Circuits and Code: ElectronicaLab: ElectronicaRadio By Mari Braun, Joshua Thompson, Fiona Teich

ElectronicaRadio

article by Joshua Thompson

project by Mari Braun, Joshua Thompson, Fiona Teich

In the back of M5, across the hallway from ElectronicaLab, you’ll find a dusty shelf filled with radio cartridges. Consisting of PSAs and music from the late ’80s and early ’90s, these so-called “carts” preserve unchanged media from decades ago—media that’s only now being rediscovered. ElectronicaRadio, started by Mari Braun and Fiona Teich, entails the re-recording and digitization of these carts.

The point of this project is to preserve analog media in a way that honors its analog essence. “[They] did this by recording audio onto [VHS-C] tapes, and then transferring it onto digital storage,” reports Aleksa Angjeliu, head media coordinator at ElectroniaLab.

Mari and Fiona started by recording radio carts from Amherst College’s WAMH 89.3 FM radio station. Eventually, they’ll have these digitized and posted on M5's YouTube channel. If M5 is to ever get a radio show, ElectronicaLab is already pioneering the way.

Sometimes the story of how your art is created is more valuable than the art itself.” - Mari Braun