This article features an interview with Jessie Char and Maxwell Neely-Cohen, a couple who combine their diverse creative skills and love for retro technology to produce unique and engaging experiences. Their work encompasses everything from sound design for theater productions to hosting literary salons and violin performances in their Williamsburg loft.
Char and Neely-Cohen's loft is filled with vintage technology, including a vinyl collection selected with dice, an iPod connected to Harman Kardon SoundSticks speakers, and a collection of retro gaming devices. Their approach to technology is characterized by a preference for tangible, easily repairable hardware over smart home devices.
Neely-Cohen explains live coding as a performance art form, blending music, visual art, and code. Both Char and Neely-Cohen had earlier experience with coding, from building GeoCities websites to creating projection art. This background informs their approach to sound design, using QLab for sophisticated queuing.
Char and Neely-Cohen are against smart home technology, preferring devices they can repair themselves. They value technology as a tool, not an assistant, and have designed their home to be flexible and conducive to their work.
The article also touches upon their individual pursuits: Neely-Cohen's work as a dramaturge and Char's former role in organizing a design conference. Their loft, featuring a "TV garden" inspired by Nam June Paik, seamlessly integrates their professional and personal lives.