Survey in a recent edition of Outdoor Lovemakers Journal showed that 42% of outdoor lovemakers felt ‘electric and alive, more connected to mystery’, 34% felt ‘foxier about bodies of water’, 18% had developed borderline insect-phobias, and 6 % believed they were now ‘more likely to connect with their partner during dreams’. Not sure if Torsten Lauschmann aka Slender Whiteman is a Journal subscriber, but most solar powered laptop buskers probably are. Find out at: www.slenderwhiteman.com
Describe the Slender Whiteman portable sound set-up?
One heart, one bass, 12 volts! Slender Whiteman travels with a portable micro dub soundsystem – laptop, keyboard, midi controller, amplifier, loudspeaker, battery and a solar panel. The soundsystem is a custom made unit which needs no extra power other than the sun and Jah.
Biggest challenge setting up a portable solar sound system?
It took a while to work out which parts will be powerful enough to make enough noise, are cheap and light. I tried to get the weight under 20 Kg so I could take it on a plane. Finding the right gold paint for the speakers was difficult too.
What sorta styles / ways do u play, and how do people react to a laptop busker?
An important part of the project was the attempt to bring music which the commercial media doesn’t play in public places. I think the mainstream media totally underestimates peoples tastes in music. So I find it sad that even the majority of (professional) buskers play only Beatles and Oasis. I performed my own tracks which are influenced by many genres like Dub, Glitch, Electro, Punk Rock, Bastard Pop and I also played recorded music by people which for me are total Pop Stars (this is meant as a compliment) like Pole, Hey O Hanson, Schlammpeitziger, Toots and the Maytals, Farben and Akufen…
In general people reacted very positive about the music and especially about the fact that it was solar powered. At times I had 2 people in front of me listening and, what is a common laptop problem, 20 people behind me watching what I was happening on the screen.
Where have your laptop busking adventures taken u lately?
The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (Spain), which was good. Unfortunately I didn’t realise that I was sitting next to an art work which consisted of 2 million water jets spitting water towards my laptop. I was invited to play in Belgrade, which’d be great for an Eastern European tour, but I don’t have the cash at the minute.
Strangest jam you’ve had in the urban wilds?
The best place was at the most western piece of rock in Europe. At Sunset, facing towards the American continent I played a version of “Take me home country road” by Toots and the Maytals. It sounds totally naff, but it was really moving and confirmed to me that there is no bad music but only wrong contexts.
(c4 yourself: )
Musical insights from a nomad wandering between cultures?
There are definitely communities in Europe where synth sounds haven’t reached, where people like Kraftwerk would be burned alongside witches. But in general people aren’t stupid, they just don’t have access to good music through most commercial Media. Surprisingly, lots of older people were totally fascinated by things like Pole, Kit Clayton, Burnt Friedman.
Rumour has it you’ve been turning up to gigs with an empty hard drive & remixing TV signals?
Slender Whiteman is one alter-ego I use for music projects. As Torsten Lauschmann (authentic name) I do Audio-visual gigs with custom made software. I just developed a Show called “Slackness vs. Culture” where I sample videoclips and sounds of live TV and try to turn crap into gold. One Problem is the reception in most places, so I probably have to get a portable satellite dish (12 volts of course).
What features would a Slender Whiteman action figure have?
It’d have three heads – Lee Scratch Perry’s, Noam Chomsky’s and Ronald McDonald’s. It’d be armed with a 12 volt soldering iron and Britney Spears CDs. One of his hands would constantly play with his nuts.
How have machines invaded your dreams?
Not really. I still dream of nice organic natural things, if you know what I mean.
3 hints for wannabe laptop buskers?
1. Don’t play in Paris.
2. Buy parcel tape to make your new shiny laptop look like you found it in the bin. This helps against theft and fetishisation of your gadget in general.
3. Remember that some traditional buskers play because they have no money or even a home. So show respect, as a privileged white(man) male with a 1500$ laptop.