The Self

I’m hosting on an event next week in collaboration with my MA students at the University of Westminster, Marylebone campus, on the 16th April, 3-5pm (Free). The event is going to exhibit a live group performance of the classic avant-garde piece I’m Sitting in a Room, by Alvin Lucier, along with a collection of performances by MA students, including myself playing my solo Moodswinger guitar. All performed pieces are constructed to interact with the vast open space of Ambika P3, working alongside the cavernous nature of the room acoustics. Ambika P3, originally an old concrete testing facility, is a 14,000 square foot contemporary art and architecture space, renowned for hosting creative events. Its impressive scale makes it an ideal location for press launches, fashion shows, and exhibitions. “One of the capital’s hidden and most exciting spaces.” — The Guardian Free event access to all with a ticket, please see link in Bio to sign up via Eventbite. Event access -> through/ask security at the main reception at (Uni of) Westminster Marylebone campus for Ambika P3, turn right, lift down to B3, follow the signs. Event start time -> 3pm-5pm (access from 2:30, break in between performances) Thank you Connor

Wow, 1 month on from the Old Library show, what a great evening that was. Thank you to those who played and those who came 🖤 …and to the Old Library for hosting! What an awesome venue. Looking to plan future events very soon. We’re keen to keep the ball rolling and see familiar faces 🐰 🎬 - @danny_orwin @the_seer_2.0 @vanishinguk @krldslv @musicroomlondon

Excerpt of visuals from recent @theself____ gig @musicroomlondon exploring representation of place around Deptford and New Cross.

Vanishing is Gareth Smith, a Hull-born, Manchester-based artist and former engineer. Smith's music reflects his industrial roots. Words are his raw material; storytelling and communication are created, assembled, and reworked until meaning and purpose are found. Influenced by electronic, industrial, and contemporary classic music, Smith uses a shifting cast of collaborators, including musicians, dancers, and filmmakers, to embellish and augment the spoken word centre of his work. Together, they create music, movement pieces, and film to help shape a story. Vanishing will be performing at The Old Library, SE14 on Friday 9 May, 7:30pm Tickets £8 (see link in bio) for an evening of multimedia live performance, spoken word narration and experimental A/V. The Self curated, also featuring THE SEER and The Self. @the_seer_2.0 @vanishinguk @danny_orwin @krldslv @musicroomlondon 1st Photography Image - @notquitelight Poster Photography Image - @bellaprobyn

Cry, Trojans, cry; lend me ten thousand eyes, And I will fill them with prophetic tears! The Seer is a multimedia live performance that combines spoken word, sound, theatre and video. The project is the creation of London based artist Conny Prantera and is constructed from a series of her poems, collages and paintings that narrate the life of a prophet echoing of Homeric myth, traditional folksong and dreamlike memories. THE SEER will be performing at The Old Library, SE14 on Friday 9 May, 7:30pm Tickets £8 (see link in bio) for an evening of multimedia live performance, spoken word narration and experimental A/V. The Self curated, also featuring Vanishing and The Self. @the_seer_2.0 @vanishinguk @danny_orwin @krldslv @musicroomlondon Poster Photography Image - @bellaprobyn

What a treat! @_merlinnova_ @lac_milan @james_c_oldham @anatbendavid2002 Thank you for performing last night at the Old Library @musicroomlondon you guys are a crew. Thanks to everyone who came, what a turnout for an Easter Saturday 🐰 amazing Special thanks to @sensible.james and @rooooooooobs for helping making sure everything ran smooooooth The next show is on the 9th May, with The Self, @vanishinguk and @the_seer_2.0 with some A/V storytelling and smoke machines for good measure. Tickets are in bio. Hope you enjoy 🥚

Sound, song and movement. Early word. Subjective narrative. Life’s beautiful dance. Here with you, together. Merlin Nova released her "creepy, funny and outright terrifying" (The Wire) debut album BOO! in 2020; EP Big Heart, long time love in 2021 and set scene sound (CAVE 12) in 2024. Nova has collaborated with Theatre Deli, Slow Dance, NTS, Young Turks, FAT OUT, Café Oto, Blank Editions and BBC Radio 6 Late Junction. She is performing TOMORROW at The Old Library, SE14, Saturday 19 April, 7:30pm Tickets £8 (See link in bio) for an evening of experimental song, movement, avant-garde comedy and everyday rap. The Self curated event, also featuring Lac Milan and James Oldham + Anat Ben-David. @_merlinnova_ @lac_milan @james_c_oldham @anatbendavid2002 @musicroomlondon

An evening of experimental song and movement, avant-garde comedy and everyday rap. The Self curated, featuring Merlin Nova, Lac Milan, and James Oldham + Anat Ben-David. The Old Library, SE14, 19 April, 7:30pm Tickets £8

