you’re somehow connected

the dream and the vision

Since 2018, composer Lil Lacy has developed the piece you're somehow connected in collaboration
with scenographer Jon R. Skulberg and electronic composer Tobias Sejersdahl.

you're somehow connected reflects our time, culture, dreams about the future and reality based upon what came before us,
where we are now and what will come in the future. It reflects on how we are all somehow connected.

Inspired by August Strindberg’s A Dream Play, where Agnes, the Vedic God daughter, sinks towards the Earth in the attempt to understand humans, their agony and dreams, you’re somehow connected explores the matter of being through sound, light and air.

In the piece, new classical music and electronic composition, manipulated field recordings of the body, skin and breathing is incorporated
– as well as interviews with five people of different generations, nationalities and places about their dreams of the future:
Student Simran Skulberg de Souza (NO) in Bergen, college student Paulina Shtanko (BY) in Saint Petersburg, visual artist Mohau Modisakeng (ZA) in Johannesburg, composer Marcos Balter (BR) in New York and writer Suzanne Brøgger (DK) in Copenhagen.

The piece reflects and freezes a momentary situation, a dream vision for the future, described in 2020. When the piece is performed in 2022 (and thereafter), one will experience a piece from the past, that talks about the future, a future we will know while experiencing the piece and by virtue of the time that has passed, and the thereby changed perspective, will invite reflection on what happened meanwhile;
how have we as human beings acted and navigated collectively, as well as individually?

you’re somehow connected does not aim to give answers, but to describe a wide specter of dreams
for the future, from a near past, through space, sound and light…
- what are your dreams for the future?
- how can one act or navigate individually as well as in collaboration to strive towards these dreams?
- and what is it that connects us across nationalities, cultures, generations and time, through the past, present and into the future?

The acoustic music, composed for accordion soloist and an ensemble of 14 musicians, is woven closely together with the electronic manipulated field recordings of granite stones grinding, everyday life, the touch of skin, blood flowing in the veins and breathing, as well as electronic music and interviewed voices.

The complete duration is 76 min.

About the interviewed VOICES

The interviewed people were asked what their dreams for the future was for themselves as well as the globe at large.

Here are short introductions to each of the interviewed people (2020):

About the sounds and patterns

Since you’re somehow connected explores dreams about the future expressed in interviews of individuals across generations, locations, history and culture, there is incorporated the sound of individual locations in a poly-rhythmic structure throughout the piece:

The closer one is located to the Equator, the faster one rotates per day in relations to the Earth’s rotation. The closer one is to the North or South pole, the slower one rotates, because the rotation centers around the axis of the Earth. Saint Petersburg, Russia has exactly half the rotational speed of the Equator. Therefor dependent on where one is located on Earth, the speed with which this location or city rotates per day is different.

The people interviewed in you’re somehow connected represent these locations by living, working or studying in the respective cities at the time of the interview in 2020:
Simran de Souza (NO) is a young student and climate activist living in Bergen (Norway) / Paulina Shtanko (BY) studies Management in Saint Petersburg (Russia) / Mohau Modisakeng (ZA) is a visual artist based in Johannesburg (South Africa) / Marcos Balter (BR) is a composer based in New York (USA) / the writer, poet, journalist and singer Suzanne Brøgger (DK) lives and works partially in Copenhagen (Denmark), where the interview also was made.
Using these specific locations and the relation between the difference of the rotational speed of each location over 24 hours, a polyrhythmic pattern occurs and creates a substratum throughout the piece; rhythmic relations, audibly expressing the relation between the rotation of these different locations.

Through this polyrhythmic pattern all locations are somehow present within the same moment, representing the physical phenomenon of the Earth moving every day without us, its inhabitants, registering it consciously, but still being closely connected to the same Earth and rotational phenomenon.

Furthermore, the sound of granite stones grinding, the touch of skin, noises from the stomach and breathing has been written, recorded and manipulated into the music. There is no sung libretto, but the piece uses rhythmical patterns and melodies generated from the morse code alphabet. There will among others be morsed the phrases I am Agnes, I am falling, sinking through the sky as well as: you are somehow connected.

THE EXPLORATION OF different formats

you’re somehow connected has till now been developed into three different formats.
There is an ongoing exploration of the piece and spatial experience of the music, sounds and words,
the dream and vision, the real and the surreal.

