Words by Sarah DiMuzio

The Hearing Experience is a collection of experimental compositions from four unique artists based on their own experiences with listening. Each single was released throughout 2022 on the London-based record label SA Recordings, culminating in a four-track EP. On the 23rd of September, The Hearing Experience will take place as an in-person event at the venue IKLECTIK in London and will feature intimate performances from the contributing composers.

ASTRID SONNE

Who are they? Astrid Sonne is a composer and viola player based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her latest album outside of your lifetime was released on Escho, a Denmark-based music and book publishing platform. Sonne’s contribution to The Hearing Experience is the track “How Far,” a delicate, haunting, vocal-forward composition which showcases themes of listening to one’s inner voice.

What are they doing differently? Sonne’s latest album outside of your lifetime was released with a unique listener experience: Virtual Playable Rooms created by digital artist Aske Zidore. After a quick, free download of the desired “room”, the listener is transported to a whimsical, magical realm where they can look around and “walk” while Sonne’s music unfolds in the background. When the song is finished the world fades to black and the listener returns to reality.

What should I watch or listen to? If you have time and your computer meets the minimum system specs, definitely check out the Playable Rooms for outside of your lifetime. The album is also available to stream on Bandcamp and all the usual streaming platforms. You can also listen to Sonne’s The Hearing Experience track “How Far” on the SA Recordings’ Bandcamp page.

TARA CLERKIN TRIO

Who are they? Bristol-based group Tara Clerkin Trio is made up of Tara Clerkin and brothers Sunny-Joe Paradiso and Patrick Benjamin. The trio create psychedelic, jazz, electronic and classical-inspired music that stemmed from wanting to break away from writing songs on the acoustic guitar.

What are they doing differently? The trio, headed by Clerkin, created a piece for The Hearing Experience titled “Exquisite Corpse 1” based on the idea behind the classic game of the same name wherein the shape of a corpse is drawn by blindfolded players each contributing a section of the body (head, torso, and feet). The trio used their musical prowess and instruments to “blindly” create the piece which resulted in a nearly ten-minute composition that flows through organic, synthetic, and found sounds.

What should I listen to? The trio has three releases under this iteration of the band (formerly an eight-piece band known as Tara Clerkin Band) which can all be found on their Bandcamp page. Their track “Exquisite Corpse 1”  for The Hearing Experience can be streamed on the SA Recordings’ Bandcamp page.

LOLA DE LA MATA

Who are they? Lola de la Mata is a composer, curator, musician, and all-around creative person based between London and Liverpool, England. Her electroacoustic music has been featured on BBC Radio 3 and Resonance FM, and she has worked on projects with dance companies around Europe, the UK, and the US. She has also contributed curation for Parallel Praxis, WARP Records, and the Feminist Library, to name a few. 

What are they doing differently? Lola de la Mata has suffered from tinnitus, a condition where the affected person hears a ringing or buzzing in one or both ears. De la Mata used this experience as sonic inspiration for her emotive, experimental track “KOH - Klee - uh” which can be heard in The Hearing Experience. The track features renowned percussionist Joby Burgess, double bassist Marianne Schofield, and the whimsical instrument Canna Sonora (also known as the aluminium harp or friction harp). The track is part of a larger project titled IUH ea(r) air which is currently in the works.

What should I listen to? De la Mata’s track “KOH - Klee - uh” can be streamed on the SA Recordings’ Bandcamp page. A selection of De la Mata’s vast array of projects can be found on her website, and the page for her compositions includes links to her commissioned projects with CoMA and other collaborators.

DAMSEL ELYSIUM

Who are they? Damsel Elysium is a conceptual composer, visual artist, and classically trained violinist based in London. They’ve been featured in publications such as Digital in Berlin, and Vogue for their unique fashion, and musical genius. Alongside their mother, Elysium contributed images for a Gucci collaboration campaign titled A Vibe Called Tech which aims to celebrate the Black British identity.

What are they doing differently? Damsel Elysium uses their neurodivergence to navigate the vast world of sound. They have identified the sound as a high sensitivity which can be equally overwhelming as it is pleasurable depending on the situation. Their contribution to The Hearing Experience is a track called “Echoes of Lalia” which is based on their unique experience moving through a constantly moving, noisy world. The track utilises field recordings from a day spent in London and features double bass, violin, piano, and voice. The result is organised chaos that captures the beauty and overwhelms the composer’s experience.

What should I listen to? Damsel Elysium’s track “Echoes of Lalia” can be streamed on the SA Recordings’ Bandcamp page. They also scored an artistic video for Gucci x Vogue starring Florence Welch (of Florence and the Machine) which can be viewed on the Gucci website.