Hoops

Hoops burst onto the experimental music scene in 2015 with a prolificacy matched only by his innovative approach. He composes music in the electro-acoustic—sometimes referred to as musique-concrete—tradition, but adds an undeniably modern twist. His diverse repertoire of compositional devices includes music for phonograph, piano, strings, prepared guitar, percussion, field recordings, tape, and both digital and analog manipulation of audio devices. Perhaps the defining feature of Hoops’ music are his intricately composed works. His compositions are characterized by diverse instrumentation, unexpected shifts in mood or dynamics, and a commitment to slow, building tensions. He effortlessly walks the divide between composition from scratch and artfully patchworked samples/field recordings. Meanwhile, his intricately coordinated performances transcend the category of live music, but could more accurately classified as performance art. No two performances are alike, and all incorporate novel ways to engage the audience and provoke thought. In one particularly memorable performance, Hoops placed mannequins among the audience and outfitted them with looped tape recorders playing a single clap. In this way, Hoops generated an audience of puppet-like fans, applauding his tape audio manipulations through tape recordings. This example shows the provocative and thoughtful performance that have come to be expected from Hoops. Hoops currently resides with his wife and twin daughters in Salt Lake City, Utah.