Patel, Amit Dinesh ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6328-240X (2025) The noise selector. The Routledge Handbook to Rethinking the History of Technology-Based Music. Routledge, pp. 210-226. ISBN 978-1032554204 (doi:10.4324/9781003430599-15)

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Abstract

This chapter challenges traditional Western-dominated musical practices by advocating for the integration of non-Western narratives and innovative techniques of sound treatment. Central to the author’s approach is the concept of noise as a curated, dynamic force rather than an unwanted artefact. The author introduces the concept of the ‘Noise Selector’, a term derived from sound system and DJ culture, as a means of redefining, and a provocation to, normative studio practices. The author’s approach integrates diverse cultural influences, particularly from black music and Bollywood, and emphasises deep bass frequencies and the physicality of sound. The author’s practice involves unlearning conventional studio behaviours, employing a highly individual aesthetic ‘selector’ framework to curate and shape noise, embracing a DIY Nomad ethos, and utilising unconventional self-built instruments. The ‘Noise Selector’ redefines the role of a composer through the lens of a DJ, focusing on noise, glitch aesthetics, and remix techniques rooted in dub and reggae culture. By integrating these elements, the author creates a distinctive soundworld that aims to expand the possibilities of experimental music composition, and celebrates cultural diversity, contributing to a more inclusive and innovative experimental music scene.

Item Type:	Book Section
Uncontrolled Keywords:	The Noise Selector, Dushume, noise, decolonising sound
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) M Music and Books on Music > M Music
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > Centre for Sound and Image Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Design and Creative Industries
Last Modified:	19 Feb 2026 11:58
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/52497

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