Alleys Of Your Mind is an original work of instrumental-electronic dance music by myself, Alex Kotch, written for seven wind instruments, soprano singer, and live laptop DJ. It combines styles from electronic dance music genres such as techno, bass, and dubstep with classical instrumentation. Movements 2 and 3 include recordings I made in the Intensive Care Unit at Duke Hospital while recovering from brain surgery in October 2010. The composition represents not only his interest in the musical opportunities and social benefits of combining the worlds of club and classical music, but also my difficult yet transformative recovery from brain trauma.

Alleys Of Your Mind shares its title as one of the first ever techno tracks, written by Cybotron (Juan Atkins and Richard Davis) in 1981. This title is quite apt for my composition and its themes, but it is also a tribute to Atkins and to Detroit techno, a major indirect influence on my work.

Alleys Of Your Mind was first performed at the Duke Coffeehouse, April 6, 2012 under the direction of Verena-Mösenbichler-Bryant, with me as DJ. The core of the group consisted of the Wet Ink Ensemble, in residence during 2011-2012 under the auspices of a Visiting Artists Grant to the Department of Music through the Duke University Council for the Arts. The concert was sponsored by the Duke University Department of Music.

A solo DJ set from me directly preceded Alleys Of Your Mind and segued into a transition in which the live instruments entered, beginning Movement 1. Subsequent performances for reduced instrumental forces have been produced at The Pinhook in Durham, NC and Mack & Mack in Greensboro, NC.

Audio and video

Press

Personnel
Kate Soper, voice; Erin Lesser, flutes; Marissa Byers, clarinet; Alex Mincek, tenor saxophone; Rachael Elliott, bassoon; Jamie Keesecker, horn; Don Eagle, trumpet; Mike Kris, bass trombone; Alex Kotch, laptop DJ; Sam Pluta, sound engineer

Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant, conductor