Artists : Nyokabi Kariũki & defuennsemble
[ concert ]
Time : Sat • 21:00 - 21:45 (45 min)
Location : turkis
Kenyan composer and performer Nyokabi Kariũki and Finnish defunensemble reunite for a concert to present Nyokabi's electro-acoustic arrangements of music from her acclaimed experimental-electronic records, with an additional glimpse into new music from an upcoming record.
Info about the piece
After collaborating in 2023 in Helsinki, Nyokabi Kariũki and defunensemble reunite for a concert at SPOR festival to play Nyokabi’s electro-acoustic arrangements of her first two experimental-electronic records, peace places: kenyan memories (Scrawl World, 2022) and FEELING BODY (cmntx records, 2023). The music from peace places: kenyan memories takes the listener on a journey across Kenya to several places that were significant to Nyokabi during her upbringing there.
FEELING BODY touches on darker themes, a diaristic project reflecting on a personal period of extended illness in 2021 due to COVID-19. Finally, Nyokabi and defunensemble share the beginnings of one of her new and unreleased projects, reflecting on her ancestral language, Gĩkũyũ, and her recent journey towards fluency, exploring her mother tongue and how the language can contribute to a more complete view of community, memory, and the inextricable relationship to the land. Nyokabi’s debut EP, peace places: kenyan memories was marked as one of The Guardian’s ‘10 Best Contemporary Albums of 2022’ and Bandcamp’s ‘Best Albums of Winter 2022’, with additional praise from Pitchfork, Resident Advisor, The New York Times, and more. It was also included in A Closer Listen’s ‘2022 Top 10 Experimental’, Our Culture’s ‘The 25 Best EPs of 2022’ and ‘The 50 Best Album Covers of 2022’.
FEELING BODY was met with similar acclaim: “A gripping meditation on illness and healing” (Pitchfork), “both challenging and groundbreaking… it will utterly enchant you” (Louder Than War). While Nyokabi and defunensemble have performed this concert together in Finland, this will be the Danish premiere of this collaboration.
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Web: www.nkariuki.com
Nyokabi Kariũki (1998) is a Kenyan composer, performer, and artistic researcher. Her sonic imagination is ever-evolving, spanning from classical contemporary to experimental electronic music, film scoring, pop, (East) African musical traditions, and more. She performs with the piano, voice, electronics, and on several instruments from the African continent. Nyokabi’s work has been described as “deft” (The Quietus) and “transcendent” (The Guardian) with Bandcamp highlighting her as “becoming a crucial voice in contemporary composition and experimental music”.
She seeks to create meaningful and challenging art, illuminated by a commitment to the preservation of African thought, language and stories.
Nyokabi’s debut EP, peace places: kenyan memories (Scrawl World, 2022), was marked as The Guardian’s ‘10 Best Contemporary Albums of 2022’ with additional praise from Pitchfork, Resident Advisor, and more.
Her debut album, FEELING BODY (cmntx records, 2023) was met with similar acclaim:
“Both challenging and groundbreaking… It will utterly enchant you” (Louder Than War).
Nyokabi has credits for tv and film productions (seen at Sundance Film Festival, CPH:DOX, IDFA, and more), podcast, dance, and other media. Guided by a love of experimentation, improvisation, collaboration and inquiry, Nyokabi continues to shape-shift and explore sound as a tool to not only rediscover her culture, but to contribute to the highlighting of its significance.
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Web: www.defunensemble.fi
Formed in 2009, defunensemble has established itself as one of the most important contemporary music groups in Finland. The ensemble is systematically delving into the world of electroacoustic music. defunensemble presents Finnish premieres of the most essential electroacoustic repertoire both classic and current, while simultaneously actively commissioning new works incorporating the latest technologies.
With artistic director Sami Klemola, the ensemble’s concert concepts have proven to be highly innovative, blending different sub-genres of the electroacoustic persuasion with an unprecedented street credibility. After conquering the Finnish festivals, the ensemble is gaining international pull. So far, defunensemble has performed over 120 concerts and at over 20 different festivals. defunensemble has premiered works by Tim Page, Antti Auvinen, Hikari Kiyama, Ville Raasakka, Perttu Haapanen, Pink Twins, M. A. Numminen, Guðmundur Steinn Gunnarsson, Peter Ablinger, Christian Winther Christensen, Alexander Schubert and Gilbert Nouno.
The members are Hanna Kinnunen (flute), Mikko Raasakka (clarinet), Emil Holmström (piano), Markus Hohti (cello), Timo Kurkikangas (electronics), Anders Pohjola (electronics), and Sami Klemola (artistic director).
Credit: Gianfranco Bello