Armenian Reporter Arts & Culture 17/11/2007

The theremin
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The entry for theremin in wikipedia.com offers the following description of the instrument:
The theremin or thereminvox, is one of the earliest fully electronic musical instruments. It was invented by Russian inventor Léon Theremin in 1919, and it is unique in that it was the first musical instrument designed to be played without being touched. It generally consists of two pitch and one volume radio frequency oscillators and two metal antennas. The electric signals from the theremin are amplified and sent to a loudspeaker.
To play the theremin, the player moves his hands around the two metal antennas, which control the instrument’s frequency (pitch) and amplitude (volume).

he wasn’t interested in either. Armen said, “the theremin being so strange and otherworldly was a perfect match!” Performing Armenian songs with the theremin was a natural desire for Armen since he’s always been moved by traditional and classical Armenian melodies. “It was the first kind of music that I was exposed to,” said Armen. “I have always been very emotionally affected by them.
Especially Gomidas and Sayat Nova, as well as Ganatchian and Avedissian.” The theremin has no strings,
buttons, or surface to beat against.
Musicians use their hands as they glide across an energy filed to produce sounds. “There is no physical sensation,” said Armen, “because of the intense concentration, I go into a trance-like state.” His debut theremin performance
came a few years later with his friend and inspiration Antony, of Antony and the Johnson’s at the famed Knitting Factory in New York City. He has performed at the United Nations in New York, Wiener Konzerthaus Mozartsaal
in Vienna, the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, WIGSTOCK!, the MTV Video Music Awards with
Madonna, the legendary CBGB’s, Knitting Factory, Museum of Modern Art, Lincoln Center, and the Gershwin Hotel in Manhattan, to name a few.
Armen has also been featured on television and appeared in Vogue, New York Times, New York Post, Village Voice, Rolling Stone, Amica, Glamour, Paper, Mademoiselle, Elle, Visonaire, Time Out NY, and too many more to mention.
Armen flourished, not only as a self-taught master of the theremin, but also as one of New York’s leading aesthetes. By combining both the visual and aural aspects of his craft, Armen has developed an art form that is truly his own and is something quite amazing to behold.

A strong visual
Preparing costume ensembles for his performances is an organic process for Armen. It is yet another form of artistic expression that add layers to the listening experience. “I don’t think of it as dressing up,” said Armen. “I feel that the instrument and music demand a strong visual.” Friend and renowned clothing designer Thierry
Mugler has also designed attire for Armen.
Armen definitely gives the audience an aesthetically alluring visual. “Much like the films of Parajanov, especially Color of Pomegranate,” said Armen. “I
wouldn’t say the actors were dressed up. However, the visual intensity and androgyny of the characters was an artistic expression and made the film a work of art.” With his theremin, Armen performs his fusion of Armenian folk music with modern instrumentation, along with melodic lounge standards and classical arias. His unique and elegant recitals transport the listener to a time and place of beauty, emotional healing, and, of course, sacred glamor.
In 2007 the curators at the Disney Concert Hall presented a theremin orchestra as part of Pravda, a showcase of music born in the Soviet era. They wanted to recreate the ten-theremin orchestra that performed in 1922 under the
direction of inventor Lev Theremin himself at Carnegie Hall. This time around, the ten thereminists were
from all over the United States and Europe. Each was sent their musical parts to their disparate locales
and they only had three rehearsals as a group once everyone arrived in Los Angeles.
“It was an extraordinary and glorious experience,” said Armen.
“The facilities of Disney Hall are state of the art, and it was a pleasure to perform at such an exquisite
venue.” There is talk of re-staging the theremin orchestra but nothing has been confirmed yet.
17/2007

Armenian party monster
Known for his outrageous costumes, Armen was also an eminent figure of the bustling arts scene happening in Manhattan in the 80s and 90s – part muse, part “it” boy, part underground star. When Armen first moved to New
York City at the age of 16, it was a much different place, especially the downtown club scene. “It was
easy to get into clubs if you looked interesting,” said Armen, “and no one bothered checking IDs.” The first time Armen went to a big club, he was discovered and photographed by the iconic Andy Warhol. This recognition led the club owner to ask him to come back three nights a week and put him on the payroll. “So essentially I was paid just to attend,” said Armen.
Soon after that he was introduced to all of the happening club promoters and became a regular on the scene. Armen recounted, “I had various jobs, mostly showing up and looking fabulous.” “The scene was very creative,”
said Armen. “We all made our own costumes, and were very much a community.” In addition to the glamorous life, Armen modelled for photographer Roxanne Lowit (Conde Nast) and she put him in Italian Vogue the first time when he was 20.
Fashion, clubbing, and fame; this extravagant lifestyle soon revealed a shadier side. In the mid 90s the scene started to become very dark, with the introduction of heavy drugs, as depicted in the film Party Monster (2003), which features Armen. This led Armen to distance himself, and he started working as a make-up artist at Patricia Field’s trendy store in Manhattan, and he began designing handmade jewelry. (The Emmy-award-winning Field was fashion designer for Sex and the City and Devil Wears Prada.) Since his clubbing days, Armen has been featured in films and television. He designed jewelry for Todd Oldham and was photographed by him extensively. Armen recorded with Debbie Harry, and through the years has schmoozed with Aretha Franklin,
Diana Ross, shared a stage with Patti Labelle, modeled for renowned photographer David Lachapelle,
and appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone in 2000.
His pictures were sent to painter Salvador Dali just before he died.
Armen said, “he wanted to paint me but then he died.... Damn it!” His friendship with singeravant garde performance artist Diamanda Galas has blossomed into more than just a personal bond. In 2003, Galas released the album Defixiones, Will and Testament: Orders from the Dead, an 80- minute memorial tribute to the Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, and Hellenic victims of genocide. Galas is a staunch supporter of Armenian causes and had Armen and his family translate Armenian text for her genocide piece.
Armen’s latest film appearance was in the movie Fur (2006) with Nicole Kidman and Robert Downey, Jr. He recently filmed a piece for the Independent Film Channel, which is airing this week. Future plans include participating in the film adaptation of the Dorian Gray story shooting in New York City through 2008. And, of course, theremin performances throughout the United States and Europe in 2008.
Earlier this month, on November 7, Armen brought his musical genius to the legendary Magic Castle in Hollywood, California.
He played to two sold-out crowds.
The famously exclusive magic club allowed Armen fans to enter without membership – a feat in itself.

Love is the most important ingredient
“I am compelled to mention that my family has been completely supportive of all of my endeavors through the years,” Armen said proudly. “Thankfully they are all very educated, artistic, worldly, and loving, and without their support, dedication and love this life would have been much more difficult.
“My grandmother Arax Makarian is 100, and has been an important figure in Armenian culture,” added Armen. “She along with the rest of the family is very proud of my accomplishments.”
Armen feels privileged to have arrived in such an openminded and supportive family. “I adore them!” he said.
The arts community adores Armen, too. Being an integral part of a creative revolution in New York, his contribution to our present artistic landscape continues to unfold.
F connect: www.myspace.com/armenra
Armenian Reporter Arts & Culture 11/17/2007

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