As part of our extended online Sofasonic Festival series, we have an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure. Check out this week’s selections…

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler | Rosie Tee | Elle Donlon | Natalie Sharp | Matters | Bunny Bissoux | impaTV | Bryn Perrott | Dorcha | Hen Ogledd | Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs | Nicholas Bullen | J. Zunz | Rocket Girl | 

During the process of taking our Supersonic programme online, we’ve had the pleasure of working with the incredible Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley as a host for our varied panel discussions. From hosting talks on “The Birth of Indian Electronic Music” with Paul Purgas, to a panel on “The Art of Collaboration” with Moor Mother & Valentina Magaletti – Jasmine has been shining a light on and retrieving valuable insights into the practices of some formidable artists.

But now it’s our turn to throw the spotlight on Jazz; a broadcast journalist at the BBC and a presenter and producer with community radio station Ujima radio. We wanted to find out what music inspires her and get’s her moving!

In her spare time, Jazz is an advocate and activist for equity, raising awareness of the need to include more BAME representation and visibility in environmental dialogue. She has been involved in social sciences research as a Green and Black ambassador working with UWE, Bristol Green Capital Partnership, Bristol University and Ujima Radio to further discussions on representation within the environmental movement.

Tune in here…

Jasmine will be hosting the fourth instalment of our series with Swamp Booking, entitled Spinning Plates, on Friday 12 February 2021. This time we hear from three formidable label heads; Julie Weir (Head of A&R Music For Nations, Sony Music), Bettina Richards (Thrill Jockey founder) and Vinita Joshi (Rocket Girl Founder), all of who have over two decades of experience in the record industry.

This panel will explore how Julie, Bettina & Vinita have navigated their way through the business. They’ll be sharing insights from their early beginnings to their greatest achievements in running successful music labels, not forgetting the challenges that come with it.

Supersonic x Swamp present… Spinning Plates

Friday 12 February 2021, 19:30 GMT

Live stream via YouTube

+ Q&A

As part of our extended online Sofasonic Festival series, we have an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure. Check out this week’s selections…

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler | Rosie Tee | Elle Donlon | Natalie Sharp | Matters | Bunny Bissoux | impaTV | Bryn Perrott | Dorcha | Hen Ogledd | Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs | Nicholas Bullen | J. Zunz |

We’re so excited to be hosting Vinita Joshi, founder of the label Rocket Girl, for our panel talk ‘Spinning Plates’ on Feb 12. Vinita launched Rocket Girl Records into the atmosphere in 1997. She’s since enjoyed over two decades orbiting the music industry having established one of the premier UK independent labels; the glorious result of a music lover releasing music for music lovers. We asked her to collate some highlights from the Rocket Girl catalogue as some recommended listening…

Nestling under the wing of the influential Cheree Records and then co-founding an offshoot label Che Records in 1990, Vinita finally established her own record label, Rocket Girl in 1997. Within weeks of the label’s inception, Rocket Girl released a 7” split single by Silver Apples / Windy & Carl, to coincide with the Silver Apples’ sold-out European tour booked by Vinita herself. Hot on the heels of the Silver Apples / Windy & Carl 7”, 1998 saw the release of Rocket Girl’s first full-length album – ‘A Tribute to Spacemen 3’ – a celebration of the pioneers of drone, with offerings from (the then largely unknown) Mogwai, Arab Strap, Piano Magic, and Low, among others. In today’s digital world of streaming and disposable MP3s, Rocket Girl can be relied upon to produce records with a quality of artwork and packaging reflecting the precious music within.

Tune in here…

“The first track is the single taken from the forthcoming album by USA band White Ring. ‘Show Me Heaven’ is out on 19th February. I am currently working on the next album from Fuxa and hope a new album from Pieter Nooten might follow. It’s a very difficult time for bands without their touring income and being unable to promote their new releases, but the public have been very supportive.

We can’t wait for live music to return.

I also have a mail order shop and think people might be surprised by some of the releases I still have in stock (especially 7″ singles from small DIY labels).”

Some more info about the panel talk…

Supersonic x Swamp present… Spinning Plates

Friday 12 February 2021, 19:30 GMT

Live stream via YouTube

+ Q&A

We’re delighted to share with you the fourth instalment of our series with Swamp Booking, entitled Spinning Plates, on Friday 12 February 2021. Hosted once again by journalist, Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley, this time we hear from Julie Weir (Head of A&R Music For Nations, Sony Music), Bettina Richards (Thrill Jockey founder) and Vinita Joshi (Rocket Girl Founder), all of who have over two decades of experience in the record industry.

