"Fascinating, absorbing and eerily beautiful"

TRACE-E Project Performances
Saturday 7 May 2022
1pm and 3pm
Turner Sims, Southampton
(Events will last up to one hour, and may involve short periods of flashing light)

Part of University of Southampton’s Science and Engineering Day 2022

Robin Browning (Musician in Residence) – Composer, Keyboards, Ableton Live
Rowan Baker – Arranger, Co-composer, Keyboards, Ableton Live
George Pertwee – Sound Design, Percussion, Ableton Live
Marike Kruup – Violin
Anca Campanie – Violin
Austen Scully – Cello

Stacey Barnett – Dancer
Lara Prince & Sofia Mykulynska – Speakers

Ian Williams – Principal Investigator
Alice Brock – TRACE-E Project Intern

Devon Williams – Electronics & eTextile development
Alison Westcott – Fashion design

Grab your tickets here

Tickets have just been announced for the two TRACE-E Musician-in-Residence performances this May, and are now available for you to get – for free! – via the Turner Sims website. The team behind the whole TRACE-E Project are super-excited about this, because it not only showcases the work we’ve been doing in recent months, but it also introduces you – our audiences – to crucial things about the issue of electronic waste, as well as inviting discussion with scientists and environmentalists. It also means we can share what we think is some beautiful music with you all. It promises to be fascinating, absorbing and eerily beautiful.

More info will come soon as we continue developing things over Easter. But here’s an idea of what you’ll see and hear at this fascinating event combining science and art…

Completely new, specially-composed acoustic and electronic tracks, fusing found-sound and live-sampling with strings, percussion and multiple keyboard instruments from grand piano to retro 80's synths

The TRACE Project dancer showcases a bespoke eTextile jacket, designed to respond with embedded lights to each of her movements, as well as controlling the sound of the music with other gestures

Two young speakers are writing their own texts, in both prose and poetry, about aspects of eWaste, circular economy and the global environmental crisis. Their words, which they perform themselves, is a key part of the music and will be peppered throughout the event

Musicians on stage will explore multiple sound-worlds using all manner of electronic clips, loops and ambient granular clouds. They'll take live samples from some of the audience's electronic devices – mobile phones, toys, laptops – and turn them into amazing tapestries of sound, becoming new pieces of music right before your ears

Live discussions with the scientists behind aspects of the project, led by principal investigator Ian Williams and other environmentalists in the TRACE team, will explain why we're doing what we're doing, and what it all means. There will also be discussions about eTextile development, how musical sampling works, and what the future might be if we don't take greater action now

Free Tickets Available Now

You can explore more and pick up tickets by clicking on the button below. It would be great to see you all there!

Plus, you can join the discussion on social media now, continuing right through the event and beyond by using the hashtag #TRACE

Follow me on twitter @Robin_Browning and the TRACE Project @TRACEProject22

The TRACE-E Musician-in-Residence Project is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council through the IAA at University of Southampton

Grab your tickets here