Sofasonic Playlist: Rocket Recordings

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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 MoumnehMark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle TwinMatt RidoutKhyam Allami | Molly & MabelDecolonise Fest |

 

 

Following Rocket Recording’s stonking Saturday night take-over with GNOD & João Pais Filipe’s “FACĄ DE FOGO”, music from J.Zunz and a DJ Set from Iggor Cavalera (Petbrick), available on catch-up till Friday here. The label’s co-founder, Chris Reeder has selected a cracking mix of tunes for us to console our post-sofasonic blues…

Rocket Recordings is run by John O’Carroll (Bristol) & Chris Reeder (London) both with backgrounds in graphic arts, since 1998 they have been releasing uncompromising sounds from some of the great underground bands from Europe and beyond. This is a label that are always striving to push music forward and not stand still – a philosophy that is a testament to their 22-year independent existence, and very much shared by Supersonic.

The label were due to host a large Showcase as part of Supersonic 2020, but we were very grateful to still honour that this weekend for Sofasonic, albeit virtually. As well as the Rocket Recordings evening take-over, Chris also took part in ‘Space Is The Place’ – a panel discussion on the importance of musical communities and ecosystems, and how we pave the way for their growth. You can watch that on catch-up till Friday here.

 

“It is an absolute pleasure to part of Supersonic in 2020 – a festival we hold a high regard for, one that has always supported us and believed in our bands. The true independence and passionate spirit of Supersonic is something we wholeheartedly believe in and it is something we strive to always achieve ourselves”

Rocket Recordings

Take a listen here…

 

Statement from Chris, co-founder of Rocket Recordings:

“During lockdown, Rocket has kept me very occupied as we have had lots of releases coming out and still to be announced, that meant a lot of time designing sleeves/assets, plus the general planning and organising. Plus getting releases ready for the monthly Bandcamp ‘no fee’ days (which were a lifesaver) kept us pretty busy the whole time. 

But outside the 9-5, my two greatest ‘lockdown’ discoveries was daily walks in Epping Forest – such a magical place. And watching Twin Peaks series 3… Episode 8, ‘wow’ what work of genius!!”

 

 

 

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Sofasonic Playlist: DECOLONISE FEST

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As part of the lead-up to Sofasonic Festival, a weekend of online events happening 17-19 July 2020, we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

 

Following playlists by Radwan Moumneh, Mark Titchner, QUEEF, Gazelle Twin, Matt Ridout, Khyam Allami and Molly & Mabel – on the day Sofasonic kicks off, we’ve got quality listening material for you courtesy of Marcus, co-founder of Decolonise Fest – a London based annual DIY punk festival collectively organised by and for punx of colour.

Decolonise Fest is collectively run by a group of activists, militant community organisers, musicians and artists who came together in 2017 to create a festival unlike any other; one that connects BIPOC punx in global struggles against the legacy of colonialism.
“We are DIY Diaspora Punx. We are reasserting our place in punk and want to showcase the amazing, creative and talented contributions punx of colour have made to the punk scene since its inception. We are loud and proud and demand the space we deserve – decolonising our past to decolonise our future.” – from the Decolonise Fest Manifesto

 

Take a listen here…

 

Statement from Marcus, co-founder of Decolonise Fest:

“Throughout lockdown I’ve been resting, learning, plotting and listening. I cannot wait to go to some gigs and get back on tour again. This playlist is a decolonial sonic disruption to the normal punk and heavy music playlists you will find. All the tracks are created by Black, Indigenous and people of colour from around the globe. Some of these artist have played decolonise fest and some of them will come and play one day. I hope you can listen, learn and grow from this playlist.”
 
Join Marcus tomorrow, as he takes part in a panel discussion on the importance of musical communities and ecosystems, and how we pave the way for their growth – alongside Luke Turner (The Quiteus), Cathy Pellow (Sargant House), Chris Reeder (Rocket Recordings) & Lisa Meyer (Supersonic Festival)

 

SATURDAY 18 JULY // 19:15 BST
www.youtube.com/SupersonicFestival

 

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Sofasonic Playlist: MOLLY & MABEL

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As part of the lead-up to Sofasonic Festival, a weekend of online events happening 17-19 July 2020, we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

 

Following playlists by Radwan Moumneh, Mark Titchner, QUEEF, Gazelle Twin, Matt Ridout & Khyam Allami – this time, we’ve got something a bit different for your listening pleasure… we asked two super-friends, Molly (age 6) and Mabel (age 9) to put together a playlist for our Sofasonic celebrations. 

