MESS and The Substation combine for an electronic concert like you’ve never heard before
Subscribe
X

Get the latest from Beat

15.06.2023

MESS and The Substation combine for an electronic concert like you’ve never heard before

The Substation
Words by Staff Writer

It's a partnership made in electronic heaven. Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio (MESS) and arguably Melbourne's coolest arts venue, The Substation, bring you the latest in their series of octophonic masterpieces.

You’ve been invited to pull up a bean bag and get lost in the limitless world of electronic sound – venturing to places only the instruments of MESS can take you – when two acclaimed artists perform at Newport’s monolithic The Substation on Saturday July 29.

Sonorous VII is an octophonic concert, produced across eight discrete audio channels, exploring medical trauma and connection. It’s the seventh edition in an ongoing series co-presented by MESS and The Substation, two organisations that have found kindred spirits in their combination of ethereal electronic music and a cavernous industrial arts venue.

MESS’ Sonorous VII at The Substation

  • Saturday 29 July. 6pm or 9pm
  • $35 General Admission / $25 Concession / $25 Hobsons Bay Residents / $25 MESS Members / $20 First Nations
  • Main Space, The Substation, 1 Market St Newport
  • Tickets here.

Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Sonorous VII presents live work by leading artists Jonnine Nokes (known for their solo monikers Hamburger Lady, Blossoming Anus, J. Caressé and their current project, Horse Pills) and multi-instrumentalist and composer Katerina Stathis, who recently collaborated with Lucy Guerin Inc composing the soundtrack for the Australian Ballet’s How to Be Us.

Both artists’ works have been formed over months of engagement with MESS’s incredible collection of instruments. Jonnine’s composition – 11 years, 1 month – is a reflection on life after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. In an innovative formative technique, Jonnine smashes vignettes together in a cathartic evocation of their own emotional responses.

Katerina’s work, Opus MESS, delves into depths of expression, placing the focus on spontaneity, guiding “the audience through intimate and fleeting moments that unconsciously intersect with present thoughts”.

MESS co-founder and co-Artistic Director, Byron Scullin highlights “the Sonorous series is an experience built around deep listening. We create an immersive audio environment that invites audiences to close their eyes and deeply engage with original sonic artworks from some of Australia’s finest practitioners.”

The Substation CEO Nuala Furtado echoes Scullin, saying “Sonorous has a loyal following and is always popular with our audiences. We’re especially excited about Jonnine and Katerina’s approach to the commissions for this seventh iteration of the series.”

Tickets and more information here.

This article was made in partnership with The Substation.