The performance crosses genres, bringing together contemporary classical musicians Nic Pendlebury and Colin Riley with Steve Pretty (Hackney Colliery Band) and Lottie P (Goat Girl).
Ocean Songs is performed by Blue Machine – a collaborative ensemble featuring electronics, live strings, winds and vocals – alongside a community choir of ‘sirens’. The group takes its name from the celebrated book by scientist Helen Czerski; this performance will use sound to transport the listener through some of the least explored areas on earth.
About the Performers:
Nic Pendlebury has been a leading figure in contemporary music for over 30 years and was the violist and founder of the acclaimed Smith Quartet. The group commissioned over 200 works and recorded albums for Sony, BMG, Decca and Signum Classics. He now pioneers new repertoire for the electric viola, and is Head of Strings at Trinity Laban.
Composer Colin Riley’s ‘extraordinarily strange and beautiful’ (BBC) work blends new technologies, song writing and classical forms. His music has been performed by many leading soloists, ensembles and orchestras and he is a frequent collaborator. He has a regular blog, Riley Notes, and is published by Composers Edition.
Together, Nic and Colin are co-directors of Sonic Collaborations, which has produced the Ocean Songs project.
Steve Pretty is perhaps best known as founder and leader of Hackney Colliery Band. He also composes for TV, film and the stage, and his fascination with the evolution of music from its earliest origins has led to his ‘wide ranging and insightful’ (Guardian) podcast Steve Pretty On The Origin of the Pieces, and an increasing obsession with conch shell instruments.
London-based composer and multi-instrumentalist Lottie P is a multi-faceted and prolific musician who splits her time between her Rough Trade-signed band Goat Girl and other solo and collaborative endeavours. While predominantly an alternative rock trio, Goat Girl’s three highly praised albums journey through many different sounds
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