How to describe the world premiere of Sigur Rós‘ incredible, immersive soundscape ÁRA at the Schwarzman Centre, Oxford? Fascinating, transportive, freeing, inspiring and utterly unique.
More than that, by inviting you into the Schwarzman’s new black box studio where 35 beanbags await, the multi-sensory soundscape offers something even more valuable – time.
Because in our swiping, time poor, concentration deficient, work addicted, tech heavy culture, providing the space to expand our minds and think about what we’re listening to, what it means, what it evokes, how it makes us feel, and just to to enjoy the stunning composition as an art form, is a rare gift indeed.
You are surrounded by nature, from running rivers to howling waves and dripping water, the rumble of the surrounding landscape, the sound of heat – cicadas, foliage, birds chattering, seagulls wheeling, all encapsulated by Sigur Rós‘s ethereal, enrapturing vocals, choirs and composition, which circulate around you, sometimes so close it feels that lead vocalist Jónsi Birgisson is right next to you, all enhanced by Fischersund‘s scents.
Commissioned by The Schwarzman Centre as part of its new Cultural Programme, spatial audio specialists David Sheppard and John Best from Loss><Gain were brought in to convert live recordings from Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós’ sell-out orchestral world tour, into the world premiere of ÁRA.
‘We wanted to create something that permitted the audience to listen and enjoy the music in its purest form’
“We wanted to create something that permitted the audience to listen and enjoy the music in its purest form,” David Sheppard explains.
“Not a live show or a record but a third space, but something more nourishing. And while immersive experiences are often visually led we aimed to flip that and make ÁRA audio led, while ensuring it is still an active experience,” John Best adds. “We wanted people to be really connected to the music, so this is about deep listening in a 3D way.”
A big undertaking then? “We hope Sigur Rós had confidence in us not to destroy what they had spent their whole lives developing, but to create a new journey. So there was a big element of trust involved because we obviously didn’t want to besmirch their reputation,” John explains.
‘We have always been a very visual band but ÁRA is much more ambiguous. It’s like watching a cloud’
“But it’s not a coincidence that we are working with Sigur Rós on this – they are the best band to collaborate with, so it was more about how to enhance their music through this experience, by working with neuroscientists from The University Of Oxford, and meditation specialists, to produce something that hits the space between sleeping, waking and wellness.
So what do Sigur Rós make of it? Bassist Georg Hólm says: “When you’re performing live that’s all you are thinking about, the next note, the concert itself, so this is probably the closest I’ll ever get to hearing myself play and experiencing Sigur Rós from a totally different perspective. We don’t get the opportunity very often to experience our music through other people, so this has been a really intriguing project.
“So it’s been wonderful to hear the notes you helped write and to experience them in a completely new way. We have always been a very visual band but ÁRA is much more ambiguous. It’s like watching a cloud.”
John adds: “That’s what we had in mind, ÁRA is not meant to feel like a concert but to still feel live – to take you into the music’s depths, and bring people together, to get into people’s imaginations and energise them.
‘ultimately it’s still about the music. The music always comes first’
“So yes it does feel pioneering – to push the music in a way that gives it depth and value whilst moving and transporting people. But ultimately it’s still about the music. The music always comes first.”
There are five bookings a day for ÁRA for up to 35 people at a a time from today until July 19, but slots are selling fast, so don’t miss out on this extraordinary experience and book here. https://www.schwarzmancentre.ox.ac.uk/whats-on/sigur-ros-ara-8jzs
