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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The confluence of art and science resides in the creative will to achieve new things through experimentation.

Azure DeGrow is mixing different instruments and different artists on her upcoming debut album. - Daron Letts/NNSL photo

Sidebar The musical experiment Purpose: To discover if the sum is greater than its parts. Hypothesis: Music is very mathematical and there are rules to music. If everything is in key and on tempo, then theoretically it should make musical sense. Procedure: A multitude of musicians will mix their own interpretation of several songs independently of one another's recordings. All they have to work with are some rough scratch tracks, lyrics and chord structures. The parts will be mixed together at the conclusion of the experiment.

Multi-percussionist and songwriter Azure DeGrow is turning her forthcoming debut album into a musical experiment this spring and summer. What the conclusion will sound like is anyone's guess.

“I'm curious to hear what happens,” she said. “Here’s the deal: I’ve got NWT Arts Council funding to record and so I’ve extended an open invitation to any interested musicians asking them to prepare their own parts to several songs I’ve written. But, the challenge is that all they get to work with are rough scratch tracks of my guitar and lead vocal parts and a copy of the lyrics and chord structures. Whatever they do with that simple framework is up to them.”

Each participant writes and records her or his own parts independently at Dancing Sky Studios, without conferring with DeGrow or the other musicians.

So far, 18 musicians are composing their own guitar, bass, drums, mandolin, electronic beats, harmonica, keyboard, vocal harmonies and coconut castanet accompaniment to the songs.

“In the end if essential parts in a song are missing, like a bass-line or a bit of percussion, then I’ll do it myself or ask a musician to fill in,” DeGrow said.

“Otherwise, everything is created independently and without influence or interference from me or anyone else.” The only parameters DeGrow insists on are that the music be in key, on tempo and in tune.

“Beyond that, anything goes,” she said. “I’m really encouraging people to have fun with their own style rather than conforming to mine. We’re all different and unique in our own way and we all draw from different knowledge, experience and instincts. Who knows what all of us will come up with when the whole thing is knit together?”

DeGrow is still asking musicians of all backgrounds, ages and levels of experience to join the experiment. Anyone who commits to the project will be included in the songs. Writing credits for all contributors will appear in the album’s liner notes.

In addition to the experimental collaborations, DeGrow is also recording a few of her original songs with more conventional composition and production.

“We’ll compare the random unknowns that arise from the experiment with whatever I create myself and I think the difference in styles and structure will make for a fun and interesting contrast,” she said. “That’s the hypothesis, anyway.”