Featuring critically acclaimed artists from the Rewire programme and beyond, The Sound of Story is a rare opportunity to gain insight into what drives and inspires some of the world’s most accomplished and innovative sound artists and musicians.
Made up of a series of talks, illustrated with clips and anecdotes, this is a chance for film and music lovers to hear about the speakers’ work and influences, and learn about the power of the soundtrack and importance of narrative.
Roly Porter & MFO
As electronic music producer, Roly Porter’s solo albums include the boundary pushing Life Cycle of a Massive Star. He has also composed for film, and produced a live re-scoring of the animated film Gandahar for the BFI. Following the release of his 2016 album, Third Law, Porter has teamed up again with renowned visual artist Marcel Weber (MFO), whose audio-visual works have been shown at leading festivals and venues, including Transmediale, the Centre Pompidou and Unsound.
Porter and MFO will discuss the influence of narrative on their work, a symbiotic artistic approach, and creating a live show that takes audiences on a journey through seemingly infinite realms.
Chris Watson
Chris Watson is a leading composer and recorder of wildlife and natural phenomena. Capturing the sounds of animals, habitats and atmospheres around the world, his award-winning work across film, TV and radio includes the BBC’s Life of Birds, and Frozen Planet – both presented by David Attenborough. As composer, his work includes the acclaimed albums El Tren Fantasma – recollections of a trans-Mexico rail journey – and Weather Report, named as one of the albums you should hear before you die (The Guardian).
Watson will present and discuss his work and recording techniques, looking at the process of capturing sound and weaving it into narrative collages.
Gazelle Twin: Kingdom Come
Taking its title from J. G Ballard’s final novel, Gazelle Twin: Kingdom Come is an ensemble performance incorporating electronics, film and an original soundtrack from the critically acclaimed Gazelle Twin. Commissioned by FutureEverything and produced in collaboration with director Chris Turner and photographer Tash Tung, the work plays with notions of feralness and the uncanny.
Talk: Ahead of the Rewire performance, hear Jez Bernholz (BERNHOLZ), who has performed live with Gazelle Twin since 2013, discuss the genesis and development of this high-concept and visceral live show.
Xiu Xiu plays Twin Peaks
Commissioned by David Lynch to reimagine the seminal Twin Peaks score, for an exhibition presented by the Gallery of Modern Art Australia, experimental band Xiu Xiu have a history of reinterpreting music and imbuing it with their own style, including work by Nina Simone and Tracy Chapman.
This is a rare opportunity to hear the band discuss their creative approach to reinterpretation, and the influences that helped shape their version of a truly iconic soundtrack.
Nicolas Becker
One of the most progressive sound practitioners working today, Nicolas Becker works across multiple art forms, combining his practice as foley artist, sound designer and composer. Working with filmmakers such as Danny Boyle and Roman Polanski, his movie credits include Gravity and Ex Machina. Beyond cinema, Becker’s work includes several collaborations with acclaimed artist Philippe Parreno, including for the Opera Garnier in Paris with Benjamin Millepieds and Nico Muhly, and a new exhibition in New York centred around microorganisms.
Becker will discuss his multi-disciplinary approach to creating a unique production process and soundscape for each project.
The Sound of Story @ Rewire is co-produced by Lighthouse and Rewire Festival.