Being alone in an unfamiliar location is the feeling that Laurel Halo conjures up on her new album Atlas. The Detroit-born DJ/producer is currently based in Los Angeles, but has spent over a decade stepping into different towns and cities, including Berlin and London. Since her debut Quarantine, voted best album of 2012 by The Wire, she has also chosen different approaches for each new music project, from noise and techno to pop and ambient. Atlas is like an orchestral collage leaning towards classical music and jazz, for which she has manipulated acoustic instruments through electronic means. Halo will present Atlas live in a duo formation with cellist Leila Bordreuil.
While composing Atlas, Laurel Halo delved into the sounds of the piano. During her residency at the legendary Ina-GRM Studio in Paris, she adapted her own piano sketches and additional recordings by innovative musicians such as saxophonist Bendik Giske, violinist James Underwood, cellist Lucy Railton and vocalist Coby Sey. Atlas is Laurel Halo’s first album on her own label Awe, following several albums on Hyperdub and other labels. Aside from her solo career, Halo is a member of the latest formation of the Moritz Von Oswald Trio. She has also collaborated with, among others, Julia Holter, John Cale and Metahaven.
After the concert Luc Mast will play a DJ set.
This concert is a collaboration with The Rest is Noise, a series by Muziekgebouw for groundbreaking performances. Where our program meets, we collaborate as ‘BIMHUIS & The Rest is Noise’.
Laurel Halo piano/electronics, Leila Bordreuil cello