In the basement of Snyder-Phillips Hall, is the Michigan State University record label, Bogue Street Records. One of the first albums released under the label is Day Zero Breakdown, by Lansing local Dennis Hinrichsen. In collaboration with two other Michigan artists, Worm Moon and bioPrism, the album was performed in the RCAH Theatre on Wednesday.
The performance was an experimental one, combining different styles of art to convey an environmental message. After the performance of Day Zero Breakdown, Hinrichsen held a book signing at the Lookout! Gallery for his latest book Dementia Lyrics.
"The accompanying album from Bogue Street Records, Day Zero Breakdown, captures this merging of spoken word with experimental music," Hinrichsen said. "But the book is also seriously focused on systematic failure, not only of the body but of our ways of thinking about the planet with particular focus on the diminishing source of fresh water."
Showcasing his art isn't new for Hinrichsen, as he has been writing for much of his life.
"I've done book signings many times before. I've been writing for nearly 50 years and published 12 books, so lots of practice," Hinrichsen said.
Hinrichsen is based in Lansing and often works and collaborates with others in the community, such as Josh Epperly — bioPrism and Dylan Rogers — Worm Moon.
"I hope that the audience leaves with a greater appreciation of the connections between poetry and experimental electronic music. Both forms deal with many similar themes, but one explores those themes through language and the other through sonic architecture," Epperly said. "For example, a big theme in Dennis's poems on Day Zero Breakdown is how our relationships to water can quickly become exploitative when we forget how connected we are to water."
Getting the opportunity to be apart of creating these experimental forms is something both Epperly and Hinrichsen value. Being apart of the Lansing community is important to this creation.
"On one level, I think it's just wanting to communicate the joy of being alive and having consciousness and making art and collaborating with other disciplines to see what happens. There is a very exciting experimental music scene in Lansing and it was fun to participate with two artists from that scene, Worm Moon and bioPrism," Hinrichsen said.
Outside of his experimental music, Dennis Hinrichsen plays a role in spreading the awareness of poetry and what poetry can be. He did this through serving as Lansing's Poet Laureate.
