VA - Year 2023 (2023)

Since 2016, One Instrument has been consistently releasing annual compilations featuring compositions created by various artists. "Year 2023" marks the 8th installment in this series. This yearly celebration provides an opportunity to reflect on the label's concept and its origins.

In 2016, Aimée Portioli, known as Grand River, initiated One Instrument as a record label dedicated to showcasing sound experiments from diverse artists. The unique twist was that each artist was challenged and constrained to produce their compositions using just a single instrument of their choice.

Aimée Portioli explains that One Instrument began as a personal experiment. She had been working with a Korg MS-20 (the 1978 version) borrowed from a friend for an extended period. During this time, she realized that she frequently switched between various instruments while composing. It was then that she made the decision to commit to a single instrument for an entire composition, selecting the MS-20 for this purpose. This deliberate limitation proved to be incredibly beneficial, as it forced musicians to place constraints on their composition process. Simultaneously, it led to a deeper exploration of the chosen instruments, revealing that they deserved more time and patience for study and experimentation.

In addition to the annual compilations, One Instrument has released a total of 16 physical and digital albums. Among these releases are works by notable artists such as Donato Dozzy, Felicity Mangan, Rezo Glonti, Daniele Di Gregorio, Bandhagens Musikförening, Darwin Grosse, Neel, and many others.