Profile
In his childhood, Matjaz was always involved into drawing, painting, and music. In his teens he got inspired by 'do it yourself' 'non-profit' ethics of work, and started his tape-labels, tape distribution and made countless effort in DIY activism in Slovenia since 1992. His work includes lots of enthusiasm and self-dedication.
Professional interests, development and education
He obtained a Bachelors degree in Occupational & Fire Safety from the University of Ljubljana. He obtained Master of Technology in Safety and Ergonomics at the University of Limerick in Limerick, Ireland, and a PhD in Engineering at the National University of Ireland, Galway in Galway, Ireland.
Interests: Safety, Reliability, Ergonomics, Human Factors, Engineering Project Management, Railway Systems Safety, Safety Assurance, Workload, Automation, Human:Automation Interaction, Human-Machine Interaction, Ergonomics Research and Experimental Design.
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Hobbies
Tape-labels, record-labels, fanzines
In 2002 Matjaz started a new label, called [&] (reads as 'and'). He noticed he could promote himself and Slovenian activities, people, labels a lot more. This means Slovenian people, projects, bands 'do' and 'take part' on quality levels in quality things, but these things were somehow unseen, unnoticed or neglected by international 'do-it-yourself' scene. [&] aims highly to present and to promote quality things he does, creates, produces on his personal level, together with Slovenian and international friends, bands, projects.
Making music and expressing through sounds
In the 1990s, Matjaz and his friend Miha N. started one of the first shit-noise projects in Slovenia, called SNAJPER. Using no ordinary music equipment they recorded many sessions and released various tapes on different labels all over the world. Influenced by various styles of music and non-music, using their chaos-based ideas, different sound sources and expressing many ideas through this project played a key role for further improvisation-based bands for Matjaz. In 1996 he was involved in two experimental noise projects: RADIATOR, together with Miha N., and ROBOT 3000, the first ever HNW project from Slovenia.
In 1999 Matjaz and Miha N. started a project called SIST EN 343, which is one of the pioneering bands in the field of experimental music and noise in Slovenia. Sound was made with more or less primitive equipment, different tools and with the use of different materials from near and far surroundings as a sound source, such as glass, plastic, different metals, pipes, etc.
This is what they have to say about SIST EN 343: "With SIST EN 343 we wish to make and create different forms of sound and noise itself. With sometimes kind, constructive or even destructive approach and mixing layers of noise, creating our own sounds only with improvisation we create worlds of hearable and unhearable tunes, sounds and different atmospheres in places and brains of potential listeners."
Between 1999 and 2001 Matjaz took part with noise-core group MASTIKATOR. Together with Primoz C. (RIP) and Miha N, being a screamer and driver most of the time. MASTIKATOR never rehearsed, and only decent recordings made were from different rehearsal sessions and live recordings. They managed to record a few hours of material with many tracks, and left some unpublished material. The only studio recording they had was never used or released. MASTIKATOR played about 30 concerts in Slovenia and abroad (Austria, Switzerland, Italy), recorded one demo tape and appeared on one compilation CD, Difficult Music For Difficult People Vol.1.
In 2002 Matjaz started a solo project, called GEN 26. GEN 26 is dedicated to sound experimentation, natural, urban noise, sound deviation and manipulation. All this is done on the level of improvisation through self-thought manipulation elements. For the difference of SIST EN 343, GEN 26 is soundwise more opened, more personal and can also be more complex. GEN 26 is also known for their specific harsh noise/HNW sound.
What Matjaz has to say about his project: "With GEN 26 I want to explore deep sound characteristics, transform it, divert it, design it into construction of soundscapes and create logic to unlogic chaotic sequences of sounds, rhythms, sound waves, voices and sound detonations. My live performances, sets, can vary from ambient orientated, guest appearing to complete chaotic noise deviations and brutal sound interactive actions. Each set is unique and is highly based on improvisation only. So watch out to see it."
One description of the gig announcement read: "Piercing lecture from Gen 26. LEGEND of the Slovenian DIY scene, never compromised, never human, brute reality and clinical dissections of discomfort. Harsh." Other gig announcements read: "A hero of the tape trading scene, should need no introduction, internationaly respected, just awesome.", and "Slovenian LIVING LEGEND. Cornerstone of the harsh euro tape trade scene and master of clinical harshness designed to dissect your ego and sense of self."
A more generic description would read: "Gen 26 is a solo experimental/noise project of Slovenian sound artist Matjaz Galicic and is dedicated to sound experimentation, natural, urban noise, sound deviation and manipulation. He uses different sound sources, from balloons, glas, kitchen utilities to laptop. All this is done on the level of improvisation through self-thought manipulation elements. Matjaz has been involved in DIY music activism in Slovenia since the early 90's and has been involved in several Zines, Labels, Collectives and Radio shows."
Musicwise, Matjaz is self-thought and still passionate to research, make, create, manipulate, transform sounds by himself or in cooperation/collaboration with other people, who are interested to join the sound experimentation. We can say that for a long time he was one of rare people in Slovenia who were into improvised sound manipulation of this kind of music, but of course he was not the only one. The sound exploration continues...
Organising concerts, festivals, events through voluntary work
He finds work as organising concerts, festivals, events, done on voluntary basis much more personally attractive, passionate and human than doing these things on money-based work. According to his words, through this kind of work things can grow, and this leads to people start recognising the importance of work, which they want to do and like to do on one side, and on the other side the importance of expressing their ideas through art, sounds, music - this is many times related to experimental music and noise, but not always. He has been involved with the DRMK Collective since its beginning in 2001; DRMK is known for their longest running Noise festival in Central Europe, for organining gigs, performances, and other art-related products.
Martial arts
Matjaz trained ki-aikido in Ljubljana's Ki Dojo from 1998 to 2007. Between 2009 and 2010 he was practicing judo. He is practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 2011.
Meditation
In 2001 Matjaz went to his first workshop, entitled "Awakening The Third Eye", ran by an instructor of the Clairvision School from Sydney, Australia. This led him to recognise the importance of doing spiritual work himself, especially through meditation and unique regression techniques. He found their methods of meditation as one of best and most suitable for his life and decided to go on path of Self-recognition.
Public activities
Between December 2003 and April 2007 Matjaz was taking part in radio show on Radio Student in Ljubljana called "Prosti Pad" (translates as "Free Fall"). This radio show was dedicated to hard-core-punk-grind-core and noise-experimental music. In this weekly show (which used to be bi-weekly), he introduced many interesting bands, labels, fanzines and individuals. Excerpt from Matjaz's playlist can be found here.
Between February 2009 and December 2010 he was taking part in fornightly on-line radio show called "Tone Plus". This radio show was in English language and was dedicated to experimental music, industrial, noise, improvisation, electro-acoustic, weird sound-scapes and sonic arts supporting independent sound art.
