Claudia Schwab (IE, AT)

Born out of solitary forest, seaside and mountain dwellings during the periods of lock down, the solo show marks a return to the origins of Claudia’s composing practices: a world of sound that she could create, and retreat to, entirely on her own. Never shy of crossing borders between genres, traditions and conventions, the show presents an introspective body of folk-inspired songs with experimental elements. Amalgamating aspects of the worlds of Irish, Austrian and Indian Classical music traditions, the compositions are interwoven with sound samples collected at home in Sligo, as well as during arts residencies in Crete, Austria, India and Sri Lanka. Amidst the sounds of a whistling kettle, wooden drawers, a coffee cup, nuclear alarms or Indian prayers, we hear of unfinished love stories, the yearning to be left alone, diverse “what if” scenarios of re-crafting our lifestyles, or reflections on the startling lack of being present to our own lives.