This panel will explore how Julie, Bettina & Vinita have navigated their way through the business. They’ll be sharing insights from their early beginnings to their greatest achievements in running successful music labels, not forgetting the challenges that come with it.

Throughout the year, as part of our extended Sofasonic Festival celebrations, we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure!

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler | Rosie Tee | Elle Donlon | Natalie Sharp | Matters | Bunny Bissoux | impaTV | Bryn Perrott | Dorcha | Hen Ogledd | Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs | Nicholas Bullen |

J. Zunz, the new solo project of Mexico’s Lorena Quintanilla, is purely hypnotic. Within a thick atmosphere of an experimental post-punk sound, she uses wonky synths and creates haunting melodies that shine through cold repetitions. Ahead of this Friday’s third panel talk ‘Sounding Out Intersectionality’ we asked Lorena to pull together a collection of tracks that got her through 2020.

‘Hibiscus’, Lorena’s second release under the moniker J. Zunz was released last year via Rocket Recordings. It’s the sonic result of a metamorphic process whereby the minimal is rendered maximal and the personal fused with the political. You may remember her single video ‘Four Women & Darkness‘ was premiered at our online Sofasonic Festival last summer in the Rocket takeover!

“These are some of the sounds that helped me get through the year. I have been very lucky to see some of these artists live. The dreamy and relaxing shows of José Orozco Mora, the fierce techno of Adiós Mundo Cruel and the incredibly dense dark ocean noise of Concepción Huerta have been shows that have become part of me.

I also added two different projects (Interspecifics and Microhm) from Leslie García, one of the most inspiring and prolific musicians that I know. Hopefully soon we’ll be able to get transformed by the amazing experience of live music again.“

Tune in here…

Some more info about this Friday’s panel…

Supersonic x Swamp present… Sounding Out Intersectionality

Friday 15 January 2021, 19:30 GMT

Live stream via YouTube

+ Q&A

Together with Swamp Booking, we’re delighted to share with you the third instalment of the series entitled ‘Sounding Out Intersectionality’ on Friday.

This time, we hear from Stephanie Phillips (Big Joanie, co-founder of Decolonise Fest), Shannon Funchess (Light Asylum) and Lorena Quintanilla aka J. Zunz. Hosted by journalist, Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley.

During this talk we’re aiming to explore intersectionality from the perspective of the musician, learning from these three formidable artists how their experiences converge, impact and informs their creative output.

[Nic Bullen live at Supersonic 2017 – image by Joe Singh]

Throughout the year, as part of our extended Sofasonic Festival celebrations, we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure!

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler | Rosie Tee | Elle Donlon | Natalie Sharp | Matters | Bunny Bissoux | impaTV | Bryn Perrott | Dorcha | Hen Ogledd | Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs |

DRUM ROLL! We’re here to share with you our final Sofasonic Playlist of 2020, courtesy of Birmingham’s own Nicholas Bullen – a formidable composer with a career in sound and music spanning more than 40 years. From his beginnings as a founder member of the ‘extreme’ music group Napalm Death at the age of 13, Nic has since released over 40 recordings and performed internationally both solo and in collaboration.

His artistic work across a range of media (including sound, text, film, installation and performance) has been performed and exhibited both in the United Kingdom (including Tate Britain, Institute of Contemporary Arts, Hayward Gallery, Serpentine Gallery, Chisenhale Gallery and Arnolfini Gallery) and internationally (including Art Basel, White Columns, Creative Time, Kunsthall Oslo, Schirn Kunsthalle, and MACBA).

He has been on haitus from public performance and exhibition since 2017 (with the exception of occasional concerts by the adverse punk group Rainbow Grave whose new album will be released in 2021) and is no stranger to a Supersonic Festival line-up. Here he tells us a bit about his selections…

“This playlist presents a fragmented selection of my listening in the last few months, flowing between ancient and contemporary, oscillating across an emotional terrain that is coloured by the ebb and flow of life during this period of lockdown: fear, energy, terror, stasis, resignation, transcendence. 

Tune in here…

Throughout the year, as part of our extended Sofasonic Festival celebrations, we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure!

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler | Rosie Tee | Elle Donlon | Natalie Sharp | Matters | Bunny Bissoux | impaTV | Bryn Perrott | Dorcha | Hen Ogledd |

The boys are back in town! Following their class-act ball skills at Sofasonic Festival, we’ve invited Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs back for a new *festive edition* of Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo Bingo – all in aid of The Trussell Trust, who support a nationwide network of food banks. So to warm you up for this online festive event, we asked Pig Adam Sykes to put together a wintery selection of music. 

