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Lecturer in Popular Music, Goldsmiths, University of London

John Harries is a Lecturer in Popular Music at Goldsmiths, University of London.
On the BMus in Popular Music, John leads courses including Folk & Urban Music, Performance: Ensemble, Popular Music Production and Outsider Sound, and teaches extensively across the creative practice aspects of the degree. He supervises final year Creative Performance and Creative Research projects.

At Masters level, John teaches on Popular Music Composition, and supervises major projects for MMus Creative Project and Popular Music Project. He is also an instrumental tutor in drum kit and performance technology.

In addition to his academic work, John is a producer, performer (drum kit and live electronics) and composer whose music ranges from broad-brush improvised noise to minutely detailed electronic pop. In 2013, he formed Rutger Hauser, currently his principle creative outlet - a many-headed noise-improv group incorporating playback media (turntables, cassettes, tape), DIY electronics and cello alongside conventional rock instrumentation. The band have released on London independent labels Adaadat and The Lumen Lake, and have performed live at venues including Cafe Oto and the Purcell Room (Southbank Centre).

John also performs as one half of Sea Songs, an improvising electroacoustic duo with violinist Chloe Owen, and as Lake Dysmal, a solo project focusing on trashy, damaged beat-based productions and interactive electronic gallery-based installations. Other forthcoming projects include TRIFFIDSUITE, an ever-expanding interdisciplinary project responding to John Wyndham’s classic sci-fi novel ‘The Day of the Triffids’; and the soundtrack to an independent horror movie, The District Nurse, scheduled for release in 2016/17

Previously, as a member of experimental electronic pop duo Sleeps in Oysters he contributed to an extensive commercial discography including bespoke, handcrafted and multimedia releases with legendary London independent Seed Records and other independent labels internationally.

Alongside his own creative practice, John is the founder and director of The Lumen Lake, a musicians' co-operative, record label and regular live night at Lewisham Arthouse (and occasionally Rye Wax) celebrating experimental electronic and improvised music from South-East London. At the time of writing in 2016 the label had released three records by upcoming local artists, with at least further three scheduled for the coming year.

John is also a freelance graphic artist and designer and, as part of the core team behind NX Records, designed the logo, posters, album sleeves and other materials that have defined the label’s visual identity to date, as well as producing several tracks on the introductory label mixtape and first compilation album. He has also completed artwork and design for The New Radiophonic Workshop, Oxford Contemporary Music and Philip Selway (of Radiohead), amongst others.

Experience

  • –present
    Lecturer of Popular Music, Goldsmiths, University of London