Leeds College of Music (LCoM) is delighted to announce a partnership with Both Sides Now, an initiative from Brighter Sound charity to support, inspire and showcase female artists in the North.
LCoM will host the second artist residency from Both Sides Now, which will be led by experimental classical composer and turntablist Shiva Feshareki. The residency, which begins on International Women’s Day (8 March), will culminate in a live performance on the opening night of Sounds Like THIS festival on Monday 12th March.
Shiva Feshareki, winner of the 2017 British Composer Award for Innovation, will spend five days creating and collaborating with emerging female musicians from across Leeds and the surrounding areas, selected from an open call-out for musicians in the region. The residency aims to provide an environment for women to create, learn, experiment and perform freely.
The live performance will showcase works created in the residency. Sounds Like THIS is LCoM’s innovative festival which showcases cutting-edge new music, sound art and visual installation. The performance takes place at The Venue at Leeds College of Music and tickets are available at £5 each, available directly from the Sounds Like THIS website or LCoM Box Office.
The residency is supported by Leeds-based partner organisations Music:Leeds, COME PLAY WITH ME and Studio 12.
Shiva Feshareki on Both Sides Now
“My biggest inspirations come from composers who were at the forefront of the exciting and radical experimentations of the 1960s onwards. A lot of the music I love by composers such as Pauline Oliveros and Terry Riley, comes from deep improvisation, and deep listening, and having to leave the conscious world to make musical choices.
These are innovations that help societies to grow, and help us listen to each other and the world we are in. Through the residency I hope we will have a collective aspiration to develop new ideas and new conversations.”
In an industry where women are in the minority, and those in senior roles continue to be a rarity, the intersection of geography, socio-economics and gender means women in the North of England are less likely to forge careers in music. Co-ordinated by Manchester music charity Brighter Sound, Both Sides Now combines residencies for emerging talent, mentoring, digital resources for schools and education, industry training, apprenticeships and national and international events. Focusing on Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle and the surrounding areas, Both Sides Now aims to bridge the gap in access and opportunity between the North of England and London.
Kate Lowes, Head of Programmes, Brighter Sound said: "Both Sides Now is a programme that bridges the gap in access, opportunities, networks and career progression for women in the North of England. We’re really excited to be working in partnership with Leeds College of Music on Shiva’s residency. The week will give emerging female musicians from Leeds the space and environment to collaborate with one another, working with an inspirational artist on something brand new for audiences of Sounds Like THIS festival."
David Warren, Chief Operating Officer at Leeds College of Music says; “We’re thrilled to host such an exciting artist residency in partnership with Both Sides Now and Shiva Feshareki. We can’t wait to see what this unique collective will create over the course of the collaboration, which we’re proud to showcase on the opening night of Sounds Like THIS – a festival whose programming is led by bold new sounds.”
Supported by Arts Council England’s Ambition for Excellence Fund, Both Sides Now launched in Manchester last November. The launch event saw appearances from Mayor Andy Burnham, host Miranda Sawyer and participants from the Manchester area in a residency led by Beth Orton. As director of the first artist residency, Beth said of the programme, “For me, Both Sides Now stands for a space where you can feel free to create music you feel excited to explore, a language you get to define for yourself and not be defined by.”
International Women’s Day will also see Leeds College of Music and COME PLAY WITH ME host the European Premiere of a powerful new film about female electronic artists, Amplify Her. The film will be screened at 7.30pm on Thursday 8th March (International Women's Day) and followed by an audience Q&A with Producer Nicole Sorochan, presented by East Street Arts' Nic Greenan.