Get yourself warmed up for the big game by listening to their selections here…

So join us on Saturday night and let’s see this bonkers year out with a Supersonic bang! Here are the details:

BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO, CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Saturday 19 December 2020, 20:30 GMT
Live Stream via Zoom
Tickets(Pay As You Feel*)
YOU MUST BE OVER 18 TO PLAY

*The suggested donation for this event is £10.00 per household. If you’re in a position to, we ask you to please contribute what you can afford. All proceeds will be donated to The Trussell Trust, who support a nationwide network of food banks. We don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry. The Trussell Trust, are working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.

Throughout the year, as part of our extended Sofasonic Festival celebrations, we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure!

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler | Rosie Tee | Elle Donlon | Natalie Sharp | Matters | Bunny Bissoux | impaTV | Bryn Perrott | Dorcha | 

We’re delighted to be hosting Hen Ogledd on Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th December as they grace our screens with their playfully unyielding, wonky-pop sounds. First for a trail-blazing Supersonic Kids Gig and again for a full set, broadcast from The Star & Shadow in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. So ahead of all the fun, we asked them to make a playlist of some of their favourite songs!

Signed to Dominio Records, Hen Ogledd is the wild, inimitable band project of musicians Richard Dawson, Rhodri Davies, Dawn Bothwell and Sally Pilkington. All four members deliver vocals in their various Scottish, Welsh and northern English accents – after all, Hen Ogledd is Welsh for the Old North – along with swathes of vocoder for good measure.

Here are the details you need to know if you want to join the online fun next weekend…

Supersonic Kids Gig with Hen Ogledd

hosted by Anna Palmer

Saturday 19 December 2020, 11:00 GMT 

LIVE STREAM via Zoom

Tickets (pay as you feel)

Throughout the year, as part of our extended Sofasonic Festival celebrations, we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure!

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler | Rosie Tee | Elle Donlon | Natalie Sharp | Matters | Bunny Bissoux | impaTV | Bryn Perrott |

Our Sofasonic Playlist of the week comes from Birmingham’s very own band of rogues, Dorcha – these left-field luminaars are a genre-fluid, dynamic, versatile group with a refusenik attitude. We asked them to pull together selections that sonically inspired their new album ‘Honey Badger’.

Dorcha have been praised by BBC Radio 6’s Stuart Maconie on the Freak Zone, have performed for BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction and have had festival appearances at Flatpack Film Festival, Supernormal and with us at Supersonic back in 2017. Earlier this month they released brand new album ‘Honey Badger’, recorded at Geoff Barrow’s Invada Studios – where they seem to have had a great time in the toy chest of analogue synths. The album is layered in gorgeous glowing tones and sweet cinematic strings, we highly recommend you give it a listen.

“Honey Badger is about capturing the chaos and introverted mayhem that transpires from being a weird insular person in social situations, but also how these circumstances might help you go on to develop and grow. It’s the creeping presence within our psyches that unleashes the weird, socially unacceptable side. We don’t want anyone thinking we’re taking this too seriously. Some of the lyrics are total fucking nonsense. It’s more about embracing the joyful, chaotic side of things.”

Throughout the year, as part of our extended Sofasonic Festival celebrations, we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure!

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler | Rosie Tee | Elle Donlon | Natalie Sharp | Matters | Bunny Bissoux | impaTV | Bryn Perrott |

From deep in the Shropshire Hills, we asked the hypnotic guitar-duo Haress to form this week’s playlist. Whether it’s on the Supersonic stage, or designing Supersonic artwork – David Hand and Elizabeth Still are no strangers to Capsule collaborations. 

Haress consists of the core guitar duo of David Hand and Elizabeth Still, based in Bishops Castle in the Shropshire Hills where they also organise the amazing Sineater Festival and run the DIY record label Lancashire & Somerset. Intertwining dark and repetitive guitar figures in order to create a hypnotic, mantra-like state, their intuitive playing works on a kind of telepathy until it’s impossible for the onlooker to work out which player is responsible for which sound. They are frequently joined by collaborators David Smyth (Kling Klang, Mind Mountain), guitar and Echoplex from Chris Summerlin (Kogumaza, Grey Hairs, Hey Colossus), vocals from Thomas House (Sweet Williams, Charlottefield)

“fave Supersonic memories?

Throughout the year, as part of our extended Sofasonic Festival celebrations, we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure!

