Haukur Þór Harðarson (*1989 in Iceland) studied composition with Atli Ingólfsson at the Iceland Academy of the Arts, with Richard Ayres and Wim Henderickx at the Conservatorium in Amsterdam, as well as at the Instituut voor Sonologie at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. He then received private lessons from Rebecca Saunders in Berlin. In his work, he explores the physicality of the space in which listening takes place. He aims to bring listeners into closer contact with the acoustic space and perceived time through the delicate and morphological transformation of sounds and resonances. His music includes both acoustic and electroacoustic works and is described as fragile, delicate, intense, focused, and physical. Recently, he has become increasingly interested in close collaborations, taking time for intensive work with the musicians for whom he writes, and enjoys exploring the potential of each instrument together with them.

sluraze is inspired by “infinite scrolling” and the associated mental states between moments of immersion, aimless drifting, and the grotesque simultaneity of constant interruption as well as the permanent overlay of content, aesthetics, and emotions.

(Lucia Kilger)

The works of composer, sound director, and media artist Lucia Kilger are characterised by a distinctive hybridity between instrumental, intermedial, and performative expression. Her works include instrumental-electronic, music-theatre, installative, interactive compositions, and video walks, weaving together analogue and digital worlds. Together with conductor Friederike Scheunchen and composer Clemens K. Thomas, she is the artistic director of Ensemble Scope from Freiburg. In 2024, she was selected by the Edition Zeitgenössische Musik of the German Music Council for the production of a portrait CD. Since 2023, she has been Professor of Composition and Sound Design for Digital Media at the Detmold University of Music for the KreativInstitut OWL.

This work takes place in a world inspired by Robin Hanson’s The Age of EM. I adapt the model of these beings and create my own group of EMs: digital consciousness copies striving for new aesthetic heights. They share a collective consciousness and experience a hybrid digital-physical reality.

The term “Braindance” comes from the video game Cyberpunk 2077 and refers to an immersive technology that plays a brain recording of all perceptions and thoughts experienced by another person within someone’s mind. In the dystopian world of cyberpunk, Braindances are bought and often have addictive properties.

In an experimental phase, my EMs explore the connection between space, taste, and sound in order to create new experiences. They are simultaneously creators and consumers, immortal yet driven by hunger, never able to die. They don’t know why they exist, but hope that new aesthetic experiences may bring a revelation or at least the feeling of one.

For the visual design of this work, I collaborated with German graphic designer Markus Kanzler, whose concept supports the immersive experience. Additionally, photographer Blake Cecil contributed special photos of dishes from his culinary experiences, which underscore the aesthetic dimension of the work.

The piece is presented in surround sound and, in addition to the usual classical elements, includes live electronics and video.

Zara Ali

(Zara Ali)

Zara Ali (*1995) is a composer from Memphis, Tennessee. She received her Bachelor’s degree in 2018 from Columbia University in New York and her Master’s degree in Composition from the Detmold University of Music in 2022. She currently lives in Frankfurt.

“My work focuses on creating immersive, multidimensional worlds that invite the audience to dwell within them. I often draw inspiration from exploring human development at the intersection of technological advances and speculative future visions. While my music frequently uses programmatic elements, it resists clear dramatic narratives and instead forms a foundation for abstract fantasy forms. In my recent works, I have explored themes such as a future humanity, Neuralink, socially constructed algorithms, free will, and imagined, conscious digital beings. I find music particularly powerful because it addresses the human mind and invites us into spaces that are both real and intangible. I find the perception of sound fascinating because it is so immaterial, making it much harder to deny its truth. My greatest desire is to create a world in which aesthetics are understood as a fundamental medium for shaping human existence.”

Founded in Berlin in 1997, ensemble mosaik is known for its constant experimentation across genres and disciplines, creating laboratory situations in which artistic research is possible. Over the years, ensemble mosaik has developed a completely new playing culture through the regularly practised, multifaceted interaction of instrumental, performative, electronic, multimedia or scenic means of expression and a wide variety of performance situations, which has become a model for many younger ensembles.

The ensemble’s potential is based on the characteristic personalities and artistic interests of its members, on the continuously accumulated wealth of experience from joint rehearsals and project work and the discourse on content that constantly accompanies it. Since its beginnings, ensemble mosaik has developed lasting and intensive working relationships with many internationally sought-after composers, not least with Enno Poppe, who has been a permanent member of the ensemble as conductor since 1998. Above all, however, ensemble mosaik has made a name for itself by supporting up-and-coming composers. It regularly presents its own productions and guest performances at renowned international festivals and concert series, constantly forging intercultural contacts and initiating exchange projects.

http://www.ensemble-mosaik.de
https://www.facebook.com/ensemblemosaik/

Enno Poppe, born 1969 in Hemer/Sauerland. Studied conducting and composition in Berlin, among others with Friedrich Goldmann and Gösta Neuwirth. Numerous prizes and scholarships. Worldwide performances of his works. Internationally active as a conductor.