A Séance in the Wick Woodlands
Presented at New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME '26) International Conference, alt.nime track
Project Description
Connecting with nature, spirits, histories, and the emergent and experiential dimensions of sound, we resist performative egotism and challenge technosolutionism in music technology through séance. Spirit mediums - human vessels thatinteract with, channel, or anthropomorphise spirits - are cultural links between humans, animals, and the surrounding environment. In Western contexts, the medium conducts a specialist practice of discovering and performing techniquesto call upon spirits; however, it is our position that anyone has the potential to become a spirit medium, just as anyonehas creative voice. Using a collection of musical instruments, both acoustic and electronically augmented, we propose anopportunity to spiritually connect with the land and its spirits near the Loughborough University London (LUL) campus. The séance overlaps ritual practices of experimental music-making, healing of the connection between humans and land,and spiritual grounding through meditative exercises. In light of technologically-enforced severances between humansand spirits, we activate our potential as mediums, and use instruments as conduits for rebuilding connection with thesame earth that this conference stands on.
Semi-Structured Interview
Conference Paper PDF Link
https://nime.org/proceedings/2026/nime2026_alt_3.pdf
Media