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler | Rosie Tee | Elle Donlon | Natalie Sharp | Matters | Bunny Bissoux | impaTV |

This week we bring you selections from Bryn Perrott aka Deer Jerk, an artist living and working in Morgantown, West Virginia in the US. Bryn can be found working from home where she drinks 8 shots of espresso a day and hangs out with her cats while carving, printing, painting or drawing.

“My mind does not wander when I carve; I make for purpose, not from artistic representation. I have focus when I work, which is a relief from my otherwise scattered thoughts. Carving feels like real work: something is being physically accomplished. Each cut made gets me closer to the next image within the larger scene. I simply like making a good image, a strong image.”

“I started getting tattooed seven years ago and started working in a tattoo shop four years ago. I have since become increasingly interested in the aesthetic and history of tattoo images because of the simplicity and directness those images convey to even the briefest of glances. Which is why I reference heavily from tattoo history; I’m trying to present these images in an equally strong but new context. Essentially I want to pay homage to those references and influences, to the history of an industry built on real work.

That, and to always revamp these icons without tiring them out.” 

 

We are delighted to announce that we’ve commissioned Bryn Perrott, an intricate wood-carving artist from West Virginia in the US, to create a brand-new, zingy Supersonic design!

Available on three different T’s, this new merch range will only be available as a pre-order until Wednesday 9 December – so get them while you can!

In the lead up to, dare we say it… Christmas… they’ll make a perfect festive gift or a beautiful treat to yourself! By purchasing, you’ll also be supporting all things Supersonic, so we can continue our work of crafting extraordinary events for curious audiences, supporting artists and our freelance workers.

PRE-ORDER HERE

[front: Isadora & Jamie of impaTV pictured with Qujaku, image by George Lane]

Thank you to everyone that tuned in over the weekend for Sofasonic Festival, as part of our extended Sofasonic celebrations we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler | Rosie Tee | Elle Donlon | Natalie Sharp | Matters | Bunny Bissoux |

This Friday’s Sofasonic Playlist, is brought to you courtesy of Isadora Darke and Jamie Robinson aka IMPATV – a collaborative video and stage production project based at Islington Mill, Salford.

They use new digital technologies and live mixing methods combined with costumes and stage design they produce immersive installations, music videos, live streaming, and art and music productions across the realms of DIY, experimental and underground culture. Some key artists they’ve collaborated with include Gnod, Giant Swan, Working Men’s Club, Thurston Moore.

[impaTV workshop at Artefact for Outlands Tour 6, 2019]

Supersonic have had the pleasure of hosting a wide-range of impaTV’s visual production projects, including WORLDZERO a premiere performance from The Seer & UKAEA at our 2019 festival and ‘Enso-Sone’ a cross-collision with Japanese pysch-noise band Qujaku at the 6th Outlands Tour back in November last year. Most recently, the pair contributed to our online Sofasonic line-up by making three videos for the new relentlessly driving ‘Faca de Fogo‘ album by Gnod & João Pais Philipe, out on Rocket Recordings.

[Illustration by Bunny, Celebrating 10 Years of Supersonic Festival]

Thank you to everyone that tuned in over the weekend for Sofasonic Festival, as part of our extended Sofasonic celebrations we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler | Rosie Tee | Elle Donlon | Natalie Sharp | Matters |

This week’s playlist is courtesy of Birmingham-raised artist & illustrator, Bunny Bissoux. From many a pop-up stall at Supersonic’s Market Place to designing our popular Home of Metal tea-towels – Bunny is well versed in Capsule collaborations. Their distinctive and enticing designs are truly a sight to behold. 

Currently based in Tokyo, Japan, Bunny’s work is heavily inspired by popular culture and fanaticism, with recurring themes including music, teen angst, pro wrestling, animals and idols. They have made many collaborations with Capsule over the years – you may have spotted them at Supersonic 2009, 2010 or 2012 where they graced the festival Market Place with their prints, zines, badges and stickers in addition to vintage trading cards, cult memorabilia and treasures from Japan.

[Matters live at Supersonic 2019 – image by Joe Singh]

Thank you to everyone that tuned in over the weekend for Sofasonic Festival, as part of our extended Sofasonic celebrations we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler | Rosie Tee | Elle Donlon | Natalie Sharp | 

This week’s playlist has been pulled together by Brummie locals MATTERS. They first won over the hearts & ears of Supersonic revellers at 2018’s end of year party with their storming set of pulsating synths and heavy beats. So much so, we invited them to perform at our Supersonic Saturday in 2019 last year.

