Profile
Dafna Naphtali is a versatile sound artist, vocalist, guitarist, and composer and improviser of electronic and experimental music. She focuses on experimental music and improvised music in combination with electronics using her custom Max/MSP programming for sound processing of the voice and other instruments, as well as works for multi-channel sound, robotics and location-based audio augmented reality soundwalks. In her longest running projects she use live sound-processing of acoustic instruments and voice, as her self-made “instrument.” She’s performed and released duo recordings with: Luis Tabuenca, Chuck Bettis, Ras Moshe Burnett, Edith Lettner, Jen Baker, Gordon Beeferman and Hans Tammen. In 2023, she gathered all her duos into a large ensemble, (DUOS++OCTET), for a performance at Roulette Intermedium in New York. She is currently writing a book on this work, "Live Processing & Improvisation" for Taylor & Francis / Routledge.
Dafna was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship (2023, Music/Sound).
Degrees Held
Master of Music, Music Technology, New York University
Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance (Jazz), New York University
Voice Pedagogy CCM certified (multi-technical vocal pedagogy training)
Shenandoah University Summer ’11&’13 with Jeannette Lovetri and CCM Institute.
Professional Affiliation
ASCAP
New York City Electroacoustic Music Society
SWiTCH (Society for Women in Technology)
American Composers Forum
M3 Mutual Mentorship for Musicians
Recent Publications
Book Chapters:
“What if Your Instrument is Invisible?” Boverman, Till, et al, editors. “Musical Instruments in the 21st Century - Identities, Configurations, Practices” 2016, Springer Verlag
"Locative Media" (co-authored with Richard Rodkin) Filimowicz, Michael, et al, editors. "Foundations of Sound Design Vol. 2", 2018, Routledge
Forthcoming book (in-progress) Live Processing & Improvisation" for Taylor & Francis / Routledge.
Blogs:
Authored four posts for New Music Box (newmusicbox.org) October 2017:
-- http://dafna.info/new-music-box-blog-posts-oct-2017/
LIVE SOUND PROCESSING AND IMPROVISATION
DELAYS AS MUSIC
DELAYS, FEEDBACK, AND FILTERS: A TRIFECTA
RESONATING FILTERS: HOW TO LISTEN AND BE HEARD
Blog for performance classes: Electronic Music Performance. Ed. Dafna Naphtali, 2012-present.
www.electronicmusicperformance.wordpress.com
Created for my students, to serve as a living and evolving list of essential listening in experimental electronic music + related fields– grouped topically with the intention of underscoring connections between music made over several generations and overlapping practices.
Online Article: "What If Your Instrument Is Invisible?" Almanac on Contemporary Instruments. 3DMIN, 15 Feb. 2015. Web. 13 Sept. 2015. .
Journal Article: "A View on Improvisation from the Kitchen Sink." (with Hans Tammen). Leonardo Music Journal 20 (2010): 97.
Web. Interviews:
Vdovin, Marsha, and Rod MacLeod. "C74: An Interview with Dafna Naphtali." Cycling '74, Sept. 2011. Web.
Harries, Guy, "Dafna Naphtali interview", LiveElectronicSound.com, 2013, Web.
Performances and Appearances
See www.dafna.info for listing and information.
Research Interests
• Electronic music performance
• Interactive computer music
• Sound art and installation
• Music production / aesthetics of sound processing
• History of electronic music
• Locative Media and Sound
• Live Sound Processing
Awards And Honors
Guggenheim Fellowship (2023, Music/Sound)
NY State Council on the Arts (2018) (for Walkie Talkie Dream Garden interactive soundwalk)
Brooklyn Arts Council (2018) (for Walkie Talkie Dream Garden interactive soundwalk)
New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Music/Sound Composition (2020)
New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Music/Sound Composition (2013)
New York Foundation for the Arts Computer Arts Fellowship (2001)
American Composers Forum Jerome Commissions (1999, 2009)
Franklin Furnace
NY State Council on the Arts (1999)
Meet the Composer
Experimental TV Center
Brecht Forum commission (2007)
ASCAP Plus award (2008-2013, 2017)
Foundation for Contemporary Arts travel grant (Poland)
American Music Center travel grant (India)
Residencies at MacDowell, Kimmel Nelson Harding, Montalvo, Music/OMI, Signal Culture, STEIM (Holland), Music OMI, Create @iEAR residency at Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute
Portfolio
Artist website
Bandcamp
CDs and Recordings
Vimeo
Youtube