Looking Sound is a collective that pursues the evolving paths of visual and interactive art with electronic music. Born in the summer of 2009 Looking Sound continues to explore and create one of Brighton’s unique and ONLY visual/audio events.
For bespoke pioneering soundscapes, head to the Riki Tiki Bar in Bond Street for an exclusive afternoon and evening of visual and auditory candy. The afternoon show kicks off at 1.00 pm and runs to 5pm while the evening show takes off at 9.00 pm and runs to 3.00am in the wee hours of the jolly morn. So before a much needed infusion of sensory overload, let’s chat with Rob, Sammy and Fran of Looking Sound….
1. What inspired Looking Sound to become digital artists?
Rob
The technology – I grew up around and learned to use this over the years as I’ve have been exposed to art in general. The evolution of technology that has occurred has allowed a love for visual and audio arts to combine and presented the possibility to link these two areas. Looking Sound is an attempt to collaborate with like minded creatives while bringing this experience to a wider audience.
Sammy
The headline DJ’s I looked up to at the age of 10 inspired me to buy my first records before I had record decks to mix on! The radio stations broadcasting the electronic beats in London helped me create a platform to start producing, playing and scratching records. With these core audio skills I now link visuals to the sounds I play. Rad!oSam is my stage name at Looking Sound helping construct a unique Visual/Audio lineup.
Fran
I have always been motivated by the dance scene and the experience that it brings to the audience. Technological advancements have started to change the way we interact with music and visuals as it’s now become a brand new experience. I have always been surrounded by artists, music producers, bands and DJs, so producing an event that encourages artists to come together creating a unique event and experience I find exciting and deeply rewarding.
2. What’s your show about and where are you taking your show after the Brighton Fringe?
All
Looking Sounds Fringe show is about the relationship between sounds and images, how sounds can be interpreted into visual form and how visuals and audio can be enjoyed side by side on an equal parallel. We want to show this relationship through all phases of the creative process from the initial inception and drawing to the more advanced digital incarnations of these media.
We are also looking at pushing the expectations and boundaries of the event through inclusions of interactive installations in what could traditionally be seen as a one way relationship of the dance floor and the DJ – so that the audience can participate and influence the actual output of the performers.
3. What are your funniest and worst experiences performing in front of an audience?
Rob
Worst experiences are any time a technical gremlin pops its head up – especially dealing with the stress that this causes if it’s just before a performance or even worse in the middle.
Sammy
I once accidentally picked up the needle on the record deck that was playing and taking the record off! Shameful!
Fran
I was performing at the International Theatre Festival in Varna, Bulgaria. The directors made some executive decisions regarding the show and kept it secret from me thinking it would add to the show. So right in the middle of the show the lights cut out on stage and I was plunged into darkness .. I freaked out on stage and couldn’t really perform properly on stage after that, the audience didn’t know whether to laugh, cry or just walk out… awful…
4. If you had a chance to work with anyone of your choosing, who would it be?
Rob
I would love to work with United Visual Artists – their interactive installations have inspired me a lot. I would also love to work with some of the emerging technology developers who are creating the next level interfaces because I see this as the next area of development for the area’s that involved digital creativity.
Sammy
I would like to work with the Sonar Festival founders. They have created in my opinion the most advanced multimedia music festival to date.
Fran
Bjork, she has been a constant source of inspiration for me from a very young age. She has always strived to push her creative boundaries either through solo work or collaborations and I admire that a lot.
5. What are you most proud of and what dreams or goals would you like to fulfill?
Rob
I am most proud of the work that Looking Sound has done so far in taking the concept of a visual audio night and making it a reality. This is beginning to capture the imagination of the audience members who attend the nights and the creatives who are getting involved with us and expressing interest in our future projects.
Goals that we are looking to fulfill are making our events bigger and broadening the awareness of visual audio combination. I would love to make people as excited about the visual artist as the audio and to perfect a production and form of delivery throughout and event that makes these two media stand firmly on a level footing with equal levels of awareness from the crowd.
Sammy
Indeed the creation of Looking Sound and the event environment that is created. The vision and goals of Looking Sound will be of global size, advancing and enhancing the minds of the audience using visual audio entertainment.
I am also proud of giving the chance of upcoming artists to use Looking Sound as a platform to be creative whilst performing along side well established artists. An ethos Looking Sound implements at each event.
Fran
Looking Sound from conception to date has been a wonderful experience, I love the way it strives to push visuals to the fore front encouraging people to engage with audio and visual art in a new way. I would love to see Looking Sound to tour nationally and internationally.
6. Are you a gadget geek or a gadget freak? How do you see technology progressing to assist production and marketing of your show in the future?
All
Looking Sound is all about the progression of technology and harnessing this to achieve new artistic and creative experiences. It is mainly through the development of technology that we are able to bring our events to life and we thrive on taking full advantage of these possibilities to do so. We are looking to take our pioneering concepts further through this continued philosophy.
7. Which three famous people would you invite to dinner and why [dead celebrities included]? And what tasty treat would you prepare?
Rob
I would have to invite Kandinsky because of his obvious sound/ visual art interests; Jimi Hendrix because he has created some of the most evocative sound scapes and is my hero in general and Ian Dury because he would be a proper laugh.
Sammy
I second Jimi Hendrix….SENSATIONAL.
Keith from The Prodigy……For his raucous personality!
I reckon I would just ask the guests to bring a treat of choice to the table!
Fran
Hmmm I would invite Gilbert and George, they are fascinating artists that have adapted and evolved over the years reflecting technological advancements.
Tracey Emin coz I reckon we would get pissed and have a right laugh and rant.
8. What is the best book or books you have read and why?
Rob
The Doors of Perception by Auldous Huxley because it is an amazing insight into how we see the world or how we can see it.
State of the Art by Ian M. Banks because it is a brilliant collection of modern science fiction imagery.
Sammy
Hacienda (How Not to Run a Club)……True legends of worldwide venue clubbing.
To Kill a Mocking Bird……..Two fingers up to my GCSE English teacher who reckoned I would fail…. I gotta C……J
Fran
Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins… amazing, inspirational, motivational and uplifting. It has been a real tool in learning how to push myself forward as well as understanding other people better.
9. Tell us 5 interesting and unknown facts about yourself?
Rob
- Money doesn’t make my world go round.
Sammy
- I am most creative from 7am.
Fran
- I am closet Marxist Feminist.
10. What do you think we can do as an individual to save the planet, if anything?
All
We are big fans of recycling which we hope does have a positive effect on the issues the planet is experiencing.
Cycle or walk to places as often as possible because if nothing else it is good for you.
Think twice before you buy stuff because you don’t always need it.
Corporate Social Responsibility is a must if we are as a global community going to make a difference.
And always be positive because it’s better than the other option.
4. If you had a chance to work with anyone of your choosing, who would it be?