Matters formed in 2015 in the old factory spaces of Digbeth. They utilise synths, guitars and drums to create expansive music – blending Krautrock, psychedelic, post-rock and techno into a rich and powerful sound. Their debut was released on Static Caravan Records in 2018. If you’re into dark and eerie instrumentals, give Matters a listen. Not only this, their live presence is a stunning spectacle.

“This is something quite epic..another winner from Static Caravan Records” – Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music

Thank you to everyone that tuned in over the weekend for Sofasonic Festival, as part of our extended Sofasonic celebrations we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler | Rosie Tee | Elle Donlon |

What an audible treat in store! Known in equal measure for her cosmic synth creations and otherworldly costume designs, this week’s selections come courtesy of Supersonic veteran, Natalie Sharp aka. Lone Taxidermist. 

Lone Taxidermist is the utterly bizarre and otherworldly, ruptured activity generated by Cumbrian musician, costume maker, skin decorator, performer and natural provocateur Natalie Sharp. We’ve been lucky to have Natalie perform at many a Supersonic in various incarnations over the years, including Trifle – a yellow rubber-gloved entity that intertwined with the depths of sexual food fetishes, BodyVice – a biological and calculated approach to sound art that explored her own experiences of chronic pain and most recently for our online Sofasonic Festival, Rainbow Face – a guided ASMR-tinged make-up tutorial à la Bob Ross.

“LONE Taxidermist is actually a really old name. I’ve been making music under this name for nearly ten years now. I used to collect taxidermy and I was in a band with lots of other people, but we broke up. I went solo and LONE Taxidermist stemmed from that. The name isn’t really that relevant anymore, but it’s a pain to change it. It’s like when you get stuck with an old email address and everyone messages you on that, so you end up keeping it.”

– an interview with The Culture Vulture

Take a listen to Natalie’s selections here…

Her performances have been known to turn audiences members into exhibitionists – tales transpiring of sensorial acts of gender-bending, food porn and squelchy mass ritual. Sharp effortlessly blends ‘instruments’ which come to hand – whether that be songwriting, multi-instrumentalism or mastery of non-standard instruments like musical saw and theremin, stagecraft, costumes, graphic art, video making, face paint, vocal technique, remixing and DJing.

Once ranked as Google’s no.1 surreal makeup artist, Natalie has previously created glorious and gory stage, costume and body concepts for Jenny Hval’s European tour and worked live with Gazelle Twin as a performance artist and vocalist.

From our Sofasonic programme, be guided through a self-soothing series of rainbow makeup instructions. During this restorative and educational session, expect to be gently steered by Natalie’s calming ASMR-esque voice. Underpinned by warming delta-wave frequencies, emerge with a beautiful rainbow face of your own creation.

Natalie was recently an artist-in-residence for Aerial – a new festival of contemporary music, literature & performance. For the festival, she returned home to Cumbria, to explore her upbringing through a series of three short films, the result is Marra! A deeply personal reflection on growing up as a first generation immigrant in small town Cumbria, a lucid dream set against the arcane, esoteric rituals and traditions that bubble under the surface of everyday life. The three episodes are available to watch here.

Thank you to everyone that tuned in over the weekend for Sofasonic Festival, as part of our extended Sofasonic celebrations we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler | Rosie Tee |

We asked Birmingham tattoo artist, Elle Donlon, to compile her fave tracks for this week’s Sofasonic Playlist. In case you missed it, Elle recently designed a whole new range of Tee’s & Tote’s for our Merch shop.

Elle studied Fine Art at University of the Arts in London before completing her tattoo apprenticeship in September 2015. Since then her style has developed hugely, from purely turning illustrations into tattoos, her designs have evolved into a stylised version of Western Traditional.

In an interview with Things & Ink, Elle describes how “I’m drawn to beautiful oddities […] I see no point drawing things how they are in real life, the world can be very monochrome, so it’s up to artists to mix that up”. Her artwork is inspired by religious imagery particularly from Asia, south western tribal art, alchemy and witchcraft and, of course, the 70’s! One of her favourite tattoo artists is Daniel Higgs – the very cosmic space-poet that graced our Supersonic line-up last year!

You can now find her inking up at House of Thieves in Digbeth, Birmingham.

“I wanted my playlist to be upbeat, I specifically chose tracks that’s I listened to during lockdown that pulled me up and helped me get a grip. But a couple of them are the concrete tracks that I’ve religiously listened to for over a decade.

 I hope you like it!”

