This year we launched a new conceptual single series: The Hearing Experience, a collection of single releases from artists including Lola de la Mata, Astrid Sonne, Damsel Elysium and Tara Clerkin Trio. The project presents sonic works from each artist exploring their relationship with the act of listening. The singles will be released monthly, starting with leading single ‘KOH - Klee - uh’ from conceptual sound artist Lola de la Mata. The single series will be followed by a live event later on in the year.

Lola de la Mata was the first artist to present their sonic piece for the The Hearing Experience. Her practice encompasses sound art, compositions, workshop leading and multi-dimensional curations. ‘KOH - Klee - uh’, is from a wider project Lola is working on titled IUH ea(r) air which is based on her experiences with tinnitus, as a non-emitted sound phenomena. Unlike usual sounds which one hears through the ear mechanism, tinnitus is unique to each person and cannot be heard outside of the ear or by anyone else. It can be a symptom from various causes and is widely misunderstood as it has no known cure. The piece was Lola’s first dive back into music after a medical break she had to take due to tinnitus. The wider project, which is still a work in progress, aims to create individual pieces based on different parts of the ear in relation to tinnitus.

Astrid Sonne's, 'How Far', was the second single to be shared from The Hearing Experience, a piece about listening to the inner voice. It aims to investigate an inner conversation with oneself; exploring its pace and time and the confusion and acceptance that comes with that. Aiming to create an intersection between an inside and an outside feeling, the track weaves in and out of redeemed and unredeemed harmonies, through breaths, noises and “half good recordings'', creating the feeling of listening, hearing and existing. Astrid on the track: “I wanted to unfold how sound can feel bigger on the inside than on the outside. My initial idea was to record it with other singers but in the process I figured that I had to use my own voice in order for me to create a personal and intimate space”

The third single, 'Echoes of Lalia' by Damsel Elysium is an abstract track made up of voice, double bass, violin, piano and original field recordings taken from Damsel’s day in the city. The single is based on Damsel's experience of being neurodivergent in a constantly moving and noisy world. However, in some corners of these spaces Damsel encounters sounds that are extremely pleasurable to their ear, which can trigger a vocal stim or echolalia, which is the experience of repeating words or sounds that one hears. This conceptual world 'Lalia' created by Damsel, represents the way in which Damsel perceives the world. The track is a documentary of the sounds and echoes that appear within their world. All of the sounds that make up the track are original field recordings from Damsel's days, accompanied by Damsel mimicking them through voice, double bass, violin and piano.

The series is rounded off by Bristol based group, Tara Clerkin Trio. ‘Exquisite Corpse’ does exactly what it says on the tin, it is a game of the old age favourite game exquisite corpse where players would draw a corpse blind with one person drawing the head and folding it over, then the next drawing the torso, with the game finishing with the last player drawing the feet creating an exquisite corpse. Instead of a pen and paper, the trio took to their instruments and laptops, going in blind with each segment of the song. The track creates moments of peace and tranquillity with moments of dreamy piano, vocals and violins contrasted by moments of extreme chaos with samples and synths, creating an ever changing journey where it feels like you're walking through multiple worlds.

The series will be followed by an event at IKLECKTIK, London in mid September. Tickets available on their website.


The full release is out early August 2022.