 

Mabel and Molly both love music, they make up lots of funny and nonsense songs, that can often be quite repetitive in nature! They enjoy music in quite different ways, Mabel likes a song that tells a story or sounds like something i.e “This song sounds like walking through the woods”Molly loves dancing and will dance to most songs, but she most often remembers songs that she’s heard in a film i.e “I want the one that the Pig sings in Sing”, she’s of course referring to ‘Shake It Off’ by Taylor Swift (this is not an offensive remark about Taylor Swift, for those that haven’t seen Sing, the character that sings it is a pig – she’s very good.)

 

A brilliant selection for dancing around to – take a listen here… 

 

To choose these songs they looked back at the posters and videos from past Supersonic’s and picked out a few names to listen to – the ones that they liked got added to the list! Of course they’re not all Supersonic alumni, as well as some experimental music, they also love a good pop song! This meant adding in some of their ‘current’ favourites like Elton John & Dolly Parton. Some tracks have also been chosen because of their excellent videos (like Anna Meredith’s Paramourand some just because well – they just like them (DJ Shadow / Dan Deacon) but the proverbial line got drawn for the Baby Shark song – no one needs to listen to that!

The final song in the playlist is Alice Cooper’s ‘Schools Out’ – an obvious choice for Molly & Mabel, because it is, and it has been, for quite some time!

 

To all the others not in school – don’t forget our next Kids Gig this Saturday at 11am via Zoom!

Following his pop-up performances at Supersonic 2019, the one-man-band extravaganza, ICHI will perform for the tots as part of our Sofasonic weekend. Expect a set of quirky handmade instrument inventions from this Bristol-based Japanese experimental singer-songwriter – playful, danceable and pure fun! Tickets & more info.

 

Stay tuned – more delectable music selections coming from Supersonic artists & friends soon…

 

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Sofasonic Playlist: KHYAM ALLAMI

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As part of the lead-up to Sofasonic Festival, a weekend of online events happening 17-19 July 2020, we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

 

 

Following playlists by Radwan Moumneh, Mark Titchner, QUEEF, Gazelle Twin & Matt Ridout – here’s a brand new playlist for you courtesy of long-time friend of the festival, Khyam Allami.  

 

KHYAM ALLAMI, is an Iraqi-British multi-instrumentalist musician/composer/researcher and founder of Nawa Recordings. Nawa is an independent label focused on releasing new music from the Arab world, and features some of the most creative, independent and forward thinking artists. With this in mind, we invited Khyam to be a guest curator for Supersonic 2017, he of course introduced us to a whole array of striking new artists, united by their exploration of genre-defying, improvisation-based craftwork.

 

Aside from his label work, Khyam is a formidable musician and composer with a continually growing international reputation. Despite only taking up the oud – his principal instrument – in his twenties, Allami rapidly became a performer of international renown. He is currently undertaking a PhD in composition at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire focusing on contemporary and experimental Arabic music.

 

Khyam will be joining a panel discussion this weekend for Sofasonic Festival alongside Paula Rebellato (Rakta) + Mariano De Melo (Deaf Kids) based in Brazil, Franklin James Fisher (Algiers) + Will Brooks (Dalek) in the US, Khyam Allami in the UK. This session will be hosted by Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley, exploring how musicians respond to social and political unrest.

Keep an eye out for ‘Looking For Today‘ on our programme!

 

 

Khyam has selected a divine mix of music for this Sofasonic Playlist series – take a listen…

LISTEN HERE

 

A statement from Khyam:

“Recently, whilst scrolling through my digital music library, I was surprised to notice the number of new releases by Arabic musicians that I had been listening to. I was listening to these albums so regularly that I didn’t even notice how many there were. This is the kind of perspective that lockdown made me lose.

I spent all of the lockdown alone in Berlin, in my own self-isolated world, lost between my twitter feed, online newspapers, and despair at the state of the world. After the murder of George Floyd and the eruption of racism-focused discussions, I wanted to put together a mix to celebrate these artists and their work, I wanted to stand proud as a fan of my contemporaries.

Supersonic is a special “place” for me, one of my spiritual homes. Performing and attending the festival has always helped me grow. At SS 2009 I performed one of my first solo Oud shows. SS 2017 I guest-curated performances from artists associated with my label Nawa Recordings, so sharing this digital celebration via the digital incarnation of SS 2020, especially in the current toxic climate, feels like the perfect combination. To all my friends across the Arab world, to my friends in Birmingham, and to anyone else who wants to ‘listen-in’ (as Arthur Jafa says), enjoy”

 

 

 

Stay tuned – more delectable music selections coming from Supersonic artists & friends soon…

 

 

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Sofasonic Playlist: Matt Ridout

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[Matt Ridout (far left) with band Casual Nun]

As part of the lead-up to Sofasonic Festival, a weekend of online events happening 17-19 July 2020, we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

 

 

Following playlists by Radwan Moumneh, Mark Titchner, QUEEF & Gazelle Twin, here’s a brand new playlist for you courtesy of guitarist Matt Ridout. 

