Music / Innovation
A journey into the cutting edge of sound
What do mushroom skin, children’s toys, chairs and blackholes have in common?
The answer lies at the intersection of new technology and the experimental world of sound art.
Students at the dBs Institute of sound and digital technology had a field day producing weird and wonderful sound tech experiments for this year’s Innovation in Sound exhibition.
is needed now More than ever
They took the opportunity to break out of the confines of music production to explore new possibilities in sound, with the results veering wildly from vegetable skin audio to playable mobiles and interactive chair orchestras with therapeutic applications.
Held on May 1 at Loco Klub, the exhibition – based at Watershed in previous years – had found a fitting new location, with the venue known for its unconventional and eclectic programming becoming a playground of sound as people queued to make unique music from their own fingertips, triggered noises by playing with childhood toys or were sucked into the imagined audio of a blackhole.
The students were excited to see their ideas come to life, while some see this as the start of something bigger.
“It’s all about taking up space in a noisy way, and letting your childhood self do that successfully,” said Rebecca Walker of her ‘intuitive play corner’ project.
“It gave me confidence and really boosted me to believe in myself… Music is not just music with a structure, it’s literally everything we hear around,” said Sara Aquino.
And, of the wellness and therapeutic potential of their chair-based device, “This could just be step one,” said Jack Thompson and Joshua Squires.
Take a step into the exhibition here:
dBs offers degree-level training for musicians, producers, sound designers, engineers and game developers.
“Innovation in Sound is an annual event where our third-year students engage with a more experimental approach to music-making,” said module leader Dr. Emmanuel Spinelli.
“Producing the work for this exhibition exposes them to non-commercial and unconventional techniques and an entire industry based on those creative practices.
“Their works highlight ways that music can improve society and the way we relate to each other through immersive and interactive sound art.”
All images: Harry Thomas
Read next:
- Art, drinks and sounds come together in a multi-sensory journey
- Love Saves the Day 2025 lineup and stage times
- Jewish band claim Bristol gig cancelled due to ‘pressure from activist groups’
- Review: Prima Queen, Thekla – ‘Emotional tenderness mixed with lots of fun’
- Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra seeks new trustees
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
