Parasymbiosis imagines sounds of the sky and earth; contrasting elements that are inherently connected. Binding them is the Electric Crystal (EC) , a fragile instrument of glass rods encased in 1 aluminium. Invented by Dylan Crismani (AUS) in 2019, this microtonal instrument builds vast and unique soundscapes. At its core, Parasymbiosis captures the random resonance of the EC to feedback on itself in order to create a durational work that is ‘performing’ all instruments.

The EC is an instrument created by Dylan Crismani (AUS) in 2020. It is inspired by the Cristal Baschet, invented by the Baschet brothers in France in the ‘50s, but instead relies on amplified sounds and electronic effects, and it is tuned microtonally.

According to Aboriginal astronomical traditions, what we see in the sky is also reflected on earth. Parasymbiosis features sounds of the Australian desert through the audio synthesis of a 3D model of a 350 million year old wave rock, dating back to the time when Central Australia was covered by an inland ocean. This stasis of Geological time is overlayed with sounds of the vibrancy of the night sky.

A feedback loop is created on the EC, to exploit the volatile vibrations and random frequencies that the instrument generates. With percussionist Didier Casamitjana and Kasper Toeplitz on electric bass, these sounds are intensified to create a sound scape of vast and pulsing dimensions.

Parasymbiosis was developed, with a preview showing, at Art Zoyd Studios (Valenciennes, France) in March 2023. In November 2024, Toeplitz and Casamitjana will travel to Adelaide SA for a final creative development of the work, where Smart and Toeplitz will implement their newly developed microtonal techniques using MPE on Bass and Seaboard Roli. These techniques will complement the already existing microtonal possibilities of the EC.