The existing formats of you’re somehow connected are:

• the audiovisual live concert (2020-2021)

• the audiovisual multichannel performance (2020-2022)

• the film and Dolby Atmos production (2022-2024)

THE AUDIOVISUAL LIVE CONCERT (2020-2021)

As the opening gala concert of Aarhus Festuge 2021, you’re somehow connected was created as an audiovisual live concert format with an acoustic ensemble, spatial electronic production and light scenography tailor-made to the complete piece.

The live concert exists of a full ensemble (accordion soloist and 14 musicians), a conductor, 8-16 speakers for electronic music and voices in interviews, as well as 2-5 projectors, lazors and smoke.

World premiere of the audiovisual live concert:
August 27 and 28, 2021, the opening gala concert of Aarhus Festuge
Location: Store Sal in Musikhuset, Aarhus (DK)

Artistic team of the audiovisual live concert:
Music performed live by accordion soloist: Bjarke Mogensen
Ensemble: Århus Sinfonietta with special guest musicians.
Conductor: Mathias Skaarup Sørensen

Electronic set up by Tobias Sejersdahl and Morten Elkjær
Composer and artistic leader: Lil Lacy
Electronic composer: Tobias Sejersdahl

Visual scenography by Vertigo

Produced by Lil Lacy Music and Aarhus Festuge

Duration 76:00 min. 

THE AUDIOVISUAL MULTICHANNEL PERFORMANCE (2022)

you’re somehow connected can be experienced as an audiovisual multichannel piece, staged in an abandoned shipyard,
with a scenography of choreographed smoke, affected by the weather.

you’re somehow connected was developed, composed and premiered as a live concert in 2020, as well as recorded in a special circular arrangement in collaboration with the internationally acknowledged sound producer Preben Iwan. Since then, the piece was carefully developed into an audiovisual multichannel experience expressed through words, sound, space, light and bodies in collaboration between the composers Lil Lacy and Tobias Sejersdahl and the scenographers Jon R. Skulberg and Olga Regitze Dyrløv Høegh.
you’re somehow connected is presented was a part of PASSAGE festival and CLICK festival, from July 28 to August 28, 2022, where the piece could be experienced, for only five audiences at a time, in an old Shipyard at Kulturværftet, Elsinore.
The audiovisual multichannel performance was realized in collaboration with Lydfabrikken ApS.

World premiere of the audiovisual multichannel performance:

The audiovisual multichannel performance you’re somehow connected was performed 50+ from July 28 to August 28, 2022
Location: Kulturværftet, Hal 19, Elsinore, Denmark

Artistic team of the audiovisual multichannel performance:
Music performed by:
Accordion soloist: Bjarke Mogensen
Ensemble: Århus Sinfonietta
with special guest musicians:
Anna Jalving, viola
Frederik Sakham, contrabass
Christian Martínez, percussion
Mari Kawamura, piano
Conductor: Rei Munakata

Composer and artistic leader: Lil Lacy
Electronic composer: Tobias Sejersdahl

Sound producer and head of recording in relation to recording, edit and mix of the acoustic music: Preben Iwan

Mix and edit of electronic music: Tobias Sejersdahl

Field recordings: Lil Lacy and Ida Skjerk
The recording of body fluids and sounds: Kristian Eidnes Andersen

Scenographers: Jon R. Skulberg and Olga Regitze Dyrløv Høegh

Sound system for installation realized in collaboration with Lydfabrikken ApS

Production manager for installation: Kristine Bech Sørensen

Installation presented in collaboration with PASSAGE festival, CLICK festival and Kulturværftet in Elsinore 2022

Produced in collaboration between Convoi Exceptionnel, Kulturværftet and Lil Lacy Music

Photos from the recording session in 2020, Symfonic Hall, Musikhuset, Aarhus (DK)

The Film and Dolby Atmos production (2022-2024)

The film you’re somehow connected creates a transportable Dolby Atmos cinema production, of the audiovisual multichannel performance created at Kulturværftet, Elsinore in 2022. The film is a real-time one-take of the performance. One experiences the movements and gradual changes of the sunlight, clouds and smoke, while embraced by the journey of the sound and music - like dream and reality intertwining.

The piece is designed to be performed in traditional Dolby Atmos cinemas.

World premiere of the film and Dolby Atmos production:
Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, 2024, during Nordic Music Days in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, 2024
Location: the CCA Cinema, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Duration: 76:00 min. 