Take a listen here…

“People have been super supportive and have showed a lot of positivity towards my work this year. I kept busy with numerous projects during lockdown that helped financially and kept me sane. I felt like I spent lockdown focusing on where I wanted my work to go and I reaped improvements in my paintings because of it which have now advanced to my tattoos since being able to work again. I count my blessings that 2020 hasn’t been too rough on me just yet, I feel super fortunate that it has brought some positivity to my work and home life.”

Thank you to everyone that tuned in over the weekend for Sofasonic Festival, as part of our extended Sofasonic celebrations we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler |

This week’s playlist comes from in-house! As these blog posts are written by our Programme Assistant, Rosie Tee, it makes more sense that Rosie doesn’t refer to herself in third person for this one… *switches it up*

Hello folks! I’m Rosie, Programme Assistant and proud member of the Capsule/Supersonic supergroup. I work behind the scenes as artist liaison, on all things marketing, and general daily do’s! You may have heard my brummie-twanged voice on recent Supersonic Podcasts or as the live commentator for our online Sofasonic Festival back in July. 

Whilst in lockdown my role at Supersonic has adapted a lot, but it’s been a cracking good learning curve. Re-shaping and re-imagining our programme online has resulted in many new skills learned, but that being said, I can’t wait to return to the heavy rumbles and tired festival feet (all with samosa in hand!)

This Sofasonic Playlist has been lovingly crafted by myself, and oh lady, it was hard to whittle it down to 20 tracks. It’s a healthy mix of some of my favourite artists from Supersonic line-ups (Hen Ogledd, Klein, Lankum, Gazelle Twin), some offerings from Birmingham (Dorcha, Broadcast), alongside some new (old) discoveries of mine whilst in lockdown (Stereolab, Sun Ra, Arthur Russell) and artists I’ve seen live that have left a deep old imprint somewhere on my musical soul (Dirty Projectors, Simian Mobile Disco & Deep Throat Choir, Anna Meredith, Tunng).

I hope you enjoy my selections – take a listen…

As a musician myself, this eclectic mix of tracks all inspire my own writing for my band, Rosie Tee – a four-piece making jazz-tinged, synth-pop where I whack a glockenspiel (as per image above). My ear always tends to lean towards more minimal song structures, so this is definitely a common link between each track in the playlist and my own songwriting. But of course, in true Supersonic-ethos, I’m a big fan of the unclassifiable and you’ll sure find that here!

It’s been a strange mix of seeing some incredible creativity sprout out of this year (despite everything) and seeing others retreat and rest a while from music-making. I’ve been the latter, but now starting to get into rehearsing, writing and I hope in the near future – gigging.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBngT97DBxL/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Thank you to everyone that tuned in over the weekend for Sofasonic Festival, as part of our extended Sofasonic celebrations we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

Being a music fan can be a bit overwhelming these days – via the big wide web, almost all recorded music in history is accessible, so it can often be quite tricky to navigate the sheer wealth of sound that’s out there! By reaching out to our Supersonic artists and friends we discover the undiscovered, we get an insight into their influences and start to piece together the inspirations behind the music & art we know and love.

So whether you’re working, walking the pooch, having a lazy day or doing some DIY – we’ve got the perfect selections for you…

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King |

Today, we bring you a playlist crafted by the Birmingham-based artist Ben Sadler. From Lionel Ritchie to Kraftwerk, many of you will remember Ben’s hilariously inventive song covers at Sofasonic. But by day, Ben is part of Juneau Projects formed in 2001 alongside friend Phil. Together, they work across a broad range of mediums that focus on the relationship between society, culture and the natural world. 

“Supersonic is such a great thing. Picking one memory is so hard! One thing that truly has stayed with me, though arriving late (a long story but not very interesting), is seeing Sunn o))). Standing outside the Custard Factory, hearing Sunn o))) shaking the building to its foundations with the sounds of the city filtering in around me, was a weird zen-like experience. I closed my eyes and took it in. It seemed to be a great testament to Supersonic and Birmingham – the two are entwined in a profound way.”

“The tracks I’ve chosen for the playlist are a selection of songs that have soundtracked lockdown for me. Some are songs I’ve discovered during this period and grown to love, some are old friends that have popped up to fill my ears again with a new relevance.”

Take a listen here…

When lockdown started towards the end of March Ben thought it might be nice to do song requests for people and share them on Instagram each day. He ended up making 82 videos (!) each roughly a minute long with costumes, makeup, props and music – all very lo-fi.

