directions in sound

DIRECTIONS IN SOUND is a showcase of Asian American musicians and video artists deconstructing the sounds and sights of America. These are the Stealth Asians you've been noticing at shows; few and far between, but always there, hard at work behind the guitars, drums, turntables and laptops, knocking out some of the finest beats and rhythms around. From hip hop to indie-rock, this is the next level--music more challenging and colorful around its expanding edges.

The program will consist of a screening of music videos from some of Asian America's best, as well as performances by several San Francisco DJs and bands including:

DJ Aki, Ill Bill & DJ Ryuta
DJ Saiman Li
Scrabbel (indie-pop)
Sweet Trip (blissed-out electronica)
The Aislers Set (indie-pop)

And the latest music videos from:

Versus - Yeah You
USA, 1996, 4 mins, video, color, English;
Director Phil HARDER

Brothers Baluyut and company push this punchy rocker from the roofs of New York City.

Seam - Inching Toward Juarez
USA, 1999, 6 mins, video, color, English;
Director Chris Chan LEE

Seam's beautifully tensioned dynamism cut to Lee's kinetic visions of paper plane UFOs and flying fingers. Chicago's finest in a dress.

Sta-Prest - Ankle Bracelet
USA, 1999, 2 mins, video, color, English;
Director Iraya ROBLES

A mestiza street musician channels a Butterfly dress wearing chanteuse, touching upon themes of Pinay divaness, feminity/drag, and isolation/rebirth. The multi racial/multi subcultural queer pop group Sta-Prest provides the new wave sound.

Amitav Kaul - Ustra
USA, 1998, 7 mins, video, color & B/W;
Director Amitav KAUL

An improvised cityscape of New York/Delhi fit to the jungle of Karsh Kale's South Asian inspired electronica.

QBert - Sneak Attack
USA, 1999, 4 mins, video, color & B/W; Directors Syd GORDON, Eric HENRY; Animator Doug CUNNINGHAM

Monster anime coming to life to the scratchings of Daly City's master Pikl.

Korea Girl - Reunion
USA, 1999, 4 mins, video, color & B/W, English;
Director Sung H. KIM

Nostalgia layered in black in white, textured to the sound of this San Jose pop outfit.

The Mountain Brothers -
Galaxies: The Next Level
USA, 1999, 4 mins, video, color, English;
Directors Chris Chan LEE, Michael JUNG

Philly's best toss-up smart rhymes to a jazzy beat backdrop. From the vegetable market to the mahjong table, this is elemental hip hop to make your jaw drop.

-Chi-hui Yang

Presented with Aquarius Records, Classified Records

Talk about this film and other festival films at the SFIAAFF Club at Click2Asia

DIRECTIONS IN SOUND: NOTES FROM THE ASIAN AMERICAN UNDERGROUND