Matt’s band Casual Nun performed at Supersonic back in 2017, where they brought the heavy psych with a blown out slab of distorted, hypnotic guitar buzz, heady, effect-laden vocals, and plodding drums, everything bleary eyed, garage-y, intense and drugged out! He also formed the label Hominid Sound, alongside Gordon (Terminal Cheesecake/Luminous Bodies), Graham (Gig Goer Extraordinare/Supporter of all things heavy!) and Wayne (Bear Bites Horse recording studio/Big Lad/Death Pedals).

 

We chatted to Matt about his time in lockdown…

“Lockdown curtailed a lot of fun things we had planned for 2020 for Casual Nun, including what would’ve been our biggest London support slot for Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs at the Electric Ballroom, but everyone’s in that same boat so we’re not alone with those sorts of disappointments. We’re ploughing ahead, working on the new material that will make up our 4th LP with the band operating on an inter-continental footing from now on. The experience has made me appreciate creating music with my friends so much more than I ever did before, so I’m looking forward to the future for that.

For Hominid Sounds it’s been incredibly encouraging to see how supportive people have been, buying the records that are coming out even though they can’t see the bands live. We wanted to be a label that got music out to people that otherwise might not have, and we’re very excited about our plans looking ahead, with releases from the Shits, Big Lad, UKAEA, Cartilage, Plastic Face and a whole lot more we can’t mention just yet.”

 

 

Matt has curated a cracking mix of music for this Sofasonic Playlist series – take a listen…

LISTEN HERE

 

“I guess my selections loosely revolve around what’s resonating with me at the moment, with the concept of persevering and time featuring here and there. There’s not any particular stylistic synergy, just a lot of stuff that I’ve been listening to lately, with a few Hominid Sounds songs sprinkled in here and there.

My favourite Supersonic moment? There’s so many to choose from really, but I think playing with Casual Nun in 2017 is definitely the biggest highlight. We’d had a really great run of festivals that year with sets at Roadburn and Raw Power both preceding but there was something so incredible about being invited to play the Sunday in a ridiculously hot Supersonic Festival after Ghold had decimated everyone just before. I think there’s just a very special feel to Supersonic that’s always wonderful to be a part of. I can’t wait to return.”

 

 

Stay tuned – more delectable music selections coming from Supersonic artists & friends soon…

 

 

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Sofasonic Playlist: Gazelle Twin

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As part of the lead-up to Sofasonic Festival, a weekend of online events happening 17-19 July 2020, we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

 

 

Following playlists by Radwan Moumneh, Mark Titchner & QUEEF we have a cracking mix of music selected by producer, composer and artist Elizabeth Bernholz – the genius behind Gazelle Twin.

 

Without a doubt, this artist has established her place as a leading innovator in contemporary electronic music.

Through avant-garde electronica, Gazelle Twin’s repertoire draws from sci-fi film scores, choral music, underwater life and the paranormal. This certainly shone through in her 2015 Supersonic performance where she performed from her second album UNFLESH, a depiction of puberty, phobia, gender identity backed by unrelenting industrial-pop production. In 2018 she returned to the Supersonic stage for a UK premier of an electrifying, brand new performance surrounding her album ‘Pastoral’.

Her signature masquerade-like use of costume, acts a catalyst in the process of releasing and replacing identity. In toying with anonymity in this way, Gazelle Twin bewitches audiences by masking the surface as a means of releasing what lies beneath.

 

 

She’s curated a playlist of music that has been important to her, and her family, during lockdown – take a listen…

LISTEN HERE

 

A statement from Gazelle Twin:

“I can hardly believe 2 years have passed since I performed ‘Pastoral’ at Supersonic for the first time. It was, IS, an album full of pent-up anxiety, fear and frustration, but in contrast, this playlist is mostly a family-friendly, calm and hopeful one.

During lockdown, I’ve been pregnant at home with my partner and our 4 year old son. We’ve needed music to keep our anxiety levels in check, and a sparse background for reading stories, playing and home-working each day. It is often really really hard to listen to music with a kid around, but he became obsessed with Kraftwerk’s album ‘Radioactivity’ just before Florian Schneider passed away, so Kraftwerk has been a regular part of our listening, together with plenty of sound-art and obscure ambient records. ‘Do Your Thing’ by Moondog became an extra special song for us as a family about a month into lockdown. We were still feeling very alienated by everything happening and really missing our families and friends. Moondog’s gentle words of positivity and hope just really hit a nerve, in a good way.”