“Lockdown has felt quite dream-like. A slow-motion world with a strange logic, moments of fear and odd beauty. I spent much of it absorbed in making cover versions on Instagram of songs people requested. It was a fun and life-affirming project and I was incredibly warmed by the warmth and kindness shown by people towards it. “

For Sofasonic Festival, Ben raided his daughter’s dressing-up box once more and returned to the wigs, tin foil and tracksuit tops with 10 new covers – requested by you lot, our Sofasonic audience!

Thank you to everyone that tuned in over the weekend for Sofasonic Festival, as part of our extended Sofasonic celebrations we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine |

Birmingham based experimentalist Sofa King, is the musical output of pop-obsessed transgender individual Dianne Burdon. She treats reverb and feedback like a chemical formula.

Delivering on the promise of dad rock and the trans agenda, Sofa King offers raucous clashes of Tetris-like guitar beeps, to a drum beat that can just about keep up with Dianne’s vocal chants. Following the cracking Sofa King performance at our International Women’s Day event earlier this year (what a beautiful live-show memory!) and the cracking cover of Fairies Wear Boots for our Sofa Sabbath series, we asked Dianne to send us her lockdown selections…

“This is a collection of songs that I’ve discovered, or reconnected to, during lockdown. I’ve been creatively quite stunted in this period, so I’ve been looking outwards, vegetating on the sofa watching music video after music video, livestream after livestream, endless content forever. “

Take a listen here…

Thank you to everyone that tuned in over the weekend for Sofasonic Festival, as part of our extended Sofasonic celebrations we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure. 

Being a music fan can be a bit overwhelming these days – via the big wide web, almost all recorded music in history is accessible, so it can often be quite tricky to navigate the sheer wealth of sound that’s out there! By reaching out to our Supersonic artists and friends we discover the undiscovered, we get an insight into their influences and start to piece together the inspirations behind the music & art we know and love. So here we hand over to our guest playlists, from experimentalist Gazelle Twin, percussionists Valentina Magaletti and Mariano Sarine to visuals artist Mark Titchner and punks of colour, Decolonise Fest – there is something for everyone here!

We have 16 so far, and they’re all available to listen to below – so whether you’re walking the pooch, having a lazy day or doing some DIY this bank holiday, we’ve got the perfect selections for you…

Valentina Magaletti

Radwan Moumneh

Sex Swing

Rocket Recordings

Matt Ridout

Mike Nelson

Molly & Mabel

Queef

Mariano Sarine

Gazelle Twin

Faten Kanaan

Mark Titchner

Iggor Cavalera

Khyam Allami

Decolonise Fest

Sofa King

For more info about the playlists and the artists that curated them, explore here:

| Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | 

Thank you to everyone that tuned in over the weekend for Sofasonic Festival, as part of our extended Sofasonic celebrations we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | 

Mariano is a multi-instrumentalist living in Brazil, active as the drummer/percussionist for Deaf Kids. Formed in 2010 and signed to Neurot Recordings, Deaf Kids create a heavy riotous sound – a trance-inducing cacophony and body-shaking mix of percussive rhythms, bending guitars monolithic drone riffage. We’ll never forget their pummelling performance at Supersonic 2018.

From their home in the industrial city of Volta Redonda/Rio de Janeiro, Deaf Kids’ output reference anything from their own background in punk, right the way through to spiritual jazz and practically any musical form which allows them to experiment with the utter extremes of musical expression.

As well as Mariano’s solo act, Sarine, (with a debut release set for Friday 28th via bandcamp) he also plays synths and percussions live with the electronic artist Felinto.

As part of our extended Sofasonic programme, we asked Mariano to collate a number of musical treasures that mean something to him…

“Here’s a playlist for y’all, containing sounds from Brazil and the world, connected by their use of rhythm as the main driving force – but as this playlist proves, rhythm is far from a limitation, there’s outbursts of joy alongside more mellow, melancholic and sombre vibes across these tunes.

Might these burning embers lighten up your inner bonfires, and your day!“

Take a listen here…

Thank you to everyone that tuned in over the weekend for Sofasonic Festival, as part of our extended Sofasonic celebrations we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | 

Despite missing out on a live set from Sex Swing at Supersonic Festival 2020 this year, we’ve still kept in touch with this band of malevolent rogues. Following our interview with them about their new album ‘Type II‘ back in April for the Supersonic Podcast, we’ve asked the guys to put together a playlist of songs that loosely pins-down their collective taste in music.