Artistic team of the film and Dolby Atmos production:
Composer and artistic leader: Lil Lacy
Electronic composer: Tobias Sejersdahl
Scenographers: Jon R. Skulberg and Olga Regitze Dyrløv Høegh
Dolby Atmos mix and master: Preben Iwan
Filmed by Adam Jandrup
Edited and colorgraded by Kristopher Paterson
Produced by Lil Lacy Music and Convoi Exceptionnel, in collaboration with Nordic Music Days

Music performed by
Accordion soloist: Bjarke Mogensen
Ensemble: Århus Sinfonietta with special guest musicians:
Anna Jalving (viola), Frederik Sakham (contrabass), Christian Martínez (percussion), Mari Kawamura (piano)
Conductor: Rei Munakata

Sound producer and head of recording in relation to recording, edit and mix of the acoustic music: Preben Iwan

Mix and edit of electronic music: Tobias Sejersdahl
Field recordings: Lil Lacy and Ida Skjerk
The recording of body fluids and sounds: Kristian Eidnes Andersen

The process of filming the audiovisual multichannel performance you’re somehow connected, photos by Adam Jandrup

The PODCAST

Sound producer Ida Skjerk has followed the development of the piece you’re somehow connected from the first spark of the idea in 2018, through the process of composing, prerecording, rehearsing, premiere, final recording and now also into the creation of the multichannel piece, as well as the artistic dialogues, exploration and considerations there has been throughout.
How does one create a new classical piece? Where does the inspiration come from?
How can one express an idea or a story through sound and daylight?
This podcast series invites the listener into the workshop of the composer, where the fundamental ideas, considerations, inspiration and processes are shared.
The series follows the composer and initiator Lil Lacy, the electronic composer Tobias Sejersdahl, the scenographer Jon R. Skulberg and the sound producer Preben Iwan in the creation of the piece you’re somehow connected - an interdisciplinary piece that combines newly composed acoustic music, electronic music and manipulated field recordings with words, lights and bodies.
The podcast is in Danish and is available via The Lake Radio on a.o. SoundCloud.

Complete list of Artistic team,
CREATORS & COLLABORATORS

Concept and acoustic composition: Lil Lacy
Electronic composition: Tobias Sejersdahl
Co-creator and scenographer: Jon R. Skulberg
Scenographer: Olga Regitze Dyrløv Høegh
Sound producer and head of recording in relation to recording, edit and mix of the acoustic music: Preben Iwan
Acoustic composition mentor: Bent Sørensen
Acoustic composition supervisor: Martin Lohse

Recording (2020):
Accordion soloist: Bjarke Mogensen
Ensemble: Århus Sinfonietta
with special guest musicians:
Anna Jalving, viola
Frederik Sakham, contrabass
Christian Martínez, percussion
Mari Kawamura, piano
Conductor: Rei Munakata
Head of recording: Preben Iwan
The production of the recording (2020) is made in collaboration with AUT (Aarhus Unge Tonekunstnere), Århus Sinfonietta and Lil Lacy Music

The audiovisual multichannel production (2022):
Mix and edit of electronic music: Tobias Sejersdahl
Field recordings: Lil Lacy and Ida Skjerk
The recording of body fluids and sounds: Kristian Eidnes Andersen
Scenographers: Jon R. Skulberg and Olga Regitze Dyrløv Høegh
Sound system for installation realized in collaboration with Lydfabrikken ApS
Production manager for installation: Kristine Bech Sørensen
Installation presented in collaboration with PASSAGE festival, CLICK festival and Kulturværftet in Elsinore 2022
Produced in collaboration between Convoi Exceptionnel, Kulturværftet and Lil Lacy Music

The film and Dolby Atmos production (2024):
Filmed by Adam Jandrup
Edited and colorgraded by Kristopher Paterson
Produced by Lil Lacy Music and Convoi Exceptionnel, in collaboration with Nordic Music Days

Creator of podcast: Ida Skjerk

Visual design of programs: Olga Regitze Dyrløv Høegh

SUPPORTED BY

Det Obelske Familiefond
STATENS KUNSTFOND
Kodas Kulturelle midler
Augustinus Fonden
Dansk Komponistforening
Dansk Musiker Forbund
Louis-Hansen Fonden
William Demant Fonden
The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus
Dronning Margrethes & Prins Henriks Fond
Aarhus Kommunes Musikpulje
Dansk Kapelmesterforening
Art Music Denmark
- sincerely thank you.

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