in the ink dark /  by scott twynholm

photography by Brain Hartley

photography by Brain Hartley

Dreamt as a living poem In the Ink Dark is the latest work by Luke Pell and collaborators. A multi-disciplinary project it takes in live art, podcast, dance, music and poetry. The work has developed over the past few months from conversations between Luke and residents of Edinburgh about things they have loved and lost. We opened in Leith theatre last friday and the piece continues in unique venues across the city this week. I've been priveleged to have been one of the collaborators and have written a score to accompany the dance.

Unusually for dance I've not spent much time in the room but rather developed the piece through conversation, poetry and my own memory. Inspired by the partly refurbished old Leith Theatre with its flaking paint, faded grandeur, heavily worn floor boards my starting point was to create something layered, something raw -  the feeling of musical material sitting on top of lost songs that are sometime revealed. I dusted down my 20 year old dictaphone for its broken grainy sound quality to start the composition and the result is a 45 minute piece for electonics, shruti box, electric guitar, autoharp, piano and string quartet. Live artist Brian Hartley and Luke are putting together a publication of words and drawing which will be published later in the year.

For more information on this fascinating project and to listen to the podcast series please visit In The Ink dark. And if you get the chance please pop along to one of the venues this week. Here's a review from The Herald to tempt you.

 

 

Trapped - Experiential Dance /  by scott twynholm

This week I'm off down the pits in Wakefield working with Experiential Dance on Trapped, a newpiece inspired by the story of the San Jose mine in Chile which trapped 33 miners back in 2010. I remember watching the story unfold at the time, and watched along with the rest of the world as all 33 men were rescued. It's not often I'm asked to write and perform underground and I'm excited by the prospect. So far I've read Hector Tobar's Deep Down Dark, a compelling account of the incident, which has given me a greater appreciation of simle domestic tasks! I've also paid a visit to Europen Metal Recycling to arm myslef with banks of industrial sounds. We have a free sharing of the weeks work on Friday so if you are in the Wakefield/Leeds area pop along. Hardhats provided! Details on the flyer below...

Hedda Gabler - Northern Stage /  by scott twynholm

The past few months I've been writing music for Hedda Gabler at Northern Stage. It has provided the oportunity to write with a huge variety of sounds and textures (as well as some songwriting) and work with a brilliant cast and creative team. It's my fourth collaboration with writer and director Selma Dimitrijevic of Greyscale Theatre Company. We've just completed our second preview show and it runs throughout the rest of February and into March 2017. For booking and more info please visit the Northern Stage website.   

The past few months I've been writing music for Hedda Gabler at Northern Stage. It has provided the oportunity to write with a huge variety of sounds and textures (as well as some songwriting) and work with a brilliant cast and creative team. It's my fourth collaboration with writer and director Selma Dimitrijevic of Greyscale Theatre Company. We've just completed our second preview show and it runs throughout the rest of February and into March 2017. For booking and more info please visit the Northern Stage website.   

Release - DJ Nartak's Nightflight Compilation /  by scott twynholm

Over the past year DJ Nartak has been a supporter of my music on German Klassik Radio. I'm delighted that my song Writing On A Train will now feature on his compilation Nightflight vol.8. It will be released by lemongrassmusic on CD and digital download at Klassik Radio on April 29 2016. It will be available as digital release and CD export later in the year. Please visit Lemongrassmusic for more information and to preview some of the tracks. I'm in good company!