Anat Ben-David and James Oldham are a duo without a name who perform their own songs combining experimental studio processes, interdisciplinary performance, and zany iconography. Anat Ben-David’s approach to time-based work, music performance and film, is founded in exploring the freedom of live improvisation combined with structural methods. Her background in experimental theatre (the School of Visual Theatre, Jerusalem) and as a member of electro-punk band and art collective Chicks On Speed, has led to projects such as Kairos OperaArt (commissioned for the opening of the new wing of Victoria and Albert Museum in 2017) where live electronic processing meets classical instrumentation in a fusion of mediums and genres James Oldham is a composer and performer specialising in experimental music and multimedia performance art. His work negotiates ideas of worlding, the translation of data into performance, and the objecthood of existing practices and conventions. Much of his work is presented in the context of his company Waste Paper Opera. He has also worked, and performed with, Brooklyn-based performance group Object Collection, Birmingham Opera Company, Riot Ensemble, and Rita Says and the Jerico Orchestra. James and Anat will be performing at The Old Library, SE14 on Saturday 19 April, 7:30pm Tickets £8 (See link in bio) for an evening of experimental song, movement, avant-garde comedy and everyday rap. The Self curated event, also featuring Merlin Nova and Lac Milan. @_merlinnova_ @lac_milan @james_c_oldham @anatbendavid2002 @musicroomlondon

Lac Milan is an everyday rapper, searching for soul in sparkling water, trees, the multinational franchise Spar, and himself.. Performing at The Old Library, SE14 on Saturday 19 April, 7:30pm Tickets £8 (See link in bio) for an evening of experimental song, movement, avant-garde comedy and everyday rap. The Self curated event, also featuring Merlin Nova and James Oldham + Anat Ben-David. @_merlinnova_ @lac_milan @james_c_oldham @anatbendavid2002 @musicroomlondon

An evening of multimedia live performance, spoken word narration and experimental A/V at The Old Library in New Cross, London. The Self curated, featuring THE SEER, Vanishing and The Self. The Old Library, SE14, Friday 9 May, 7:30pm Tickets £8 (See link in bio) THE SEER is a multimedia live performance that combines spoken word, sound, theatre and video. The project is the creation of London based artist Conny Prantera and is constructed from a series of her poems, collages and paintings that narrate the life of a prophet echoing of Homeric myth, traditional folksong and dreamlike memories. Vanishing is Gareth Smith, a Hull-born, Manchester-based artist and former engineer. Smith’s music reflects his industrial roots. Words are his raw material; storytelling and communication are created, assembled, and reworked until meaning and purpose are found. Influenced by electronic, industrial, and contemporary classic music, Smith uses a shifting cast of collaborators, including musicians, dancers, and filmmakers, to embellish and augment the spoken word centre of his work. Together, they create music, movement pieces, and film to help shape a story. The Self is an experimental audiovisual duo composed of musician Connor Haynes and filmmaker Danny Orwin. Combining alluring soundscapes with evocative visual cues, their work creates an immersive and thoughtful experience. Their performances feature intricate layers of music and striking imagery, inspired by the visionary filmmaking of Stan Brakhage, the nostalgic tones of Boards of Canada, and the minimalist approach of Dylan Carlson. The Self offers a unique blend that captivates the senses and invites deeper reflection. @the_seer_2.0 @vanishinguk @danny_orwin @krldslv @musicroomlondon Poster Photography - @bellaprobyn

An evening of experimental song, movement, avant-garde comedy and everyday rap. The Self curates: Merlin Nova, Lac Milan, and James Oldham + Anat Ben-David. The Old Library, SE14, Saturday 19 April, 7:30pm Tickets £8 (See link in bio) 
Merlin Nova released her “creepy, funny and outright terrifying” (The Wire) debut album BOO! in 2020; EP Big Heart, long time love in 2021 and set scene sound (CAVE 12) in 2024. Nova has collaborated with Theatre Deli, Slow Dance, NTS, Young Turks, FAT OUT, Café Oto, Blank Editions and BBC Radio 6 Late Junction. Lac Milan is an everyday rapper, searching for soul in sparkling water, trees, the multinational franchise Spar, and himself. ANAT BEN-DAVID’s approach to time-based work, music performance and film, is founded in exploring the freedom of live improvisation combined with structural methods. Her background in experimental theatre (the School of Visual Theatre, Jerusalem) and as a member of electro-punk band and art collective Chicks On Speed, has led to projects such as Kairos OperaArt (commissioned for the opening of the new wing of Victoria and Albert Museum in 2017) where live electronic processing meets classical instrumentation in a fusion of mediums and genres JAMES OLDHAM is a composer and performer specialising in experimental music and multimedia performance art. His work negotiates ideas of worlding, the translation of data into performance, and the objecthood of existing practices and conventions. Much of his work is presented in the context of his company Waste Paper Opera. He has also worked, and performed with, Brooklyn-based performance group Object Collection, Birmingham Opera Company, Riot Ensemble, and Rita Says and the Jerico Orchestra. @_merlinnova_ @lac_milan @james_c_oldham @anatbendavid2002 *We are looking to host and curate regular events at the Old Library in South London, with our good friends @musicroomlondon - Please reach out if this is of interest.*