Stephen Hamm Unveils New Single, “Are You Receiving Me?”
Theremin Man (aka Stephen Hamm) has released his new single “Are You Receiving Me?” from his upcoming LP Songs Of The Future, set for release on May 6, 2024.
A legendary Vancouver musician and performer playing with the likes of Slow, Tankhog, Nardwuar and the Evaporators and Sunday Morning – Stephen is proud of this new tune, a space funk jam that shines a light on the loss of connection and the longing to get it back. The video, which was shot and edited by Ani Kyd of Sugar Skull Films, took Stephen into space, with a specially built capsule that came from the extra props at Industrial Works.
In recent years Stephen has shifted his focus to mastering the Theremin, an early electronic instrument that one does not touch but plays by interacting with magnetic fields around two antennae. Stephen has studied under the tutelage of German Theremin virtuoso Carolina Eyck and New York-based Thereminist Dorit Chrysler. Stephen released his first solo album ‘Theremin Man’ in November of 2019, and is gearing up to bring his unique electro space jazz back to your town soon with his new album.
First off care to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Stephen Hamm. I’ve been a musician and entertainer all my life. I played bass in a band called Slow way back in the eighties, I did a song and dance comedy duo called Canned Hamm in the 2000s, and I play bass in Nardwuar’s band the Evaporators. About ten years ago I started learning the theremin. The theremin is one of the first electronic instruments invented over a hundred years ago. It’s unique because you don’t touch it. You interact with two antennae to create notes. I started putting together songs mostly synth tracks so I could easily go out and do shows with just me singing and playing theremin along with these backing tracks I made.
Tell us about your recent release.
“Are You Receiving Me” is the second single off my forthcoming album I’m calling Songs For The Future. It will be out in May of this year.
How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?
I don’t have a specific method for writing songs. Sometimes I start with a melody or riff, sometimes a lyric. Sometimes the music comes fast and sometimes it takes forever and gets rewritten till it works.
This is a song I started working on during the pandemic. I was thinking about how communication between people breaks down and how that leads to misunderstanding and resentment. I was feeling particularly isolated during the later stages of lockdown and my little apartment that I was living in by myself started feeling like a space capsule. I had the lyric kicking around and was trying to come up with a melody. I think I was listening to the Drifters, Under The Board Walk, or something. That inspired the chord progression. I feel like fragments of inspiration float by me. Like stardust in space. I have to have my psychic channels open to catch them. Ironically that happens when I spend a lot of time alone in meditation. I think about space a lot. That shows up in my songs. It’s the way I interpret emotions and thoughts.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?
I’m in the process of booking shows all over B.C. I’m going to Penticton next weekend to play the Ignite the Arts Festival. I just released the video for ‘Are You Receiving Me’ and it’s up on my Youtube channel. My very talented friend Ani Kyd Wolf directed and shot it. She built me a spaceship and we filmed in that. It’s really out of this world! Pardon the pun… I’m releasing the new album in May and there will be lots of local shows around Vancouver. I’m doing a bunch of shows on Vancouver Island as well and then, I’m going to Copenhagen to meet up with a group of fellow theremin players. We’re going to hang out and play our theremins. It’s fun to get a bunch of people together who play theremin well enough to do ensemble pieces. This is a chance for that. I’m hoping to do some shows as well while I’m over there and some shows in Eastern Canada this fall.
Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?
I’ve had a long and varied career. I’m always trying to think of new ways to present my music so I’d say a big turning point for me was learning to play the theremin. I’ve used lots of synths in my life and I’m known for my bass playing. After playing in bands for a long time I wanted to make my own music It all came together on my first album Theremin Man which came out in 2019. I played all the instruments. On ‘Songs For The Future’ I had help. Shawn Mrazek who played in Flash Bastard and with me in the Evaporators came in to play drums and Felix Fung who helped me produce this album played guitars and a bunch of other things. Making this album has been a highlight for me. I feel like I’m realizing my unique voice and this stage of my career is really coming together. I think I’m right on the edge of yet another turning point.