Moche Pit

Dumb interactive sound, 2009
Keyvane Alinaghi
with the support of EnsadLab.

Moche Pit @ Jardin Moderne (Rennes, 2011)       Mini Moche Pit @ Jardin Moderne

* Moshing refers to the act in which audience members at live music performances push and/or slam into each other for the purpose of entertainment. It is typically done in an area in front of the stage which is referred to as the mosh pit or simply pit. It is most commonly associated with concerts featuring more aggressive musical genres, such as hardcore punk and heavy metal. The term "mosh" came into use in the early eighties American hardcore scene in Washington, D.C.

Moshing is chaotic and violent. The Moche Pit display requires that the users/performers produce a certain level of agitation in order for the virtual instruments—keyboards, sequencers, samplers, rhythm boxes—to start to play. The higher the energy level, the faster the beat. When the gestures of the performers are jerky, the rythm of the sequence is out of beat ; when the gestures are fluid, musical themes begin to emerge; when the bodies collide, the sound level increases, etc.

These breaks in rhythm and sudden changes of pace are related to the notion of "agogics". Sound here is directly related to the behavior and energy of the actors/spectators and their game-like interactions.