Unearthed from the UK underground, Sex Swing are a ‘supergroup’ of sorts. Between them, individual members have been sparking tinnitus in bands such as Mugstar, Bonnacons Of Doom, Earth, Dethscalator, Dead Neanderthals and now even Idles. Terrifyingly visceral, Sex Swing create music that can be likened to the haunted clangour of a faulty air conditioning unit that lurks in an anonymous office building. It’s man vs machine where discord becomes harmony and it’s a fearsomely invigorating spectacle to behold. 

“We all have very diverse tastes, which is highlighted in this playlist.

I think that goes a long way to understand how we come up with the music we make.

These are songs that we are digging at the moment…”

Take a listen here…

Thank you to everyone that tuned in over the weekend for Sofasonic Festival, as part of our extended Sofasonic celebrations we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera |

Following her mesmerising ‘Avant-Sabbath’ performance with Pierpaolo Martino for our Sofa Sabbath series (watch below), today’s Playlist is bought to you by drummer, composer and percussionist Valentina Magaletti (member of Tomaga, CZN & Vanishing Twin)

Her main musical goal, has always been to broaden horizons and use her musical influences to explore different, unconventional paths. Valentina strategically enriches a folkloristic and eclectic palette through endless listening and experimentation with new materials and sounds.

She has previously drummed and toured with Bat for Lashes, Gruff Rhys from Super Furry Animals, Fanfarlo, Oscillation, Raime and with members of Wire, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine and Coil, amongst many others.

“

“This is a small sonic collage that pretty much sums my mood during this unpredictable year.

Valentina kindly asks that you set your listening preferences with the 11sec crossfade option – otherwise the mix makes less sense! Take a listen here..

Thank you to everyone that tuned in over the weekend for Sofasonic Festival, as part of our extended Sofasonic celebrations we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan |

Following his bombastic Saturday night DJ set at Sofasonic, today’s Playlist is curated by Iggor Cavalera, member of Sepultura, Petbrick & Soulwax.

Throughout the nineties, Iggor, his brother Max and their Sepultura bandmates made metal even heavier by fusing brutal tribal rhythms and huge chugging riffs with industrial production and soul quaking primal growls.

Iggor’s music has tore a hole through the music industry. In 2017, Iggor performed drums for Soulwax on their album “From Deewee” and in their live tour, along with two other live drummers. A year later he formed the noise music duo PETBRICK with Wayne Adams of Big Lad and Death Pedals. Somehow between all this and raising five children, Iggor and his wife Laima have also found the time to make music under the moniker of MixHell. Fusing electro, disco, punk and rock, they have created an organic electronic sound powered by modular synthesis and live drums.

“This playlist is a journey into a supersonic temple, with no boundaries, no walls –

so sit back, close your eyes and open your mind…“

Take a listen here…

Statement from Iggor:

Thank you to everyone that tuned in over the weekend for Sofasonic Festival, as part of our extended Sofasonic celebrations we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson |

Today’s Sofasonic Playlist comes courtesy of Brooklyn’s Faten Kanaan – a gifted musical story-teller. Her performance at Supersonic 2019 was mesmerising, inspired by cinematic forms: from sweeping landscapes and quiet character studies, to the patterned tension of horror film soundtracks.

Cyclical patterns are central to Faten’s compositions, alongside the exploration of harmony and counterpoint as narrative tools. She slowly builds songs by live-looping them, without the use of sequencers or arpeggiators. Sound & silence are used as intuitive gestures to tell a wordless story.

“My own music has been influenced by various film scores, classical & medieval music, and from being surrounded by such a creative community. I’ve put together this small selection of music to share…“

Take a listen here…

Statement from Faten:

Thank you to everyone that tuned in over the weekend for Sofasonic Festival, as part of our extended Sofasonic celebrations we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings |

This week’s Sofasonic Playlist comes courtesy of Michael “Mike” Nelson – a contemporary British installation artist. He represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2011 and has been nominated twice for the Turner Prize.

Coming into prominence in the late 1990s, Mike Nelson creates psychological environments by sifting through the debris of modern life. His installations often reference specific works of literature and countercultural or failed political movements. Working with figures and materials on the fringes of society, Nelson asks his viewers to spend time inhabiting worlds that, while foreign on the surface, reveal intrinsic truths and modes of thought that affect even the most basic cultural activities. His work has been widely shown and collected by, amongst others, the Tate London and Moderna Museet, Stockholm. Nelson lives and works in London.

“The music is a mixture of stuff I grew up with and things I’m listening to at the moment

– even though thats pretty much the same, a few things added as I go along…”

Take a listen here…

Statement from Mike: