Ian Paige is a free-spirited man about town. As the events programmer at Space gallery, he has a unique opportunity to immerse himself as deeply in Portland’s art scene as anyone else. In his recent musical project, Planets Around the Sun, Paige soaks in an ethereal mist, creating rooms filled with amorphous ghouls. Often, the meditation will be punctured with shocks of sound.

Paige is packing up Planets Around the Sun and heading to the high seas for the Summer Solstice Boat Party with Foam Castles at 6:30 p.m. Monday. That’s right, an all-ages boat party. Tickets are $10. Check it out at tinyurl.com/aroundthesun. 

What does the Planets Around the Sun project sound like, and how did it come about?

Planets Around the Sun plays the harmony of the spheres, subterranean sounds and the music of the mind. That results sometimes as deep noise, hard psyche or meditative ambience. The band was formed two or so years ago by myself, Caitlin King and Matt Lajoie. We’d been playing together in various ways

One sunny day, the three of us had a mind-melding improvisation — the fortunate kind where you’d remembered to hit the record button — at Caitlin’s and my old practice space at the Congress Square Hotel building. We realized that this was an entirely new project, because it was egoless — a product of our mutual presence rather than the forethought of someone’s solo songs brought to a band. 

How does your experience at Space inform your style as a performer?

Hmm I guess seeing so many concerts of varying performative quality has made me understand that whether it’s a high-energy show or a very quiet weird set, the performers on stage have to be connected to themselves and to the audience or what’s the point? 

What’s a song that really impresses you and why?

“I’m So Glad” by Jessie Mae Hemphill, because no matter how simple it seems, I’m always blown away by her vocal syncopation. It’s an old tune and really treble-y, but I have to turn it up LOUD whenever it comes on. 

What are your plans for Planets Around the Sun?

To go farther out. We have an entire double album sequenced and ready to go. It’s called “Ram of the Heart and the Earthern Chariot.” 

Mike Olcott is a freelance writer who lives in Portland.