NYC based video & music artist Yoshi Sodeoka cites an eclectic mix of inspirations ranging from musical structures of Miles Davies to shamanism to greek mythology even 70’s Prog rock gets a look in! Watching his trance inducing videos it's clear to see this hypnotic synthesis of ideas take hold and a man hellbent on creating a new wave of psychedelia….

Sodeoka strips back the layers of representation of the screen examining the dystopic elements which lie behind the enclosed technological surface. He does this by reducing the elements of his films to signals, waves and feedback distortion and looks to unravel the subliminal messages that lie behind the images and technologies we consume. Sodeoka’s work encompasses sound art, film, music, print, his fusing of different mediums questions the overpowering nature of this influx of technology and information has on the sensory.

Sodeoka uses lo fi equipment and commercial programs such as After Effects and Logic, a couple of guitars and a bass and a few synths, he admits liking ‘tools that are common and utilitarian.’ Sodeoka has exhibited a solo show recently at HEX pixel gallery.

I caught up with Yoshi Sodeoka a few weeks back…

What does it mean to you to explore digital space to new limitations?

It’s all about “turning it up to eleven”.

Can you tell us about any current/new projects your working on?

I have a group show coming up at a gallery called The Popular Workshop in San Francisco. So, I’m preparing some things for that. Then I have been working on a psychedelic film project called “Sibyl”.

What draws you to themes of  1970’s progressive rock concept albums, ancient Greek mythology, and shamanic ritual?

I would say its pretentiousness

Your experimenting with sound art, is this something your going to do more of in the future?

I guess my sound art activity tends to be overlooked, but I actually always have been making sound/music. Mostly, I make sounds and music that goes with my video. So yeah, I think I will continue to do so for sure.

What techniques do you use to create these amazing effects?

It’s hard to name just a few. But I have a lot of tricks in my pocket.

What is it about electronic art and delving into the varied possibilities of digitalization that satisfies your ideas?

I’m not sure if I can come up with a good answer for it because making art on computers to me is nothing particularly different or special. It’s the same thing as making art with paint brushes. I definitely don’t think about my art being categorized as “electronic art”.

Do you aim to hypnotize your viewer or take them to new realms of experience?

I don’t really think about viewers’ reactions that much when I make things. It’s a personal process, and whatever I make seems to have that sort of hypnotizing effects on people. But that is just sort of coincidental.

Are exploring new dimensions important to you?

Yes, it’s important to have different challenges and discover something new, and learn something from it.

What inspires you to create your work?

My inspirations and ideas for new projects usually come from out of nowhere unexpectedly, and it happens when I’m especially not thinking of any new art project ideas. When that happens I make some effort to remember what they are. Unfortunately, I forget a lot of them!