Dumb Large Animals
Dumb Large Animals (2025) is a sample-based cathartic diatribe of synthesized sound inspired by the current reality we find ourselves living in 2025 in the United States. Conceptual in nature, the tracks flow through thoughts on corporate solutionism, the never-ending love affair with artificial intelligence, MAGA world’s exploitation of the uneducated masses in America, and the greedy exploits of religious charlatans. Influenced by plunderphonics and reined in by the grid, much of the underlying rhythmic content is generated from hacking the voices of leading characters, including: a corporate training narrator who talks in circles, all powerful yet language-challenged AI robots, former presidential candidate Bob Dole, a few southern good ole boys who “solo” using their car engines, and a trio of manipulative preachers. The results are groovy fun and a humorous take on the modern condition.
Album Credits
Clay Chaplin: Max/MSP, Synthesizers, Drum Programming, Samples, Guitar, Vocals
Recorded and mixed in 2025 by Clay Chaplin at Casa Berenice Recordings in Los Angeles, CA
Album artwork and design by Steve Craig
Mastered by Daniel Eaton at Little Castle Mastering, Los Angeles, CA
LIVE PERFORMANCE
Since January of 2026 I have been developing a live performance of Dumb Large Animals. I never intended to perform the album live so I had to do forensics on my own record and reassemble the sounds into Ableton Live which I knew very little about. By the Spring of 2026 I had a working sequence of the record I could play on my own and sync to video elements. However, the overall vibe needed more so I decided to put together an ensemble to help fill out the sound. The ensmble also provided the ability to include additional material that is “out”, experimental, and or more ambient than the tracks on the record.
Many of the samples on the record are from online videos of interesting or despicable characters and so from the beginning I have imagined any peformance would have a strong video element. Ideally video saturation with multiple channels of projections and screens. So I developed a custom video system for Dumb Large Animals using multiple Raspberry Pi computers to create a synced, multichannel video tapestry that will be an integral part of any performance. The first video below is a demo cut of some of the characters integral to Dumb Large Animales. The second video is the introduction to the track Bothaus where an AI generated voice touts the benefits of AI driven biometric security while mispronouncing words. The next two complete videos – Trust & Fear –> America and Methy Mary – are rough drafts of what might accompany the Dumb Large Animals Ensemble in a performance. There is also a brief demonstration video of the multichannel video system I created using OSC messages, HTML 5, and Javascript running on Raspberry Pis. The final video is from a short I made for Instagram when the album was released in November. The two still images are examples of what I would like to create for the video production – a sculpture like immersion of screens that can be synced together or play seperately.
DUMB LARGE ANIMALS ENSEMBLE
Brian Griffith ( Bass & Synths ) Brian’s work blends analog with digital; subtle movements with bold features; and virtual with physical reality. Musically, Brian creates evolving atmospheres that often explore the sonic capabilities of the bass guitar extending it well beyond the lower register, as an effort towards singularity between the mind and instrument. His visual art compliments the meditative qualities of his music by creating synthesized video environments and hypnotic animations that encourage mindful investigation. The spontaneous nature of his process attempts to connect fully to the invisible fabric of reality. Brian holds a BFA in Literature and Philosophy from Florida State University and an MFA in Experimental Sound Practices and Integrated Media from California Institute of the Arts
Clay Chaplin ( Synths, Electronics, Video ) is an electronic musician, improviser, and audio engineer from Los Angeles who explores the realms of sampling, field recording, analog electronics, and computer synthesis for creative sonic expression. His solo performances often utilize custom electronics in combination with computer processing and stochastic code structures to create chaotic instruments for improvisation. Clay’s performances and exhibitions include the Studio for Electro-Instrumental Music (STEIM), Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Elektroakustiche Musik (DEGEM), the Korean Electro-Acoustic Society, New Instruments for Music Expression (NIME), Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors Festival, Black Mountain College Museum, and —in California and Los Angeles —Center for New Music, High Desert Soundings, Indexical, San Francisco Electronic Music Festival, REDCAT, Coaxial Arts, Machine Project, 2220 Arts and Archives, and the Dogstar Orchestra. Clay has been composer in residence at STEIM and the Center for Contemporary Music at Mills College. Clay studied composition and computer music with Morton Subotnick, Tom Erbe, and Mark Trayle at CalArts. Clay is currently the Director of the Computer Music and Experimental Media studios at CalArts, directs the Experimental Sound Practices program, and is the Larry Levin Chair in Contemporary Music.
Joshua Gerowitz ( Electric Guitar ) is a composer, performer, improviser, and guitarist who resides in Los Angeles. His work is concerned with live human interaction, the juxtaposition of premeditation and spontaneity, as well as the fickle nature of our perceptual senses. He has written and performed music that involves everything from traditional instruments to bottom-shelf beer tastings, knife sharpening, ping pong, and surfing. Gerowitz has performed in many different settings and locations including but not limited to Teatro Manzoni, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Paradise Rock Club, REDCAT, Bowtie Project, Clockshop, Firehouse 12, and Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions. His recordings have been referred to as “eccentric and original work of multidimensional and captivating music” (Vital Weekly), and he has been called “a creative soul with hugely impressive chops, as his keen vision is assertively concentrated on blazing newer trails” (All About Jazz). Gerowitz is a cofounder (along with Georgia Bell) of SatanNotSatan (a community based multi-disciplinary artistic salon founded in 2014). He holds a B.M. in guitar performance from Berklee College of Music and an M.F.A. from CalArts in Performance/Composition.
Heather Lockie ( Viola & Electronics ) is a performer-composer, teaching artist and visual artist based in Los Angeles. She plays viola and piano, writes songs, plays in some bands, writes and arranges music for herself and for other people, teaches music, gardens, and paints. Her latest musical project is called Marshweed, which recently released a cd called “Marshweed in the Garden”. Outside of playing with and arranging for Marshweed, recent projects include writing string arrangements, recording, and performing for OCS (Thee Oh Sees) and Cory Hanson (Wand). Heather has played and toured as a backing musician with international artists such as Syd Straw, Fun., Spiritualized, Arthur Lee/LOVE, Eels, as well as with various independent bands.She has performed at diverse venues, from LACMA, The Museum of Jurassic Technology and The Hammer Museum to world-renowned venues such as the Royal Albert Hall in London, Letterman, Leno, and various DIY spaces throughout America (treehouses, attics, RVs). She has a master’s degree from California Institute of the Arts (Performer/Composer focus) and a BA from Occidental College (Comp Lit: French/English).