 

 

Stay tuned – more delectable music selections coming from Supersonic artists & friends soon…

 

 

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Sofasonic Playlist: QUEEF

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As part of the lead-up to Sofasonic Festival, a weekend of online events happening 17-19 July 2020, we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

 

Following playlists by Radwan Moumneh & Mark Titchner, this week we’re sharing with you a selection from Birmingham’s very own QUEEF – a brand-new collective celebrating queerness and diversity in experimental art. 

 

The core QUEEF team is made up of Meesha Fones (Director) Anna Palmer (Producer) and Kaila Whyte (Producer) three long-time friends and musical collaborators who together created QUEEF: Queer Experimental Futurism.

Collectively they curate immersive parties; these are experimental live music & art nights that are a safe space for queerness, collaboration, drag, activism. Performances and showcases feature experimental live music & art by queer artists from around the country and beyond.

“We are techno loving, disco pumping, trashy queer punks. We are here and never forgotten. We are brown, white, orange and neon technicolour.”

In partnership with Sound & Music, we’re thrilled that QUEEF have been selected to be a part of this year’s Composer-Curator programme. Read more about that here. 

 

The QUEEF team have curated a playlist of music that has inspired them through lockdown, take a listen…

LISTEN HERE

 

A statement from Meesha Fones, director of QUEEF:

“Listening to these womxn, queer and POC artists really makes you realise how much we hear the same sh*t and listen to the same perspectives over and over again…

My fave Supersonic Festival memory has to be Lone Taxidermist. I just f*cking loved having trifle in my face. In fact, we at Queef love trifle, we trifle the shit all over the gaff slipping and sliding, creating sticky erotic electronic residue goodness to dance to.” 

 

 

Stay tuned – more delectable music selections coming from Supersonic artists & friends soon…

 

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Sofasonic Playlist: Mark Titchner

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As part of the lead-up to Sofasonic Festival, a weekend of online events happening 17-19 July 2020, we’re releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

 

 

Following last week’s playlist by Radwan Moumneh, (member of Jerusalem In My Heart) next up is a grand selection from London visual artist, Mark Titchner.  

 

 

Mark works across a variety of mediums including digital print, wall drawing, video, sculpture and installation. As a 2006 nominee for the Turner Prize, his practice explores systems of belief, both secular and spiritual, often focusing on the marginalized, discredited or forgotten ideologies and objects we place our faith in.

 

 

He’s curated a playlist of music that has seen him through lockdown, take a listen…

LISTEN HERE

 

A statement from Mark:

“My playlist is made up of the music that I’ve been listening to these weeks and months. A lot of it has been released during this time and it has certainly helped that despite it all musicians are still putting out great music.  It’s got me through the weekly supermarket runs, the homeschooling, the endless Zooming, the no work/too much work and being down and being up and being scared and being pissed off.

I’ll certainly miss Supersonic this year. Great bands, friends and always finding something new that I can’t believe I didn’t know about. Supersonic Top Ten? In no particular order (apart from Harvey Milk): Harvey Milk 2008, Corrupted 2009, Dälek 2008,  Zu 2017, Oxbow duo 2007, Monotonix 2009, Moor Mother 2018, Gnaw 2010, Monarch 2011, Oxbow 2017

 

Stay tuned – more delectable music selections coming from Supersonic artists & friends soon…

 

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Sofasonic Playlist: Radwan Moumneh

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As part of the lead-up to Sofasonic Festival, a weekend of online events happening 17-19 July 2020, we’ll be releasing an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure.

 

First up, we’re excited to share with you a selection from Radwan Moumneh, member of Jerusalem In My Heart, the acclaimed Montréal–Beirut contemporary Arabic audio-visual duo who performed at our 15th edition festival last year. 

Guided by Moumneh’s melding of ‘traditional’ melismatic singing (in Arabic) and buzuk playing, with modern deployments of modular synthesis, filter banks, power electronics, field recordings, JIMH pay homage to the blown-out distortions of historical Arabic cassette tape culture, processed through modern currents of electronic music. Moumneh’s lyrical themes are deeply expressive and rich in political and socio-cultural historical consciousness, all of which are complimented by the 16mm film loops and projections that are an integral part of the JIMH aesthetic identity.

We’ve thoroughly enjoyed listening to the music that inspires him, and we hope you do too…

LISTEN HERE

 

A statement from Radwan:

“This past little while has made me, like everyone, slow down so much. it’s given me the time to reflect on so much in the past, and as hard as it was, try and not think/ worry about the future. I embraced the silence and the quiet, and decided on not making plans about the future, until I feel there is a future. I dearly miss Supersonic and it’s entire team. Year after year, I keep being impressed by the festival curation and how special a gathering it is. And then I got to experience it, and left with such warm feelings and amazing encounters. Really looking forward to seeing what Supersonic has in store once all this blows over…”

 

Stay tuned – more delectable music selections coming from Supersonic artists & friends soon…

 

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