cult of zir is a project conducted by nolon ashley, sometimes with the assistance of friends.
the means mainly employed include abstract approaches to electronic musick, collage and cutup esoteric imagery both physical and virtual, and time-based ritual performance technology.
signal sorcery utilized for intentions of manifestation and transmutation. modern memetic mysticism toward effective change and clear perception.
"Cult of Zir is really a singer as well, by the name of Nolon Ashley, though his voice serves chiefly as a raw acoustic source for deconstructed convolutions via sampling and effects. The remaking of sound is Mr. Ashley's obsession when performing alone; though he is perhaps better known as a drummer for Submarine Fleet, Societas Insomnia, and Julian Tulip's Licorice. Cult of Zir is a coming out for his long-term basement experiments. The purest expression of his creative spark." -- Noah Mickens
musick is equally an artform, a drug, a religion, a scientific praxis, a philosophy, a yogic discipline, a means of entertainment, a weapon, an act of love...
musick is none of these things
"...Cult of Zir created an interesting composition. Done with layered vocals, the voice warped, resonated, gorged upon itself, mated with itself and destroyed itself. There are other artists that work with this type of manipulation and it is easy to overindulge into what this type of performance offers. I think he managed to keep it stark enough to allow the idea to shine through instead of being buried under the layers of gimmicky goop." -- morimur
dreaming thru delay..
what, then? and why?
the best we have yet come up with, to this point, is that it opens a conduit from elsewhere to here, and/or vice-versa. there is perhaps a certain something which we have come to find extremely important, which cannot be communicated verbally. to connect with it we must go within, removing the obstacles of self which block its passage into us. it is when we’ve begun to succeed at this that the indwelling of the aforementioned elusive abstract takes place, and communication can begin.
this means of perceiving ourselves, the environment we exist within, the others we share it with, makes us wiser, healthier, more capable of affecting change. we learn more of what it means as we learn to execute these mechanisms, the never-ending aim opens for us like a black rose.
cult of zir bares itself for all to witness this indignant and foolish exploration toward transformation, in hopes it will inspire others to do the same for themselves. as art, it depends on the nervous systems of its witnesses, participants, collaborators, to be complete. it could happen alone, in a basement studio temple, and often does, but that’s merely half the game.
the process must involve sharing itself with others, either in the form of art masked as ritual, or ritual masked as art. wether through trickery or utmost honesty,if we could explain, we wouldn’t need to do it. would we know the difference? and yet we feel tortuously compelled to try, thus here we are.
the below comment is scandalous and shocking slander up with which i will not put.
nolon, you totally astral projected into the day before and tricked me into thinking tomorrow was today. i almost went down to watershed before i snapped out of it and just got a hazelnut mocha and a sunlit walk instead. you so tricky!
Conflux 2009 is a celebration of dark art in it's many forms. Inviting you to enjoy dark music, gothic fusion bellydance, butoh, ritual theater, a fashion show, digital art show, vendors, and a dance party, it is a tribute to all forms of dark invocation. This year's theme is "Dark Harvest," where we will bring you the fruits of the artists, designers, and performers creative and spiritual harvest. Come revel in the changing of the seasons with us, from the light, towards the darkness....
Buy your presale tickets at either of the local shops carrying them, and save $5. From now until Thursday, September 24th, pay $35 by hitting up Robot Piercing and Tattoo or Essential Elements Apothacary for your discounted tickets!
$40 presale for a weekend pass $45 at the door Single night tickets are available presale and at the door for $30
Presale tickets are available online via paypal at myspace.com/confluxpdx
Cash tickets are available at these local shops:
Robot Piercing and Tattoo 2330 NW Westover Road Portland, OR 503*224*9916
Essential Elements Apothecary 3135 SE Hawthorne Blvd Portland, OR 503*281*2831
This year we are proud to feature:
Abney Park Soriah with Ashkelon Sain Ariellah Seraphic Society (formerly Black Cat Cabaret) Legion Within Deshret Bogville Creature Feature Hands of Kali Among the Weeds Protea w/Like Deities Land of the Blind
A better burden can no man bear on the way than his mother wit; 'tis the refuge of the poor, and richer it seems than wealth in a world untried. ~ the Hávamál