An underwater gig in Kentish Town? Wow!

My idea for Wet Sounds started in 2008 during a period in which I was in the habit of swimming regularly. Over lengths at my local pool, I soon became curious about how a newly composed live work might sound underwater.

In previous years I’d been organising various art shows in London, and had already thought of curating sub-aquatic listening galleries. Fast forward half a decade and, having invited some of my favourite artists to perform live alongside me, we’ve now toured the UK, with support from the Arts Council England, as well as Scandinavia and France.

This Sunday evening, our Wet Sounds project returns to London for our last event this year. We’ll transform the majestic Victorian surrounds of the Kentish Town swimming baths into an art space using sound, light, video projections and performance. I’ll be playing live at the event along with guest musicians Steve and Emily Shapiro on bass clarinets, and La Horrox on voice.

Using two distinct sound systems, above and below the water surface, the audience moves between the two soundspaces crossing the threshold between a public space and a private space – and between two very different listening experiences.

Sound travels four times quicker in water than air and is perceived by the bones and the inner ear, which accounts for an intimate listening experience that’s both clear and immediate.

Oh, and swimwear is a must, and goggles recommended.