay with Carlos Niño's An Offering at Public Records in New York December 10, 2022.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e***SHIPPING NOTE*** Ships from US Only. Because the poster requires special packaging, no discounted shipping options are available for combined orders with LPs or CDs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"International Anthem","offers":[{"title":"Photay with Carlos Niño - Public Records Poster","offer_id":52121007489298,"sku":"789993993086","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0751\/6989\/0578\/files\/0031248063_10.jpg?v=1773615636"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0751\/6989\/0578\/collections\/1_Credit_DylanKaplowitz-2.jpg?v=1791436946","url":"https:\/\/shop.intlanthem.com\/collections\/photay.oembed","provider":"International Anthem (US)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}