Artist in conversation: BODIES OF SOUND

Bodies of Sound is an experimental project that combines collaboratively improvised sound, movement and camera to create interdisciplinary pieces tied to captivating locations.  Looking out from our currently sheltered and often lonely viewpoints, our work provides a narrative of compassionate listening and deeper human connection through artistic collaboration in the now. This is the only way in which wholesome and satisfactory improvisations can emerge in order to sustain and reveal hidden stories that intrigue and ultimately shift our individual and communal perceptions of ourselves and each other. Started in 2019 by producer/musician Jaka Skapin and director/videographer Pavel Radu, Bodies of Sound emerged from a series of self-funded sessions that brought together hand-picked vocal improvisers, dance artists and videographers/sound engineers in order to delve deep into the process of collaborative improvisation tied to a specific location/story/narrative.  Since then, we have travelled to the Berlin wall as well as shot at the London Dock and a flat in South East London under a Sound & Music and British Music Collection commission. Over the coming months, we plan to share what we’ve produced with you, as well as plan the next stage of the project that will hopefully involve more dancers and dance companies, vocalists and musicians, as well as producers and sound artists. 

Follow BODIES OF SOUND here.

- Welcome to The Holy Art. Could you tell us a little more about your background, and how did you begin creating art?

Thank you for having me! My name is Jaka and I’m a London based artist, producer and musician, originally from Slovenia. I have always been involved in some form of artistic creation, may it be theatre, movement, visual arts or music. In the end, I settled for a music performance and production degree that led me to improvised music and sound genres that I’m still exploring today. One of the major turning points was using my voice as a tool to help others connect with their bodies and creativity, as well as discovering the art form of collaborative vocal improvisation as a keen choral and jazz singer.

- What art do you most identify with?

I most identify with the darker, more dissonant kind of art. I like extremes and stories that haven’t been told before, as well as stories that are so archetypal to our species that we need to hear them again and again and again.

- Can you describe one artwork or series from your oeuvre that you feel was pivotal in your career? 

I think that one of the most pivotal pieces was the first time I had to compose a song collaboratively with a group of non-musicians, for a dance company comprised of people with Parkinson’s. The fact that I felt so nurtured and welcomed meant that how I was approaching the creation of the music was quite different to what I’ve been used to. I have truly surrendered and let go of what I though I was meant to be doing and the results have been simple, yet so special and just right.

- Which other great artists inspire you and why?

My inspirations fall mostly on the music and sound side of the fence. I love improvisers such as Bobby McFerrin, because of his ability to portray the vastness of the human memory, musicians such as Cosmo Sheldrake who ground everything in sounds that some of us might take for granted and songwriters such as Arlo Parks who craft simplicity and groove that just feels so good.

- Can you talk about the process of creating your work?

In this context I try and explore all the different ways in which collaborative improvisation can be utilised in order to connect and express without a filter and too much pre-planned thought. We like to work in captivating locations and with diverse collaborators that bring different points of view. The rest is settled during an extended play session during which we try to stay present, listen as much as we can, and connect as people.

- What advice would you give to emerging artists entering the art world?

Especially in 2020, we all feel the pressures, as well as the possibilities of the online wasteland we can internet a lot more. Take stock, prioritise self care and maintain a rich offline life that grounds and excites you.

- What do you hope that the public takes away from your art?

I hope that they take away the richness of real time creative collaboration, and all the possibilities that it offers. There is something quite raw and vulnerable about it, as well as an array of other feelings such as mundaneness and ancientness.

-  Finally, are there any projects you are currently working on and able to speak about?

Yes! In 2020, me and the Bodies of Sound team were lucky enough to record a series of indoor improvised pieces capturing a life of a couple of movement artists. We had so much fun improvising pieces in the bathroom, bedroom, living room and kitchen and can’t wait to share them!